Game Recap: Stros Staff Stifles Sox. Marisnick, White Blast Houston to 3-0 Win.

One of the questions the Astros faced at the season’s onset was, who would replace Dallas Keuchel in the rotation? Increasingly it becomes clear, the answer is, one of our own, Brad Peacock.

By May 20th, 2018, Keuchel sported a 3-6 record, with a 3.43 ERA, 4.30 FIP and 3.76 xFIP. He finished the season with a 3.74 ERA. After tonight’s game Brad Peacock’s numbers are 5-2, 3.59 ERA, 3.16 FIP and 4.10 xFIP.

But for tonight, forget Peacock’s numbers. He wasn’t just throwing strikes, he was firing bullets. He struck out nine White Sox batters in five innings, allowed 2 hits, no runs, no walks, but did hit two batsmen. That means out of the nineteen batters faced by Peacock, almost half struck out. No White Sox batter reached third base tonight, not on Peacock, not on anybody.

Here’s a look at the Pea’s K’s

After Peacock, Chris Devenski, Will Harris, Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna completed the shutout, each pitching a scoreless inning and adding one strikeout each, for a staff total of 13 against the Sox.

Roberto Osuna got his 24th consecutive save as an Astro, tying Brad Lidge for the club record. And of course, Ryan Pressly’s 40th consecutive scoreless appearance extended his major league record.

With such stellar pitching, the Astros bats, swinging without both Jose Altuve and George Springer tonight, did not require prodigious production, but got enough to keep the outcome of this game from ever coming under serious doubt. The team got eight hits, lead by Tony Kemp and Michael Brantley, each with two.

The scoring started in the first when Alex Bregman smartly advanced to third after a bobble by the right fielder of a Michael Brantley single. Bregman would score on a scorching Carlos Correa line drive sacrifice fly.

Jake Marisnick would add a run in the third with a 422 foot rocket to left field that left his bat at 111.6 MPH. It was his fifth, and his fifth consecutive start in center field. His OPS for the season remains above .900

Tyler White would end the scoring with his long awaited first home run of the season in the fifth, 418 feet to left field. May this one open up the long dammed home run flood gates for the Great White.

Tomorrow Chicago’s Dylan Covey ( 0-2, 4.41 ERA) has the unenviable task of opposing Justin Verlander (7-1, 2.38 ERA) at 7:10 CDT at Minute Maid Park.

Box score and videos HERE