The Crawfish Boxes - AL West Series: Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, September 2-3, 2014Astros baseball: we've got uniforms and everything.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11437/crawfishboxes-fv.gif2014-09-03T19:10:02-05:00http://www.crawfishboxes.com/rss/stream/58676202014-09-03T19:10:02-05:002014-09-03T19:10:02-05:00Game No. 140: Astros host Angels
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<p>Join the conversation as the Astros host the Angels.</p> <p> </p>
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<a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> (59-79) at <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> of Anaheim (83-54), 7:10 p.m. (CST)</h4>
<p id="paragraph0"><strong>TV:</strong> CSN Houston, MLB.TV<br><strong>Radio: </strong>KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM<br><strong>Angels SBNation Blog</strong>: <a href="http://www.halosheaven.com/">Halos Heaven</a></p>
<h4>Pitching matchup</h4>
<p id="paragraph1">RHP <span>Collin McHugh</span> (7-9, 2.99 ERA, 1.12 WHIP) vs. RHP <span>Jered Weaver</span> (15-7, 3.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP)</p>
<h4>Lineup</h4>
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix"> <h3>Today's Lineups</h3> <div class="lineup"><table class="zebra" cellspacing="0"> <thead> <tr> <th align="left">LOS ANGELES ANGELS</th> <th align="left">HOUSTON ASTROS</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"> <span>Kole Calhoun</span> - RF</td> <td class="td-first td-name"> <span>Robbie Grossman</span> - LF</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"> <span>Mike Trout</span> - CF</td> <td class="td-first td-name"> <span>Jose Altuve</span> - 2B</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"> <span>Albert Pujols</span> - 1B</td> <td class="td-first td-name"> <span>Dexter Fowler</span> - CF</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"> <span>Josh Hamilton</span> - DH</td> <td class="td-first td-name"> <span>Chris Carter</span> - DH</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"> <span>Howie Kendrick</span> - 2B</td> <td class="td-first td-name"> <span>Jason Castro</span> - C</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"> <span>Erick Aybar</span> - SS</td> <td class="td-first td-name"> <span>Jake Marisnick</span> - RF</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"> <span>David Freese</span> - 3B</td> <td class="td-first td-name"> <span>Jonathan Singleton</span> - 1B</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"> <span>Efren Navarro</span> - LF</td> <td class="td-first td-name"> <span>Matt Dominguez</span> - 3B</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"> <span>Chris Iannetta</span> - C</td> <td class="td-first td-name"> <span>Jonathan Villar</span> - SS</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"></td> <td class="td-first td-name"></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Jered Weaver - RHP</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Collin McHugh - RHP</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> </div>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/9/3/6097207/gamethread-no-140-los-angeles-angels-at-houston-astros-sep-3-2014-7David Coleman2014-09-03T18:03:04-05:002014-09-03T18:03:04-05:00Game 140 Preview: Astros vs Angels
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<figcaption>What year is it again? | Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>Astros hope to sweep a short two-game with the division leading Angels. </p> <h4>
<a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> (59-79) at <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> of Anaheim (83-54), 7:10 p.m. (CST)</h4>
<p id="paragraph0"><b>TV:</b> CSN Houston, MLB.TV<br><b>Radio: </b>KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM<br><b>Angels SBNation Blog</b>: <a href="http://www.halosheaven.com/">Halos Heaven</a></p>
<h4>Pitching matchup</h4>
<p id="paragraph1">RHP <span>Collin McHugh</span> (7-9, 2.99 ERA, 1.12 WHIP) vs. RHP <span>Jered Weaver</span> (15-7, 3.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP)</p>
<h4></h4>
<h4>Preview</h4>
<p>What start to the Lawless era of Astros baseball, a win with eight runs and four hits from Jose Altuve. The Astros hope to keep Tom Lawless and <span>Adam Everett</span> undefeated as the Astros manager and bench coach.</p>
<p>Collin McHugh takes the mound for the Astros looking to continue his August success, posting a 1.91 ERA in 37.2 innings during the month. He surrendered two or fewer runs in his five starts last month, and lasted at least six innings in four of the five. Doctor McHugh faces the (weeping) Angels for the fourth time this season, in his previous three starts he has a 2.25 ERA in 16 innings. The Astros righty had his shortest outing of the season against the Angels on July 6, going only four innings and allowing two runs. McHugh would go the disabled list after that start with arm trouble.</p>
<p>Looking over the Angels history against McHugh, only <span>Kole Calhoun</span> and <span>Albert Pujols</span> stick out in their small sample sizes. Calhoun is 3-for-8 with a double, and Pujols is 3-for-7 with a home run. <span>Mike Trout</span> is 0-fo-2 with two strikeouts.</p>
<p>Jered Weaver has been the horse at the top the Angels' rotation, Los Angeles is 19-and-10 in his starts. He is 8-2 in his starts since the All-Star Break. Weaver is coming off a seven shutout innings against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> on August 29. The Angels starts has been at two extremes in his two starts against the Astros this season - giving up five runs over 5.2 innings on April 6 (including four home runs) and a one-run complete game on May 21.</p>
<p><span>Jason Castro</span> is 2-for-6 with two extra-base hits against Weaver in his career. <span>Jesus Guzman</span> is 2-for-7 with a home run. Outside of that, there are no bright spots for Houston.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/9/3/6103641/game-140-preview-houston-astros-vs-los-angeles-angels-of-anaheimRyan Dunsmore2014-09-02T22:38:09-05:002014-09-02T22:38:09-05:00Astros 8, Angels 3: Jose In Heaven
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>Altuve continues quest for 200 hits by clubbing 4 as Houston rolls.</p> <p>Despite all of the off-field issues that have surrounded the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a> this season (see: Aiken, Brady; Cosart, Jarred; Houston, CSN; Leaks, Computer; Porter, Bo), no one can really argue the fact that the team is markedly better than last year. Sure, that might be partly due to the fact that the 2013 'Stros underachieved terrifically, but improvement is improvement nonetheless. With a new captain at the helm, the good guys picked up their third win in a row, this one against the white-hot <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Angels</a> that have given them fits all year.</p>
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<p><b>What went well:</b></p>
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<li><span>The Houston nine jumped on Angels starter <span>C.J. Wilson</span> immediately, plating 3 runs in the 1st thanks to RBI by <span>Dexter Fowler</span>, <span>Chris Carter</span>, and Jason Castro. Wilson has been pitching like a flummoxed Little Leaguer lately, and tonight was no different.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Brad Peacock</span> was solid for 6.1 innings, finishing with a respectable line of 6.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB and 2 SO. He's certainly not my favorite pitcher, but when he's effective, he's effective.</span></li>
<li><span>Tom Lawless looked pretty cool as a first-time manager tonight, skippering a potent lineup and making the bullpen arms look good. <span>Kevin Chapman</span> and <span>Josh Fields</span> were excellent in relief.</span></li>
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<div><b>What went wrong:</b></div>
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<li><span>The Astros were sporting a clean sheet until the top of the 6th when <span>Gordon Beckham</span> singled to left and was later driven in by an <span>Albert Pujols</span> fly ball that escaped Fowler. He pursued the ball in his typical nonchalant way, opening the door for LA.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Howie Kendrick</span> didn't have the best night of his career, but the Astros didn't escape his wrath completely. Kendrick will go down as Houston's top nemesis of 2014, as he added a double and a walk to his already gaudy numbers against the team.</span></li>
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<div><b>What we learned:</b></div>
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<li><span>Is it safe to say that Altuve is the best second baseman in the league? Fans in Seattle and Boston might have different answers to that question, and frankly, I'm too tired to go into some big statistical comparison between Altuve, <span>Dustin Pedroia</span>, and <span>Robinson Cano</span>, but it's pretty obvious that Altuve has had an all-world season and should be considered among the game's best.</span></li>
<li><span>Altuve also needs a nickname. Maybe he has one and I just haven't heard it yet, but my two suggestions are The Wee One and El Chato. Add yours in the comments.</span></li>
<li><span>Jeff Luhnow said that Lawless will compete for the full-time managerial job, but is he to be believed? Interim guys are almost always sitting ducks, but I guess you can't argue with a guy that's batting 1.000, right?</span></li>
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https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/9/2/6100221/jose-in-heaven-astros-8-angels-3Trace Levos2014-09-02T18:00:02-05:002014-09-02T18:00:02-05:00Game 139 Preview: Astros vs Angels
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>Astros welcome the playoff-minded Angels to town for a quick two-game series. </p> <h4>
<a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> (58-79) at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> of Anaheim (83-53), 7:10 p.m. (CST)</h4>
<p id="paragraph0"><b>TV:</b> CSN Houston, MLB.TV<br><b>Radio: </b>KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM<br><b>Angels SBNation Blog</b>: <a href="http://www.halosheaven.com/">Halos Heaven</a></p>
<h4>Pitching matchup</h4>
<p id="paragraph1">RHP <span>Brad Peacock</span> (3-8, 5.13 ERA, 1.58 WHIP) vs. LHP <span>C.J. Wilson</span> (10-8, 4.46 ERA, 1.43 WHIP)</p>
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<h4>Preview</h4>
<p>It's that time of year again, time for teams to make their final push for the playoffs. For teams like the Astros, it's time to play spoiler. It's probably also time for some national writer to take a snipe at the Astros (and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a>) winning prois, and creating an advantage for opposing teams facing the Astros. But, I digress.</p>
<p>The Angels come into Houston on a six-game winning streak, and with seven and three record in their last ten games. Angels just swept a titanic-sized four-game series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> at home. The Halos outscored the A's,18-4 in the series. During this oh so important stretch, the Angels are lead by none other than Mike Trout. Trout has 1.111 OPS during the Angels winning streak - with three extra-base hits, five runs scored, and six RBIs. New Angel <span>Gordon Beckham</span> has stepped in nicely, hitting 4-for-13 with five RBIs in five games. <span>Erick Aybar</span>, is batting 9-for-20 with in his last six games.</p>
<p>Taking the mound for the Angels is C.J. Wilson, Wilson hasn't found the same success he had in Texas during his time with the Angels. But, Wilson is healthy and that's all the Angels can ask for at the moment. Wilson had 4.94 ERA over 31 innings. He labored his most recent start, on the August 28, allowing three runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings. In his most recent start against the Astros, Wilson gave up six runs on 4.1 innings.</p>
<p><span>Chris Carter</span> is batting .364 with four extra base hits against Wilson in his career. Jon Singleton is 1-for-3 with a home run against WIlson.</p>
<p><span>Tom Lawless takes over as the Astros manager after Bo Porter's dismissal. Lawless served as interim manager for Astros Triple-A manager </span>Tony DeFrancesco while he was on medical leave. Lawless sends out Brad Peacock against the Angels. Peacock has had back-to-back good starts since seemingly being backed into a corner after a month of rough outings. He has given up just 2 runs over his last 10.1 innings. But, this season Peacock has given seven earned runs over eight innings against Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Albert Pujols is 2-for-5 with two doubles against Peacock in his career, and Mike Trout is 3-for-8 with two extra-base hits. Catcher Hank Conger is 3-for-4 with a home run and a double.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/9/2/6096233/game-139-preview-houston-astros-vs-los-angeles-angels-of-anaheimRyan Dunsmore