Spot starter, 3 relievers team up on a 1-hit gem
The Astros have not looked like themselves the last four games. They lost three to the Indians over the weekend. Then their Monday opener against the Detroit Tigers unfolded uncharacteristically.
The two-out hits and boyish exuberance that have propelled the Astros this season remained elusive. Carlos Correa, Yulieski Gurriel and George Springer extended batting slumps. Clutch catcher Brian McCann, who has driven in 25 runs in 30 games, continued his stint on the seven-day disabled list for a concussion. Scheduled starter Dallas Keuchel, also on the DL, idled with a pinched nerve in his neck that deterred him from picking up a baseball all day.
The Astros’ ace was replaced in a spot start by Brad Peacock, a low-leverage reliever who barely made the opening-day roster and required massive run support to win previous seasons’ starts.
Despite the unusual turn for baseball’s winningest team, Houston proved why it has earned that reputation: resiliency. The Astros (30-15) won 1-0, with four pitchers combining on a one-hitter to make a first-inning run hold up.
After George Springer drew a leadoff walk, he took off for second on a pitch that Jose Altuve ripped to the leftfield corner for a run-scoring double. Altuve is 12-for-32 (.375) during an eight-game hitting streak since Mother’s Day.
In 46 starts before Mon-
day, Peacock had won only twice when his team scored fewer than six runs. In 41⁄3 innings against the Tigers (21-22), he surrendered one hit — Mikie Mahtook’s third-inning single — and struck out eight. Throwing 70 pitches, he lowered his ERA to 0.87.
“I just felt great out there tonight,” Peacock said. “I hadn’t felt like that in a long time.”
After Peacock walked Tyler Collins with one out in the fifth, manager A.J. Hinch strode to the mound. The pitcher was aware of his skipper’s short leash.
“Everything you could ask for going into the game, he exceeded just by getting into the fifth,” Hinch said. “That’s a pretty special performance out of him.”
Win for Devenski
Hinch took the baseball from Peacock and tapped it twice on the righthander’s chest in a spot aligned with his heart, which might have pumped the last surges of adrenaline he could muster in his longest outing since Sept. 30, 2016.
“You did everything we asked tonight,” Hinch told Peacock on the mound.
“He just wanted to look after me and not hurt me,” Peacock said with a laugh after the game.
His no-decision seemed more like a victory.
Chris Devenski (3-2) got the win with 22⁄3 hitless innings. Former Astro J.D. Martinez gave the Tigers hope when he approached with a runner on in the seventh. He had been named the AL Player of the Week after hitting .389 with seven runs, four homers and nine RBIs in his last six games. Devenski induced a double play to squelch the Tigers’ final challenge of the night.
Of Houston’s nine hits, Altuve’s was the only clutch one. The team went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. With two on in the eighth, Marwin Gonzalez struck out looking at a curveball. He demonstratively flung his bat and helmet, disgusted by multiple calls from plate umpire Chris Guccione. Hinch walked out to shield Guccione from Gonzalez’s continued gesticulations.
Tigers starter Michael Fulmer (5-2, 2.55 ERA), the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, mostly stymied the Astros in seven innings. Correa, Gurriel and Springer each ended the night on 1-for-14 spells.
Springer compensated with the only run of the game and a diving play for the first out in the sixth.
Giles gets 12th save
Pitching the ninth for the second consecutive game, Ken Giles notched his 12th save of the season.
Hinch anticipated having to go to the bullpen early but only could hope it would go the way he had “drawn it up,” with Peacock lasting long enough for Devenski, Will Harris and Giles to suppress the rest.
“With a one-run game, you have zero room for error,” Hinch said.
In his mound talk, Hinch wanted Peacock not to be discouraged by exiting the game without a “W” for his hard work.
“To a pitcher, it matters,” Hinch said. “I was doing it in the best interest of him and the best interest of the team. Bringing in Devenski shows exactly where I think the game is.”
Peacock, who had seemed like he needed a mercy rule to win games, has been humbled after going from touted prospect to struggling starter to forgettable minor leaguer to a spring training afterthought. Despite his redemptive excellence in the bullpen and the spot start this season, he had an “aw shucks” attitude Monday night.
“I didn’t know where I was going to be in spring training, to tell you the truth — if I was going to get designated or something,” he said. “It means a lot they kept me around.”