Debuting Pitcher Sets Tone
Ethan Pecko made his Major League debut for the Houston Astros on Thursday, August 20, at Daikin Park. The right-hander pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs while walking three batters. He recorded four strikeouts in the outing. Despite the earned runs, the Astros bullpen managed to limit the damage and secure the victory.
Scoring Sequence
The Los Angeles Angels took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Yulieski Gurriel Jr. did not score, but instead, the scoring play involved a home run. Wait, the facts state: Vázquez homered to left (383 feet).
This play scored 1 run, making the score 0-1. In the fourth inning, the Astros tied the game. Guzman doubled, allowing Lowe and Grissom to score, bringing the total to 2-1.
The Angels responded immediately. Altuve doubled to left, scoring Alvarez and moving Paredes to third. This play scored 1 run, making it 2-2.
Later in the same inning, Smith hit a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Paredes to score. This gave the Astros the lead, 3-2. The Angels failed to score again in the remaining innings.
Bullpen Performance
Bennett Sousa recorded the win. He pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one hit and no earned runs, with one strikeout. AJ Blubaugh pitched 1.0 inning, allowing one hit and no earned runs, with no walks and two strikeouts.
Steven Okert pitched 1.0 inning, allowing no hits and no earned runs, walking one batter and striking out two. Bryan Abreu pitched 1.0 inning, allowing no hits and no earned runs, with no walks and two strikeouts. Josh Hader recorded the save.
He pitched 1.0 inning, allowing no hits and no earned runs, walking one batter and striking out none. The Angels' pitching staff included Walbert Urena, who took the loss. He pitched 5.0 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs, walking two batters and striking out seven.
Michael Fulmer pitched 1.0 inning, allowing two hits and no earned runs, with three strikeouts. Tayler Saucedo pitched 1.1 innings, allowing no hits and no earned runs, with two strikeouts. Luke Murphy pitched 0.2 innings, allowing no hits and no earned runs, with no strikeouts.
Final Records
The Astros improved their record to 64-63. The Angels fell to 50-77. Attendance at Daikin Park was 21,162. The game was a close contest that ended in the ninth inning.
Sources
https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816594
