Thomas Campbell – USA TODAY Sports
A lot is expected out of a pitcher who has thrown only quality starts since being called up. Jarred Cosart‘s sub-1.00 ERA for the Houston Astros had raised expectations to the point that anything less than another quality start is a letdown.
It was pretty clear right off the bat that Cosart wasn’t on top of his game.
Cosart allowed at least one baserunner in each of the five innings he worked. He struggled through those five innings, giving up seven hits and five walks, but only two earned runs. He hit his 100th pitch in just the fifth inning, and it was as far as he’d go.
Holding on for dear life with a 2-2 tie, the Astros turned to what fans dreaded — the bullpen. In stepped Wesley Wright, who did the unexpected, combining with Josh Zeid to strike out two guys and preserve the game for another inning.
Anytime the Astros bullpen bails out a starting pitcher, it’s cause for celebration. Cosart had thrown four quality starts and amassed only one win. That one win was his debut when he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. And the bullpen tried to blow that lead too.
But all good things must come to an end.
If there’s one thing the Astros are consistent at, it’s bullpen losses. Despite the initial bullpen bail-out, Josh Fields cleaned up the job and gave up a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to seal another gut-wrenching loss for the hapless Astros. On the bright side, Bo Porter got ejected in the ninth. Showing emotion isn’t exactly hard when the bullpen consistently blows late leads, and Porter proved this to be true.
Right when the ‘pen stepped out of character and provided a solid service, they stepped right back in to their hideous side and blow another game.
