Game Recap: Astros Destroy Dodgers 14-0

What happened to the Dodgers?

Last time we saw them they were battling inch by inch, tooth and nail, blow by blow, all the way down the stretch neck and neck, never throwing in the towel, I can’t think of any more cliches for a worthy opponent that battled nobly but lost.

After scoring on a home run in the first inning Friday night, they haven’t scored since. That’s seventeen scoreless innings for the baseball illiterate. I really expected the Dodgers would be after revenge this series. I thought they’d want to humiliate the Astros just to show who the champs should have been. Instead it’s the Dodgers that have been humiliated. By the end of this game the only fans left in the stadium were wearing orange jerseys and chanting "let's go Astros."

Humiliated by a team without two of its superstars, and with limited production from another one who has jinxed himself by bleaching his hair. In the Bible didn’t God tell Samson not to do that. Maybe I’ve got the story a little backwards. C’mon Bregs, Eminem’s got a dad bod.

So even without a hit from Alex Bregman, the Astros had fourteen runs on thirteen hits. That includes three home runs, one by Marwin Gonzalez, (9) his third in three games, one by Jake Marisnick, (9) his second in eight at bats since returning from Fresno, and one by Josh Reddick, (11), who also had three hits tonight. Yuli Gurriel chimed in with 3 hits, 2 runs and an RBI, and new catcher Martin Maldonado got his first hits as an Astro, two doubles, producing 3 RBI.

Here’s what else Machete Maldonado brings to the Astros.

Needless to say, the pitching staff got a combined shutout, with Lance McCullers, Brad Peacock, (W) Collin McHugh, Tony Sipp, Joe Smith and Cionel Perez combining for a 3 hitter with 12 strikeouts.

There’s something wrong with this picture. Why would the starting pitcher leave early with a shutout going?

Lance McCullers suffered elbow discomfort and was removed from the game after throwing his warm up tosses before the fifth inning.

The Astros have a pattern of understating injuries in their initial announcements. This does not bode well for McCullers’ season. But we will know more shortly. Remember when people wondered why we were keeping so many capable starters around in the bullpen, guys like Brad Peacock and Collin McHugh. We may be finding out why.

Game three in the series with the Dodgers is Sunday a 3:10 CDT.

Gerrit Cole faces Walker Buehler. Let’s hope he takes the day off like his teammates did today.

Go Stros.

Box score and videos here.