Game Recap: Astros Devour Twinkies 11-0

The Twins and the Astros took turns getting shut out the last two nights, and tonight it was the Twins’ turn. But although the Twins scored only one run on the night of the Astros’ shutout, tonight the Astros were not nearly as polite.

The Astros bats kept piling on, eleven runs, fifteen hits, four doubles, three home runs. Seven batters got on base two or more times. There were 27 total bases. Michael Brantley and Josh Reddick each had three hits. Here is the first home run of the night by George Springer in the fifth inning, his ninth of the year, which ties him for third most in the AL.

This was actually George’s second RBI of the night. The first, and the Astros’ first run, came on a double in the third which scored Jake Marsinick. After the Springer homer in the fifth, Jose Altuve doubled, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Correa,

The sixth inning would see two home runs and four runs scored, starting with a Jake Marisnick two run homer and later, a solo shot by Alex Bregman, his fifth of the season. The Astros would add another run that inning when Carlos Correa singled in Michael Brantley, who doubled after the Bregman home run.

Here are the Marisnick and Bregman homers below.

Just for laughs the Astros added four runs in the eighth, with the help of some wild Twins pitching and an error. After the Twins started the inning with a walk to George Springer, Tyler White smashed a single off the wall in left field. One out later, Michael Brantley and Carlos Correa walked, which scored Springer. Josh Reddick then got an infield hit, scoring White, followed by an Aledmys Diaz sac fly, scoring Brantley. Jorge Polanco allowed Robinson Chirinos to get on base, making a throwing error to first which allowed pinch runner Tony Kemp to score.

Meanwhile the Astros pitching staff was superb, led by Gerrit Cole, who pitched seven innings of one hit ball with eleven strikeouts. His 65 strikeouts so far are the most any pitcher has gotten before May 1st. Despite walking the first two batters of the game, Cole recovered to record 71 strikes out of 104 pitches. He had 16 swinging strikes total. His ERA dropped tonight almost a run, to under four, down to 3.95. Here is what Twins batters had to look at tonight.

The losing pitcher tonight was Michael Pineda, who allowed five runs in five innings. After Cole left the mound for the Astros, Josh James and Chris Devenski finished the game with a scoreless inning each, respectively. However James walked two batters but managed to strand the bases loaded.

Despite the shutout of the Astros last night, the Astros have some very hot hitters. Here are a few. The hitting streaks here do not include tonight’s game.

Robinson Chirinos: last eight games, .938 OPS.

Carlos Correa: twelve game hitting streak, .964 OPS, 4 home runs.

Michael Brantley: last fifteen games, .935 OPS, 3 home runs.

George Springer: last thirteen games, .990 OPS, 4 home runs.

Alex Bregman: last eleven games, .935 OPS, 2 home runs.

Josh Reddick: last twelve games, 1.085 OPS, 3 home runs.

Tomorrow Collin McHugh goes for the Astros against Martin Perez. Game time resumes at the normal 7:10 Central Daylight Savings Time.

Box score and videos HERE.