Wasted Hunter Brown’s most impressive start all year.
This was the way the Astros’ front office drew it up.
A shutdown start giving the Astros a lead through six innings. Then Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly, and Josh Hader to seal the lead and lock it down.
Starter Hunter Brown did his part. After a rocky first inning — of course — where he allowed one run and was let off the hook by an egregious running error by Julio Rodriguez, Brown shut down the Mariners for the next five innings, allowing only four hits, no walks, and nine Ks total.
Brown pitched like a master, mixing five pitches for strikes, hitting his spots, and keeping the Mariners off-balance.
The Astros managed to pull ahead on a two-run Breggy bomb in the fourth inning, leaving it up to the vaunted closer-quality bullpen.
Bryan Abreu played his role in impressive fashion, mowing down the side, including two Ks.
It was up to Ryan Pressly.
This wasn’t how they drew it up.
Mitch Haniger greeted Presly with a double and took third on a wild pitch (initially ruled a passed ball)
After getting Ryan Bliss down 0-2 in the count, Pressly walked the rookie fresh off the farm, followed by Josh Rojas’ RBI double just off Jose Abreu’s glove.
A Julio Rodriguez swinging bunt single and an Alex Bregman throwing error scored two more for the Mariners as the wheels came off the Astros’ train.
This was Pressly’s fourth blown save and eighth meltdown this season. While the rest of the bullpen, top to bottom, has atoned for their early season embarrassment, Pressly continues to cost the Astros games.
However, the Astros are not going to win many games with the two runs they’ve scored each of the last two nights. Eleven hits total in two games won’t cut it either.
Let’s face it. This team has a lot of holes.
Box score HERE.