Astros: Five key takeaways from eventful Dodgers series

Here are our five key takeaways from the Houston Astros series against the Dodgers.

A lot of things can be said about this two-game rematch of the 2017 World Series, but it can’t be said that it wasn’t eventful. Unfortunately none of that translated into a win for the Houston Astros, who struggled offensively en route to being swept at home.

The Dodgers grabbed a 5-2 win on Tuesday in a game that was dominated by a sixth inning in which reliever Joe Kelly threw at Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa. Framber Valdez was good for four innings, but he and reliever Enoli Paredes let things unravel in the fifth.

Wednesday’s game was a marathon, and not the good kind. Both teams struggled mightily with runners in scoring position, but the Dodgers got the big hit in the 13th inning. Correa and Michael Brantley were about the only two Houston players who could hit the ball in this series, although Correa grounded into a backbreaking double play in the 13th.

The Astros were a combined 4-for-24 with runners in scoring position in these two games. For some reason, they didn’t even try to bunt when they had a runner on second with no outs in extra innings. That’s something that needs to change, especially when most of the lineup can’t hit its way out of a wet paper bag.

But at least it’s over and done with. The Astros are 3-3 and have a day off on Thursday before embarking on a nine-game road trip to Anaheim, Arizona and Oakland. Lance McCullers Jr will take the mound in Friday’s opener against the Angels. In the meantime, here are our five takeaways from the Dodgers series.