Going into a “must win” of “must wins” in their game two against the Mariners, the Astros came into tonight looking for a spark after being shutout 4-0 last night to start the series. The loss dropped them to 1.0 game back of Seattle for the AL West lead, and has them barely clinging to a Wild Card spot thanks to a recent nine game surge by the Cleveland Guardians.
Tonight, they are tasked with beating George Kirby (9-7, 4.32 ERA, 122 SO) if they want to tie the series at one a piece. Starting for
the Astros is embattled lefty Framber Valdez (12-10, 3.66 ERA, 176 SO) who may be playing his last regular season game for the club.
Embattled is my selected term due to how “off the rails” things have become this season for the former “Quality Start King”. Besides beaning his own catcher earlier in this month, Framber has been one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball since August 1st. According to Statmuse:
The Astros have lost eight of his last nine starts. He has not looked anywhere close to a player who at one point was crowned as a would-be “Ace” of the pitching staff.
Alas, here we are. Regardless of the recent past, the team needed Framber tonight in the worst way, and Valdez needed this start. It’s essentially win or go home at this point for the home team. A lost series here could spell disaster for their postseason hopes.
First Pitch: 6:13 CDT
Top of the 1st Inning:
A Julio Rodriguez walk came back to haunt Framber and the Astros when Eugenio Suárez lined a double to center field to make it 1-0 Mariners. This is the second night in a row where they’ve allowed the Mariners to score first.
Top of the 2nd Inning:
Josh Naylor singled to lead off the inning. He then advanced to third base on a steal and a Mitch Garver flyout to center. Victor Robles unfortunately then launched a sac fly to left field to make it 2-0.
Not a great start when you’re fighting to not be outside of the playoff race by night’s end. (Guardians currently leading Minnesota 6-0. If they finish the double header sweep, they will own the third WC spot with an Astros loss)
Top of the 3rd Inning:
It was more of the same in the top of the third, as Cal Raleigh hit a franchise record 57th homer of the season. This broke Ken Griffey Jr’s mark, and made it 3-0 Mariners.
To be honest, a three run deficit feels like 15 with how this offense has been all year.
Speaking of, their scoreless drought reached 15 innings as of the bottom of the 3rd, going back to their 5-2 win against the Rangers on Wednesday.
Top of the 5th Inning:
Framber continued his melt down by giving up a walk and two singles to load the bases in the 5th inning. He then walked Josh Naylor to score a run and increase the Mariners lead to 4-0.
Joe Espada then pulled Framber to end his torturous night and inserted Jayden Murray to attempt to escape the jam. Framber’s final line (possibly for the last time in Houston): 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 BB, 4 K’s, 1 HR, 5 ER.
Over his last nine starts (including tonight), Framber has given up 5, 4, 3, 7, 0, 6, 4, 5, and 5.
It truly is a sad sight to see Framber going out like this for the only franchise and fansbase he’s ever known. You really wonder what’s happened to a pitcher who, according to former Astro Martín Maldonado in ’22, was flirting with being worth around $200 million.
Top of the 7th Inning:
Eugenio Suárez and Jorge Polanco both doubled off of Colton Gordon to increase Seattle’s lead to 6-0.
Scoring drought update: The scoring drought reached 18 consecutive innings for the Astros going into the bottom of the 7th.
Bottom of the 7th Inning:
And just like that, the Astros might’ve heard my whining about their offensive futility and decided to change the narrative. Yainer Diaz and Jesús Sánchez hit back to back singles to put runners on first and second. Cam Smith then had a scary HBP situation near the face area to put him on and load the bases.
Jeremy Peña then whacked a Crawfish Box special for a potential series saving Grand Slam! It was then 6-4. Still a two run deficit, but some fight nonetheless! (Again, please be nice to Jim Crane’s wallet, Mr. Boras)
Bottom of the 8th Inning:
Jose Altuve and Victor Caratini both got in scoring position after a single and double respectively. Joe Espada then pinch-hit for Sanchez by sending out Christian Walker with two outs and runners on second and third.
Unfortunately, but sadly not surprisingly, Walker struck out swinging on three pitches to end the inning.
Walker’s position on the team should be another talking point heading into the off season.
Walker has struck out a career worst 172 times this season and tied his career worst in WAR with a -0.2 mark. He’s still owed another $40 million over two more seasons with the team.
Bottom of the 9th Inning:
For what seems like the millionth time this season, the Astro had yet ANOTHER chance to hit with runners in scoring position to tie/win the game. And like they have a million time before, they fail to do anything significant except miss opportunities.
Carlos Correa seemingly scored Jake Meyers from second on a flare single to center, but Victor Robles made the defensive play of the game by flying in from right for the catch and doubling off a home-plate bound Jake Meyers at the same time. Ballgame over. Astros lose again, this time 6-4.
Their offense finished in abysmal fashion again, going 1-9 with RISP and leaving 7 on base.
There have to be changes made in the offseason in so many places. There just have to be.
Looking ahead:
The Astros now find themselves on the outside looking into the playoff picture with seven games left in the regular season. With the Guardians owning the same record at 84-71, they are given the third Wildcard spot due having the tiebreaker advantage.
All they can hope for now is for some losses to pile up for Seattle, Boston, and Cleveland. If that doesn’t happen, they will most likely miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
To close out their final home game of the regular season, the Astros aim to take down Logan Gilbert (5-6, 3.53 ERA, 164 SO). Facing him will be breakout veteran Jason Alexander (4-1, 4.04 ERA, 60 SO), who looks to complete a career year for the club.
