The Houston Astros couldn’t build on Wednesday night’s walk-off win. Less than 14 hours after snapping a four-game losing streak, Houston took the field at Daikin Park Thursday afternoon against the Seattle Mariners with a chance to split the series. Luke Raley ended that conversation before the Astros took an at-bat.
Raley lofted a four-seam fastball from Mike Burrows into the Crawford Boxes in the first inning, a three-run shot that put Seattle up 3-0 and set the tone for an 8-3 loss in the series finale at Daikin Park. The Astros dropped three of four to the Mariners and fell to 17-28.
Burrows had blanked the Reds for seven innings in his previous start. Thursday was a different story. He allowed seven runs on eight hits across 5.2 innings, surrendering home runs to Raley and Mitch Garver. Seven of his 10 allowed this year have come with runners on base.
Both came in two-strike counts. Opponents had hit just .186 against Burrows in two-strike situations through his first eight outings. Garver’s blast in the fourth, a slider crushed to the back of the Crawford Boxes that Statcast projects would have been a home run in 28 of the 30 parks, helped erase Burrows’ dominance in two-strike counts. Burrows built a 1-2 count against Cole Young in the sixth before Young lined a sinker into the right-field corner for a two-run double that ended Burrows’ afternoon. Cody Bolton took over and allowed one run over 3.1 innings. Burrows’ ERA sits at 5.72 through nine starts.
Six of his 10 home runs allowed have come off his four-seam fastball. Burrows scaled back its usage Thursday, throwing just 15 four-seamers on 102 pitches while leaning more heavily on his changeup and slider. It didn’t change the outcome.
Yordan Alvarez and Braden Shewmake combined for all five Houston hits. The rest of the lineup had none. Alvarez hit his 14th home run of the season in the third, a solo shot to center off Luis Castillo that made it 3-1. Shewmake’s two-run double in the sixth pulled Houston to 7-3 and chased Castillo. That was as close as it got.
The Astros finished 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. They have scored three runs or fewer in 14 of their last 20 games. Houston’s pitching staff, which carries the majors’ highest ERA, has allowed eight or more runs in 16 of 45 games this season, and the team’s 17-28 record is the second-worst in baseball.
The Texas Rangers arrive at Daikin Park Friday for a three-game Silver Boot Series, with Spencer Arrighetti scheduled to start the opener.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check the Astros promotions schedule before your next game.