The Astros won. The Rangers and Angels lost - the first time all three outcomes happened like that on the same day since May 28, and the 4th time all season. Houston is 40-34, 0.5 back of Anaheim, 5.5 back of Frisco.
*The win over the Fightin' Verlanders snaps a five-game skid, though the Astros scored four or fewer runs for the fifth time in the last six games. It's the first game the Astros have won with scoring four or fewer runs since May 21.
*All four runs came courtesy of Altuve and Bregman at the top of the lineup. Alex Bregman hit his 10th home run of the season (and the 150th of his career), becoming just the second Astro with double-digit homers in 2023.
Bregman's homer came on a 3-0 count. He had never hit a homer on a 3-0 count before last night.
*Jose Altuve hit a grand slam on May 29. Altuve now has 4RBI since then.
*Julkamania! After drawing a walk seven times in his first 52 games, Corey Julks has four walks in his last three games. He had walked four times in his previous 84 PAs (24 games).
*Jose Abreu was 1x4, but with three strikeouts. In 2022 Abreu struck out once every 6.17 PAs. In 2023 it's once every 4.07 PAs.
*Jake Meyers, June 2023: .149/.231/.255
*Framber Valdez threw 8IP, 4H/2ER, 9K:1BB. Framber's last six starts: 42IP, 26H/7ER, 39K:9BB. Bregman:
Framber was incredible today. Verlander, for five years, was incredible for us. Whenever we needed a win he was there and now Framber's been that guy for us.
Chronicle: Framber played the role of Stopper.
McTaggart: Framber stole the show.
*Last night's game was the first time Verlander has ever taken the L against the Astros. In ten career games against Houston, Verlander is 5-1 with a 2.82 ERA / 1.09 WHIP.
Everybody was sick of me blowing games, all the way from the org to fans, to teammates, to my friends. Even myself. It's frustrating, especially when we go out there and put up the games we've been putting and lose by one or two runs, but tonight everything felt good.
*Yainer Diaz has hit his way into the cleanup spot.
*The Rangers kinda got screwed, and I'm here for it.
*ERCOT is asking Texans to conserve energy today.
*NY Times: Pink Floyd, The Wizard of Oz, and Me.
*A Musical Selection, in which my favorite song by The National isn't actually performed by The National:
