The visiting Houston Astros will consider converting scoring opportunities when they face the Milwaukee Brewers in their second contest of the three-game series on Tuesday.
Rookie Chad Patrick (1-3, 2.87 ERA) gets a brewer’s start against fellow right-handed Hayden Wesneski (1-2, 3.86).
Christian Elich, who played in his 1,500th career game, won a two-run Homer in the belt, while Tobias Myers allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings in Milwaukee’s 5-1 victory in the series opener on Monday.
Losing four straight road series, the Astros scored nine hits in the opener, but attacked eighth innings, including a loaded base in six innings, cutting the lead to 3-1.
“In those six innings, we had the opportunity to capitalize there,” said Astros manager Joe Espada. “We just have to relax and come to us with the game. Sometimes I think we’ve worked so hard, got a big hit and came for the team.”
“This crime is going to explode soon,” he said. “We have to stay positive.”
Wesneski, who splits time between the bullpen and starts spinning over three seasons with the Chicago Cubs, is used solely as the Astros starter. Due to his career, Wesneski was 1-0, with an ERA of 1.86 for five contestants (one start), all as a cub.
He made a hard luck cross in his previous start and allowed two runs in five innings in a 2-0 loss at Kansas City.
Shortstop Jeremy Pena extended his hit streak to nine games with a leadoff single in the first inning. Pena is hitting .368 with Homer, two doubles and four RBIs in that span.
The Astros placed outfielder Yodan Alvarez on the list of 10 days of injury that caused an inflammation in his right hand on Monday, reminiscing on Triple A Sugarland catcher Cesar Salazar. Alvarez, who hit .308 last season and hit at least 31 home runs each of the last four seasons, has hit just .210 with three home runs.
Milwaukee has not lost a series to Houston at home since September 2012. The Astros will need to win the final two games to take the series, but have not won back-to-back games in Milwaukee since 2006.
Patrick lost his final three starts and allowed seven runs in 16 innings over that span. On his final outing, he allowed three runs with six hits in 5 2/3 innings and pitched a career-high 102 pitch in an 8-0 loss with the Chicago White Sox.
“He was outstanding,” said Pat Murphy, the brewer’s manager, afterwards. “I thought he helped us with the bunch. Our bullpen was clearly depleted and it was important that he was deepened, and he had. The adversity he had, he fought.
Brewer outfielder Sal Freric, who left the Cubs with Sunday’s game and pain in his left knee, was out of the lineup Monday after an MRI showed swelling and inflammation. He is not expected to head to the injured list.
– Field-level media
