The Astros (57-53) stranded 10 runners and finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, with Bregman delivering that lone hit with his third hit of the game.
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“I don’t know if it’s ever easy against these guys, but it was clearly his best game”, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said about Keuchel. While they have not looked like the zombies they were prior to the well-needed four-day reprieve, they have just been OK, going 9-9 in 18 games played.
Keuchel produced his 10th career complete game and fourth career shutout. He struck out seven and walked two.
Unfortunately, that was when Keuchel got his second groundout: Odor to Marwin Gonzalez at first base. “I felt like he was able to go in when he wanted to and then expand. You get a feeling that the body is turning around right in the nick of time for August and September”.
The Rangers, who salvaged the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-3 victory Thursday night, will turn to left-hander Martin Perez (7-7, 4.22 ERA) in the opener. We’ve got to play all of our games, but it will be nice to get back in the division and get a look at their new team.
Lucas Harrell gave up one run and walked five in 3 2/3 innings, matching his shortest outing of the season. We were able to do that tonight. He got a total of 18 ground ball outs, tying the most by any pitcher in the majors this season. Kauchel got off to a shaky start, giving up a double, single and walk in the first inning, along with throwing a wild pitch.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat after being activated from the disabled list, Jon Lester threw seven strong innings and Chicago defeated Oakland at the Oakland Coliseum. Grabbing a win his last time out against KC, Harrell went six innings with four hits and three runs.
Houston seenth: Jose Altuve’s two-out double off the wall in right field scored George Springer from first.
Brett Cecil (1-6) pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning to claim the victory, while Joaquin Benoit earned his first save of the season.
PITTSBURGH – Sean Rodriguez led off the bottom of the ninth with a 413-foot home run to left field to give Pittsburgh a win over Cincinnati. Five more hits, Four additional runs, and a pivotal walk to Alex Bregman, whose batting average was (and still is) under.100 for the season.
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TIGERS 4, METS 3 Victor Martinez homered and Detroit ace Justin Verlander limited NY to four hits in six innings to help host Detroit beat NY for its ninth victory in its past 10 games. With two outs, Beltran was thrown out at home on Rougned Odor’s double to the left-center gap to end the inning. The Rangers have scored eight runs in four games since Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy joined the team.
