Tonight’s game wasn’t broadcast or on StatCast, so this will be briefer than usual. Direct complaints to Jim Crane.
- The Jays were able to jump on Hayden Wesneski. Will Wagner singled, Davis Scheider walked, and Andres Gimenez singled to put them in front 2-0 with just one out in the first. An Ernie Clement sac fly was the second out, extending the lead to three.
- Yariel Rodriguez had a decent first, working around a walk in a scoreless inning. He was shakier in the second, giving up a double and single to score Houston’s first run before rebounding with a double play and a strikeout. In the third, he again gave up a walk but escaped without damage. He’d give up a second run in the fourth, a lead off homer to Zach Dezenzo. He allowed one more walk but got the next two batters and left having given up two runs in 3.2 on three hits and three walks, striking out four. Not a great day, but an improvement over where he’s been. Still far too many walks.
- Richard Lovelady got the last out of the inning. He returned to start the fifth, walking one batter but retiring the next two. Andrew Bash took over and immediately gave up a home run, putting Houston out front 4-3. He’d allow one more later in the inning on a single, steal, and ground rule double.
- Meanwhile, the offence was quiet. Leo Jimenez walked in the second and Andres Gimenez did the same in the third, but neither scored, and they went down in order in the fourth. Wagner had his second hit of the evening in the fifth, and Clement added a hit in the sixth, but neither could be cashed in.
- The starters came out for the sixth, and Eric Lauer got his turn on the mound. He struck out the side in that inning, and then gave up a single but picked off the runner in a clean seventh.
- The backups got something going in the seventh. Steward Berroa and Josh Rivera walked, Rainer Nunez singled Berroa home, and Addison Barger tied it at 5 with a sac fly.
- After a 1-2-3 top half, Tommy Nance pitched the eighth. He made it interesting with a walk and a single, but preserved the tie.
- Unfortunately, the offence sputtered again in the ninth, and Josh Walker blew the game in the bottom half on a pair of walks and a single
We’re back tomorrow at the usual time, 1:05pm ET. They’re in Jupiter playing the Cardinals, and Bowden Francis will face off against Andre Pallante.