After sweeping Boston last week, the Astros have clinched losing their second straight series in Denver, going down 5-1 at Coors Field.
The Astros evened their season record to 6-6, with heavy scoring keeping them in most games. Tonight, the bats went limp while the pitching continued to get shelled.
The Astros did manage to score first on red-hot Christian Walker’s oppo-taco, solo homer in the second inning. It was his third homer and league-leading 12 th RBI. However, the Rockies tied it in their second inning on Willi Castro’s RBI single on a ball that should have been caught by rookie left-fielder Brice Mathews.
Castro added two more against Astros starter Mike Burrows on a two-run homer in the fourth. Burrows finished the game after 5.1 innings, allowing three runs, eight hits, a walk, and only three Ks. After his third start, his season ERA stands at 5.63.
In the seventh inning, Steven Okert and Kai-Weng Tai each were charged with one run as Tai allowed a two-run homer to Mickey Moniak.
The Astros have lost three in a row and four of their last five thanks largely to porous pitching. In the last five games, the Astros have allowed 37 runs, despite a shutout in the game Saturday started by Tatsuya Imai.
Despite leading the league in many hitting categories before tonight, the Astros only managed three hits tonight in the rare air of Denver. Jose Altuve struck out three times and appeared to revert to his old habit of swinging wildly out of the zone.
Tomorrow, Cristian Javier starts for the Stros. In two previous starts, his season ERA is 12.96 with a WHIP of 2.28. Game time 2:10.
Feature photo from @rockies on X, Source
Another left handed finesse pitcher. 6.1 innings, 3 hits, 1 run in a hitters stadium.
Freeland is solid
His career stats are unimpressive.