One night after a dramatic comeback win, the Astros were blown out 10-1. Kai-Wei Teng struggled, and the offense could not get anything going. The inconsistency continues to be the story of this season for the Houston Astros.
What Went Wrong
The Angels scored two unearned runs in the first on a hit by pitch and an RBI grounder. Wade Meckler and Jo Adell hit two-run doubles in a five-run second inning, and Teng lasted just four innings, giving up seven hits and five earned runs. Two errors by Peña and Paredes added to the damage. Sometimes the Astros unravel, and sometimes they persevere. Tuesday, they unraveled.
The Astros loaded the bases in the third, but Ureña struck out Loperfido to end the threat. They put two runners on in the first, second, and fifth innings, but could not drive in a run. Brice Matthews had the only RBI of the night, and Ureña was simply dominant. He threw 5 shutout innings with 7 strikeouts.
Astros fall to 31-38. One win and one blowout loss in two games against a team with a worse record is not a good look for Houston. This is exactly the kind of inconsistency that has defined their season. They are already battling the injury bug, and they can't afford to make all of these errors with the players they actually have.
Teng has now lost three of his last four starts, and his ERA has climbed to 3.71, per MLB. For a pitcher who was one of the pleasant surprises of the season, this stretch is concerning. The Astros need him to figure it out quickly with a busy stretch of games ahead.
The two errors by Peña and Paredes were uncharacteristic for a team that entered the series with the fewest errors in the AL. The Astros have been one of the best defensive teams in baseball this season, which makes Tuesday's performance even more frustrating.
The Astros showed Monday they can compete with anyone. Tuesday showed they can also get blown out by anyone. The next few weeks will define this season. They are going to find themselves watching the playoffs from home for the second season in a row if they don't stop with these constant little ups and downs. They need to use that momentum and string together more than two wins, or the season is going to slip away fast.
