Spencer Arrighetti’s control problems finally caught up with him in a big way. The right-hander issued a career-high six walks and was tagged for eight runs across four innings Wednesday, and Washington cashed in enough of those free passes to run away with an 8-2 win at Nationals Park, taking the series finale and dropping Houston to 46-49.
Washington had the lead before Arrighetti settled into any rhythm. He opened the third by walking James Wood and Luis García Jr., and a sacrifice fly from CJ Abrams brought Wood home before Daylen Lile’s double made it 2-0. García turned the game further in the fourth, tacking on a three-run homer, his 20th of the season, after Arrighetti had already put two runners aboard.
Abrams added a solo shot in the fifth, his 20th as well, and Arrighetti’s night ended two batters later when a bases-loading walk to Jorbit Vivas forced Joe Espada to turn to the bullpen. Both runners he left on base came around to score off reliever Alimber Santa, pushing the deficit to 1-8.
Houston’s offense could not answer. The middle of the order went hitless most of the night, with Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez combining for no hits in eight at-bats atop the lineup. Isaac Paredes doubled in the fourth for Houston’s first extra-base hit, but the Astros did not put together a real scoring threat until the eighth, when Zach Dezenzo came around on a throwing error to make it 8-2.
“There’s no excuse. I gotta execute better,” said a glum Arrighetti afterward.
Left-hander Foster Griffin was the bigger obstacle. The 30-year-old, who spent the previous three seasons pitching in Japan, allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings and struck out nine, extending his streak of starts allowing one run or fewer.
The loss ends a series in which none of Houston’s three starters, Mike Burrows, Tatsuya Imai, and Arrighetti, completed five innings. The Astros get Thursday off before opening the Silver Boot Series against the Texas Rangers, a three-game set in Arlington, with shortstop Jeremy Peña expected back from the injured list after a second rehab game at Triple-A Sugar Land, and Lance McCullers Jr. continuing his own rehab work after throwing four innings Tuesday. Houston has not yet named a starter for the rotation spot Burrows vacated.
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