The Houston Astros headed to Philadelphia to face the Phillies on Tuesday night. Trying to build on their three game winning streak, the Astros were looking to capitalize against another struggling team in MLB. Unfortunately, the Astros' winning streak was snapped losing in 15 innings 2-1.
On the mound for the Phillies, was right-hander Kyle Kendrick. Coming into this game, Kendrick has had a disappointing season. Although his record is 5-11, tonight he looked fantastic. The Astros were searching for some offense, and Kendrick was just rolling along. In the seventh inning, he ran into trouble. The Astros had a big opportunity to score. Following a Chris Carter walk, Jason Castro looped a single into center field. Jon Singleton then came through by lacing one into center field, and Carter scored tying the game at one.
With no outs and the go ahead run 90 feet away, the Astros failed to bring him home. Matt Dominguez hit a fly ball that wasn't deep enough, and Jake Marisnick grounded into a double play. Following that inning, the Astros offense was silent. By the end of this 15 inning marathon, they only managed six hits, while striking out an alarming seventeen times.
Taking the mound for the Astros, was left-hander Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel this year has been the leader of the pitching staff for them this year. 10-7 on the season, and just has been phenomenal. Tonight, he pitched another gem. Despite Ryan Howard's solo home run in the top of the second inning, Keuchel had settled down, and hoped for his offense to back him up. The Astros did tie the game, but could not take the lead. Keuchel had left with a no decision, only allowing five hits and one run.
For the rest of the game, both teams had to rely on their bullpen. The Astros' relief pitchers got the job done for a while, until they started to run out of pitchers while he Phillies' relief pitchers only allowed one hit.
In the bottom of the 15th, Philadelphia had their offense working again. Grady Sizemore led off the inning with a single. Ben Revere then got him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Jimmy Rollins then hit a fly out that wasn't deep enough to advance Sizemore to third. With two outs, and the Astros almost out of the inning, the heart of the Phillies lineup was up. Chase Utley was handed the "costless pass", and then the hero of the night stepped up to bat. Ryan Howard lined a single just past the glove of Marwin Gonzalez, and Robbie Grossman's throw to the plate was not in time, as the Phillies won, 2-1 in 15 innings.