Game Recap: The Bats Are Back! Stros Send Mariners Sailing, 5-2

The Bats are Back! Even better, it felt like the Astros were back. The whole team, starting pitching as usual, but hitting and clean baseball on the field too. And let’s not forget the bullpen; a shutdown performance. And all without Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and, oh my God, George Springer.

Yeah, you read right. Let’s get that out of the way first. George Springer hurt his shoulder in the second inning. There have been no reports as to the severity of the injury, he did finish the inning, but here is what Springer himself had to say about it.

Here’s the play that did it.

I’m sure we’ll know more about it tomorrow. At least Carlos Correa is expected to begin his rehab assignment Thursday.

But enough of that. The bats are back!

Tonight the Astros had fifteen hits, one more than they had the previous 3 games. Josh Reddick had three of them, including a two run insurance home run in the ninth inning, hitting in Kyle Tucker, who singled in front of him. Reddick also drove in the team’s first run in the fifth, plating Tony Kemp, who doubled earlier.

The other big hit for the Astros was Evan Gattis’ home run in the sixth, which drove in Alex Bregman, who also had three hits in the game.

See El Oso Blanco blast his 21st

Another strong performance from starting pitching tonight, as we have come to expect, even take for granted. Charlie Morton got his team leading 12th win, going six strong, scattering six mostly weak hits, while striking out 8. He allowed a solo homer to Jean Segura in the fourth, and an RBI single to Mitch Haniger, scoring Segura, in the sixth. He left the game after 90 pitches with a 3-2 lead.

The bullpen did their job tonight. Joe Smith and Tony Sipp shared the duties in the scoreless seventh inning, holding the Astros lead.

Colin McHugh and Hector Rondon had perfect eighth and ninth innings respectively, with Rondon earning his 10th save.

Here’s one of Morton’s strikeouts.

Tomorrow the Astros hope to take the series and a five game lead in the AL West. Dallas Keuchel (8-9, 3.60 ERA) takes on Wade LeBlanc (6-1, 3.51 ERA)

Early game time 3:10 CDT.

Box Score and videos here.