Jarred Cosart Struggles Through 6 Innings & the Astros Don’t Hit

Carlos Corporan and Jarred Cosart (Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports)

This afternoon the Houston Astros looked to close out their first home stand of the season on a winning note, but they never had a chance. Jarred Cosart gave it his best effort but the right-hander allowed his first run of the season before he gave up his first hit of the game.

It all started with a lead off walk to Kole Calhoun, then a fielder’s choice grounder by Albert Pujols put two runners on base before a Josh Hamilton walk loaded the bases with one out. At that point, it looked like Cosart could escape without any serious damage, but a Howie Kendrick single plated two runners and put the Astros in a 3-0 hole they couldn’t get out of.

Cosart then settled down and kept the Angels off the scoreboard for three innings before Calhoun led off the fifth inning with a home run. A Chris Iannetta sacrifice fly closed the book on Cosart at six innings, five runs, three hits, four walks, and four strikeouts.

While on paper, the start doesn’t look good for Cosart and it looks like a flashback to last season at times, without the runs. Cosart needed 99 pitches to get through the six innings and got 12 outs on the ground. Yes, he did struggle with control and walked four batters,  but it could have been worse. The Angels would have been kept of the scoreboard in the first inning had Jonathan Villar gone for the sure out on Pujols’ first inning fielder’s choice.

The game would also would have turned out better if the Astros hit. They managed just four hits off C.J. Wilson who shut down Houston for eight innings allowing just a Carlos Corporan eighth inning home run while striking out seven batters.

While Dexter Fowler was obviously missed, the lack of production goes deeper than that on a day after Houston went deep five times.

Brad Peacock is still trying to adjust to a relief role and pitched the last three innings allowing four runs to see his ERA rise to 7.11.