Recap: Dodgers Outhit Astros, But Can’t Avoid 4th Straight Loss
Mired in a three-game losing streak, the Los Angeles Dodgers looked to put Mike Fiers’ no-hitter behind them and some of the controversy attached to it by sending Zack Greinke to the mound. On top of facing the American League West-leading Houston Astros, Saturday presented another hurdle as the Astros’ pregame ceremony to honor Craig Biggio delayed first pitch by 15 minutes.
Scott Kazmir picked up where Fiers left off, retiring the Dodgers in order in the first inning. Jose Altuve led off the bottom of the inning with a shot to deep center for his first triple of the season.
After getting Carlos Gomez to ground to third base, forcing Altuve to hold, Carlos Correa hit a chopper to Justin Turner that he bobbled, allowing Altuve to score on the error and the Astros to take a 1-0 lead. Scott Van Slyke put a charge into one that was caught in front of the hill as the Dodgers otherwise had a quiet second inning with Kazmir picking up two strikeouts.
Luis Valbuena crushed a two-out solo home run to right-center field, over the Astros bullpen in the bottom of the second to extend Houston’s lead to 2-0. Kazmir struck out two more in the third as he again retired the side in order and pushed the Dodgers’ hitless streak to 13 innings.
Chase Utley made a diving stop to rob Jason Castro of a base hit to lead off the bottom of the third. Greinke then proceeded to retire Altuve and GOmez for his first 1-2-3 inning of the game.
CONTINUE READING: Dodgers break up Scott Kazmir’s perfect-game bid