/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69849200/usa_today_16698774.0.jpg)
Is Lance McCullers finally establishing himself as the ace we always hoped he’d be back when he and Carlos Correa were drafted in the first round in the 2012 amateur draft?
He’s third in the league in wins with 12, 6th in ERA at 3.12, 6th in BA at .209, 13th in xFIP at 3.73, and 10th in K% at 27.3.
Today was another day on the job for McCullers, who dominated the Angels for six strong innings, allowing one run, three hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. Meanwhile, the bullpen finished the job, helping the Astros to cruise to a 3-1 victory over the Angels, and giving them another series win on a 4 - 2 homestand.
The Astros started the scoring in the first inning when Yuli Gurriel singled in Jose Altuve, who got to second base after leading off the game with a single and advancing on a Yordan Alvarez walk.
The Astros would not score again until the fifth inning on a Kyle Tucker two-run homer, his 25th of the season, scoring Yuli Gurriel, who was 4 - 4 for the game. Tucker currently sports the highest OPS on the Astros, just north of .900
.@KTuck30 is RED HOT. #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/EJMCSPxJP9
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 12, 2021
This homer put the Astros back on top as the Angels tied the score in the fifth on a solo- Juan Lagares homer.
The Astros bullpen held the Angels after McCullers’ departure, with Ryne Stanek, Kendall Graveman, and Ryan Pressly performing like we hope they do in the playoffs.
The Astros head to South Oklahoma for a four-game trip to Arlington. Jake Odorizzi resumes his quest to pitch more than five innings in a game