Jarred Cosart (1-2, 5.52) vs Max Scherzer (3-1, 2.08)
The Astros came into tonight's game against Detroit 4-0 in games started by former Cy Young winners. Against last year's AL winner Max Scherzer, young Jarred Cosart matched him beat for beat. But the defense let him down, then the offense couldn't pick him up, leaving Cosart with the toughest luck kind of loss. Brad Ausmus and the Tigers take Round 1 of this four-game set by a 2-0 final. The Astros drop to a Major League worst 10-22.
On the Mound:
*Seven innings, no earned runs, and Jarred Cosart deserved a better fate. Certainly he rose to the challenge against playoff-caliber competition tonight. But Houston's awakening offense was knocked back into a deep slumber by Max Scherzer, and Cosart found himself a loser with this line: 7 IP / 4 H / 1 R / 0 ER / 3 BB / 3 K.
*Anthony Bass got the 8th after Cosart left, and he allowed a solo HR to Victor Martinez, followed by an Austin Jackson single in his inning of work.
At the Plate:
*Not much. Not much at all. Dexter Fowler was the only Astro to reach base more than once, going 1x4 with a walk.
*George Springer was 1x3 with a K and a CS.
*Jonathan Villar was 1x3, and a 1st-inning error that amounted to nothing.
*But Marc Krauss' 7th-inning error tagged Cosart with the loss - more on that immediately below. Krauss went 0x2 with a BB at the plate.
Turning Point:
Jarred Cosart and Max Scherzer were engaged in a scoreless face-off through the 7th inning stretch, after which Nick Castellanos led off with a grounder to third. Matt Dominguez fielded the ball cleanly and fired across to Marc Krauss at first, but Krauss dropped the catch, making Castellanos safe on the error. Alex Avila walked, pushing the runner to second, then Andrew Romine laid down a sac bunt that moved both runners into scoring position. Rajai Davis' singled next, plating Castellanos with the game's first run - unearned - and Cosart got Ian Kinsler on a double play to end the frame. But that error was the mistake the Astros couldn't afford against top-flight competition like the Tigers.
Man of the Match:
Jarred Cosart. Selective stats, I know, but he's now got a 2.87 ERA in his six starts besides April 18th's Disaster, and averaging more than 6 innings per start.
Goat of the Game:
Marc Krauss. How long until Jon Singleton quits knocking and kicks the door down?
