Houston Astros Dip To Tribe; Lose 2-1 In 13 Innings

Four hours and 32 minutes…

Say it with me.

Four hours and 32 minutes…

That’s how long it took to get this last match of the regular season completed for these two teams as it comes to a close for Houston Astros and as the Cleveland Indians make a valiant push to get themselves a Wild Card berth for the playoffs.

This game did not involve too much offense but it definitely involved some notable starting pitching from both teams.

However, it was the relieving pitching that did the team in last night.

Another blunder by the bullpen?

Are you surprised?

You shouldn’t be.

It all started to go downhill shortly after Scott Feldman had exited the game.

Let’s get to it…

Up until about the 4th inning, each team made earnest opportunities to make things happen to strike first.

But to no avail…

Sep 18, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder

Dexter Fowler

(21) is congratulated by first baseman

Jon Singleton

(28) after scoring a run during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

At the bottom of the 4th, Jake Marisnick singled to center scoring Dexter Fowler. Fowler got on-base with a single to left, he was also able to advance to 2nd via a wild pitch by Danny Salazar. Astros 1, Indians 0

In an effort to make more things happen, Marisnick was able to steal 2nd base and advance to 3rd with Jon Singleton at-bat putting him in scoring position. This was because of error on the throw by Yan Gomes.

Things were looking promising but Singleton eventually struck out ultimately putting an end to the drive and to the 4th inning.

For the next five innings until the 9th, Feldman and Salazar went to work and it was a beauty to see.

Sep 18, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher

Scott Feldman

(46) pitches during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Feldman only allowed two hits over that span and so did Salazar for a total of four before he exited at the bottom of the 8th.

But here’s where things got tricky for Feldman…

At the top of the 9th, Michael Bourn was at-bat and hit a screamer to left-center but it seemed to disappear to the naked eye because Fowler totally lost where the ball was assuming that it was the inside-the-park home run. Many thought it had ended up in the visitor’s bullpen. After a moment, the ball then rolled out from under the pad of the support beam and Fowler seemed to have a puzzled look as to what the heck happened. After further review, the play was overturned and the call was a ground-rule double.

After that play, that was the end of the road for Feldman as the Indians moved through the top of the order and Tony Sipp was brought in on relief.

Jose Ramirez was the first batter he faced and he decided to bunt to 3rd to get on-base. He was called out but after a challenge by the Indians, the call was overturned, he was ruled safe at 1st and Bourn was able to advance to 3rd base. Ramirez may have not intended to get a base hit — he looked like he wanted to sac-bunt — but he was able to get one out of this play.

On the next at-bat, Michael Brantley reached on a fielder’s choice getting himself on-base and Bourn getting out at home in 3-5-2 fashion. Ramirez was able to advance to 2nd off the play.

Sipp was in a huge jam and Tom Lawless decided to give him the hook and inserted Chad Qualls into the lineup.

It got worse…

Sep 18, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop

Jose Ramirez

(11) scores a run during the thirteenth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Santana then singled to right scoring Ramirez and Brantley was able to advance to 2nd on the play effectively tying the game. Indians 1, Astros 1

It looked like the Astros were going to hold on to win this game but their woes of the 9th inning definitely meant extra innings after they couldn’t get anything going at the bottom of that inning.

And here we go…

Kevin Chapman was brought in for Qualls after that killer of a play and kept things under control until he allowed a single by Brantley at the top of the 11th.

Here’s where the Indians slowly started to build their attack plan for the Astros and things started to slowly unravel for the team’s chances to win…

At the top of the 13th, Ramirez doubled to left. Brantley was then intentionally walked by Samuel Deduno, the final reliever of the game. Santana was also able to walk, not intentionally but that effectively loaded up the bases.

Mike Aviles then sac-flied to right scoring Ramirez and Brantley was able to advance to 3rd. Marisnick made the catch but made an off-line throw to home sealing the eventual Astros’ fate for this game. Indians 2, Astros 1

The Astros tried to fight back with a Robbie Grossman single at the bottom of the 13th but a series of ground outs, strike outs and fly outs made that effort fruitless.

What a tough ending to one of the longer Astros’ games this season.