Road weary Astros drop series to Indians

The Astros missed out on a chance to secure a series victory in Cleveland and a winning record on their 10-game road trip. Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Indians gave the Astros a 5-5 record for the trip that included stops in Boston and New York. The trip still has to be considered a good one for a team that is hovering around 20 games below the .500 mark. But it could have been better.

After starting the trip with four wins in the first six games, the Astros offense seemed to disappear. Outstanding pitching performances from Dallas Keuchel and company went unrewarded as the ‘Stros were shutout on only three hits on Thursday and continued to struggle offensively through the weekend.

Sunday’s game showed just how fatigued the young Astros had become. Some sloppy play early allowed the Indians to build a 3-0 lead. But Brett Oberholtzer kept his team in the game by continually working out of trouble. Obie lasted 6 & 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on ten hits. The Astros lefty struck out six and didn’t walk a batter.

Michael Foltynewicz came on in relief and had a nice outing. Folty ended up getting out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh with a strikeout and he struck out the side in the eighth. The Astros battled back , scoring a run in the eighth and loading the bases in the ninth against Indians’ closer Cody Allen. But Allen got Dexter Fowler swinging to end the game and preserve the 3-1 win for the home team.

The Astros head back home to host the Oakland Athletics in the first game of a 3-game series on Monday. Scott Feldman gets the start for the Astros against Oakland’s Jeff Samardzija.