Ecstasy and Agony. Astros drop another in extra innings to Angels, 5-4

The Ecstasy

Zack Greinke had a perfect game for five innings. He was pinpointing all six of his pitches, even the 67 mph eephus.

The Agony:

Halo pitcher Griffin Canning held the Astros scoreless for six innings. And in the bottom of the sixth Greinke suddenly lost it, giving up consecutive singles to Taylor Ward and Matt Theiss, and a sac fly to David Fletcher. The throw was not cut off, allowing the Matt Theiss to go to second.

Manager Dusty Baker gave Greinke a visit to the mound, but decided to leave Zack in. (opposite of the Hinch strategy in the World Series) Greinke promptly surrendered an RBI single to Brian Goodwin, ending Greinke’s night. (Again, like last game, his fastball averaged 87, and never hit 90)

The Ecstasy:

Josh Reddick doubled to lead off the seventh inning, and with two outs George Springer singled him home. Two heretofore dead bats brought the Astros to within one run.

The Agony:

All-Star reliever Ryan Pressly made his season debut in the eighth inning. However, he promptly surrendered a triple, complained of a finger blister, and then allowed an insurance run on a single to Anthony Rendon. The triple was the result of a misjudgment in right field by Josh Reddick, a ball he would usually catch.

The Ecstasy:

With one out in the ninth, Josh Reddick smashed a solo homer to right-center field. With two outs replacement catcher Garrett Stubs poked a single to right field bringing up the slumping George Springer. Springer officially ended his slump on this AB, scorching a 110 mph line drive over the left field fence, giving the Astros their first lead of the game.

Springer accounted for three of the four Astros RBI.

The Agony:

Super closer Roberto Osuna, with one out in the ninth, trying to save the win, gave up a single to Luis Rengifo that bounced off his own glove. He then signaled to the dugout about arm discomfort and was immediately removed from the game.

Rookie Cy Sneed then surrendered a RBI double to former Astro Jason Castro, tying the score and sending the game into extra innings.

Here’s the latest on the status of the nearly indispensable Osuna.

The Continued Agony:

In extra innings this year, every inning starts with a runner on second. In the 10th, Kyle Tucker started things off hopefully by drawing an intentional walk. But then Yuli Gurriel flied out, Carlos Correa struck out for the third time in the game by swinging at a pitch way outside, but Josh Reddick loaded the bases with another walk.

Facing a lefty Ryan Buchter and batting right, Abraham Toro, who had an .087 BA batting right last year, struck out pitifully on three pitches.

The Torture:

The Astros sent in Nivaldo Rodriguez, whose previous pro experience before this year was at the A level. He promptly gave up a single to David Fletcher, advancing second base runner Matt Theiss to third.

But Rodriguez looked up to the challenge of preventing a run with a runner on third and no outs, striking out Brian Goodwin. The next batter, Michael Hermosillo, hit a medium distance fly to right field. It appeared to be shallow enough to give Josh Reddick a chance to throw out the advancing runner from third, but his throw was wide right, giving the Angels their win, 5-4

Tomorrow the Astros face Shohei Ohtani, who failed to get an out in his last appearance. The Stros counter with Josh James. Game time 3:10 CDT.

Box score and videos HERE.