*Encouraging start from Collin McHugh gets pissed away with some questionable defense and a poor job by Frankie Tuesday. Astros lose 5-3. They are 68-35, 38-14 on the road. Seattle won, so the division lead now stands at 17 games. There are 59 games left.
*The Astros dropped to 55-7 when leading after six innings. The Tigers are now 2-41 when trailing after six innings.
*Detroit pitcher Matt Boyd allowed 8H/3ER, 5K:0BB in 7.1IP. Hinch:
We really didn't do a lot after the fourth. He's got good stuff and he was able to make some adjustments early in the game.
*Closing line in this Chronicle piece by Hunter Atkins
Inside the visiting coach's office after the Astros' loss, Hinch removed his cap and slammed it into a laundry basket.
*Collin McHugh was pulled from the game after 6IP, 4H/1ER, 7K:1BB and 82 pitches. McHugh:
I think they just decided that it was the best bet to go ahead and get somebody else in there and see what they could do that third time through the lineup.
Hinch:
Very encouraged by his command, by his breaking balls, by his pace. Just being able to control the game right up until the very end.
*Francis Martes hit Nick Castellanos on the hand to lead off the 7th inning, then allowed a single, followed by a wild pitch, then a Jose Iglesias RBI double tied the game at 3-3. Devenski came in and allowed the go-ahead run, charged to Martes, to score. Hinch:
The leadoff hit by pitch is probably the toughest one. Because he goes from an opportunity to get a leadoff out to a mess on first base.
*Jose Altuve's hitting streak ended at 19 games.
*Derek Fisher is fitting in...for at least another 30 hours until the Trade Deadline.
*The Yankees are progressing on talks to add Jaime Garcia and Sonny Gray. Joel Sherman writes that the Yankees acquiring Gray are "somewhere between likely to inevitable."
*Ken Rosenthal writes that the Astros aren't serious players for Gray, who had his start bumped from today to tomorrow.
*The Astros have shown interest in the Cardinals' Lance Lynn.
*The Dodgers are more likely to add an impact reliever than a starter.
*Jeff Bagwell gets inducted into the Hall of Fame today and you can watch it beginning at 11am on MLB Network or MLB.com.
*David Price is a piece of crap.
*Gotta be out the door early this morning. Maybe another Links post coming tonight...
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
