What Happened?
The Astros scored a run in each of the first two innings, and then that was pretty much it as the pitching staff, led by Josh Banks, held the Blue Jays silent for a 2-0 win.
Why They Won
The OF5 guys broke it open. Jason Bourgeois was 2x2 with a triple, and later scored on Keppinger's sac fly in the first, and Cory Sullivan hit a solo 2-out homer in the second inning. Between those two runs, and the six hits the Astros allowed, it was a quick, clean victory.
Astros pitching
Banks got the start for the stomach bug-ridden Bud Norris, and delivered with 3IP, 2H/0ER, with 2K:1BB. And six pitchers in the pen rode it out with six scoreless innings pitched. The reliever of the day was Sam Gervacio, who probably stared at the ball for a while, before blowing away his three batters on strikeouts. All of them. Fulchino and Corcoran threw perfect outings, while Lindstrom struck out two of the four batters he faced.
Astros batting
The Astros were actually out-hit 6-5, but Bourgeois had two of the hits on the day (and a walk), while Feliz, Sullivan's homer, and a hit by Castro provided the other hits.
0-fers (more than one AB): Keppinger (0x3, sac), Towles (0x3), Blum (0x3), Michaels (0x2), Navarro (0x2)
Positional Battles
Catcher
Towles: 0x3, 2K (.478)
Castro: 1x2 (.400)
Esposito: 0x1 (143)
OF5
Sullivan: 1x2, HR, BB (.222)
Bourgeois: 2x2, 3B, BB, SB (.278)
IF6
Johnson: 0x1 (.321)
Man of the Match
Jason Bourgeois. Two games ago I said he needed to start showing something, and he's responded with four hits and three stolen bases in his last five ABs. He's not a lefty, which is to his disadvantage with Sullivan, but he's coming along strong these last couple of games, and has raised his average 201 points in three games.
Goat of the Game
You know what? I'm in a good mood. It's a beautiful Friday afternoon. I'm currently 17-2 in my bracket. No Goat.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
