The Houston Astros scored 10 runs in the series opener in Cincinnati. They scored one over the next 18 innings. That is the story of a series they should have won.
Andrew Abbott, entering with a 5.13 ERA, held Houston to two singles over his first five innings and finished with six scoreless frames in a 5-0 Reds win Sunday at Great American Ball Park. The Astros managed three hits total, dropped to 16-25, and are now three games into a 13-game, 13-day stretch with no off day, having lost four straight and scored three or fewer runs in 11 of their last 16 games.
Kai-Wei Teng started as an opener and worked three scoreless innings on 51 pitches. Nobody warmed in the bullpen at the end of the third, and he returned for the fourth. Four straight hits ended his afternoon: a single by Elly De La Cruz, a double by Sal Stewart, a two-run triple by JJ Bleday, and an RBI single by Tyler Stephenson. Cody Bolton took over in the fifth and needed 50 pitches to record six outs, walking three and allowing a run. Spencer Steer homered off Bolton in the sixth to make it 5-0. Jayden Murray and Logan VanWey each threw a scoreless inning to close it out.
Yordan Alvarez struck out in all four of his at-bats, the first four-strikeout game of his season. He struck out three times against Abbott, twice chasing curveballs well out of the zone. It was a rough afternoon for an offense that has been showing signs of strain. Jose Altuve is mired in a 16-for-87 stretch. The lineup is without Carlos Correa, Yainer Diaz, and Jeremy Peña, with inexperienced fill-ins populating the outfield and shortstop.
Peña, at least, is close. He ran the bases Saturday in Cincinnati and is tentatively set to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday or Wednesday. Correa is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday on the torn tendon in his left ankle and faces a 6-to-8 month recovery.
Peter Lambert starts Monday as the Mariners come to Daikin Park for a four-game series, followed by the Silver Boot Series against the Texas Rangers. Ten games remain in the 13-game, 13-day stretch.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check the Astros promotions schedule before your next game.
