For a fleeting few seconds, it appeared the Astros could potentially protect a lead and capture a crucial victory. Wins now feel like morale boosters for a reeling club, one that has all but cemented a postseason spot but has begun this pivotal road trip teetering on disaster.
In the sixth inning of the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, Humberto Castellanos accomplished what no other Astro could claim. He retired the Angels in order and preserved a two-run lead.
Castellanos pitched out of necessity, not by choice. Manager Dusty Baker’s bullpen was down at least five relievers. He was called up from the taxi squad as the team’s 29th man for the doubleheader. Now, he held the day’s fate in his right hand.
Two outs from victory, Castellanos crumbled. Justin Upton singled and Mike Trout walked, prompting Anthony Rendon to hit. The Rice product pulverized the first pitch for a go-ahead, three-run home run, sending the Angels to a 7-6 win and a Saturday sweep of the Astros. Houston now sits 3 ½ games back of the Oakland A’s in the American League West.
Houston held a four-run lead after the second inning. Castellanos coughed up a two-run lead in the seventh. The team lost a two-run lead in the seventh in the first game, too.
George Springer struck two home runs, including a go-ahead, two-run shot in the fifth inning. Reliever Brad Peacock, making his first appearance of the season, yielded two runs in 1 ⅓ innings. Every Astros reliever who appeared in Saturday’s doubleheader allowed a run.
Astros starter José Urquidy had not started a major league game since last October, when he dominated the Washington Nationals in Game 4 of the World Series. After testing positive for COVID-19 in July, Urquidy quarantined in his Houston apartment for 35 days. The isolation sapped Urquidy of some strength and forced him to start from scratch upon arrival at the alternate training site in Corpus Christi.
He operated Saturday on a strict pitch count of around 60. Baker yanked him after 63. The righthander was clearly amped to begin the game, running his four-seam fastball up to 95 mph. Urquidy eventually settled into a more normal 92-93 mph velocity.
The Angels had loads of hard contact against Urquidy, but got few tangible results. Franklin Barreto, Justin Upton, Anthony Rendon and Luis Rengifo all struck balls in play 102 mph or harder. All were outs.
Urquidy allowed a baserunner in every inning he worked. His three walks were uncharacteristic. None of the free passes came around to score, but all contributed to Urquidy’s climbing pitch count. He required 42 pitches to finish three innings.
Urquidy could not complete the fourth. Four of the first five hitters reached. Trout struck a double and scored on Pujols’ single. Jo Adell singled and Taylor Ward walked, too. A run-scoring groundout by Franklin Barreto prompted Baker to pull Urquidy. The skipper clapped his hands twice before taking the baseball and bringing the bullpen in.
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September 06, 2020 at 12:42PM
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Astros crumble again, drop doubleheader finale against Angels - Houston Chronicle
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