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Short recap this morning. I wrote a separate article earlier about the true-heart that is Jake Marisnick. The remarkable story of how he refused to retaliate, or let his teammates retaliate, after the Angels went head-hunting with 95 MPH baseballs for his head. It is the story of the night, with a lasting and inspiring message, that transcends the game, as much as we love baseball.
Recap:
The Astros, in their current desperation for pitching, actually let Hector Rondon start the game. The veteran was supposed to give his team one strong inning against the best hitters in the Angels lineup, and then give the ball to the green rookie, Rogelio Armenteros. After that it was hoped that the Astros bats could crush Angels starter Andrew Heaney, and the Astros could steal a win tonight.
The Astros used to have a slogan about earning it. Tonight they didn’t steal it, and they didn’t earn it. They just blew it.
Suffice it to say Hector Rondon will never be an opener again. He didn’t even make it one inning, having been removed in favor of Chris Devenski after getting only two outs, and allowing six runs.
You don’t want or need me to tell you the blow-by blow of how the Angels scored six runs. Just imagine batting practice.
The Astros somehow managed to get 13 hits but only 2 runs. Multiple players had multiple hit nights, including Tyler White and his two RBI, but the biggest bats in the lineup were hitless tonight. That’s right, George Springer and Yordan Alvarez were a combined 0 for 9 and left 11 runners stranded. The team as a whole was 3 for 18 with runners in scoring position, left 14 runners on base, and ground into two double plays.
As a team the Astros bat .259 with runners in scoring position, 21st in MLB.
Besides the beautiful way in which Jake Marisnick defused the hatred directed at him all night, there was really a great silver lining in the game. Marginal big-league prospect Rogelio Armenteros, just called up for the game, pitched four strong innings allowing only one unearned, and it was truly unearned, run. He really seemed to have the Angels batters kind of confused and off-balance.
Is it going to turn out that, like, the tenth guy on the minor league depth chart turns out to be the only one that really helps the team this year, not Whitley or Bukauskas or Martin et. al? Armenteros has an ERA in nine innings of 2.00.
Box score and video HERE