HOUSTON (AP) — Jake Odorizzi and four relievers combined on a five-hit shutout, Taylor Jones had a two-run double and the Houston Astros beat Colorado 5-0 Tuesday night, snapping the Rockies’ four-game winning streak.
Houston got to Colorado starter Jon Gray (7-8) in the fourth, scoring three runs. Chas McCormick had an RBI single, and Jones followed with his double. Jones and McCormick each finished with two hits.
“Those at bats were timely,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said of Jones and McCormick. “They were premium at bats. … You get those two-out RBI hits, you are going to win most games. The bottom of the lineup came through for us.”
Michael Brantley had an RBI double in the fifth, and José Altuve added an RBI single in the sixth.
Odorizzi (5-6) scattered three hits and struck out three in five innings.
“He seemed more relaxed today,” Baker said. “He was throwing it. He was finding his spots. … He threw the ball well.”
Odorizzi rebounded nicely after struggling in his previous four starts since the All-Star break, allowing 17 runs and eight home runs, including seven runs and four home runs in his last outing Wednesday against the Dodgers.
Odorizzi said he did more dry repetitions along with his bullpen since the start in Los Angeles to work on his mechanics and get comfortable.
“The more I repeat it, the more likely it is to translate to the game,” Odorizzi said. “The difference today between the other day was that balls weren’t running back over the plate. They had life to them, as opposed to balls that were going glove side and running back arm side, so that’s a good sign that we’re going in the right direction.”
Cristian Javier threw two innings, Blake Taylor tossed 2/3 of an inning, Yimi Garcia worked 1/3 of an inning and Pedro Báez, who was activated off the 60-day injured list earlier in the day, pitched the ninth.
Colorado manager Bud Black said the Astros pitched pretty well, and his offense couldn’t string anything together.
“We had some good swings,” Black said. “We just couldn’t square up the high fastball that Odorizzi featured, and the same with Javier. … Overall, there were some high fastballs we couldn’t connect on. Good swings, foul balls, but just couldn’t get them in play with any authority.”
Gray allowed four runs on six hits with nine strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. It was the highest run total allowed by Gray since coming off the injured list on June 25.
“I just lost command and control in the fourth and fifth,” Gray said. “I thought we commanded the ball well in the first innings, and then all of a sudden, it just kind of went wild. There’s some things I need to work on mechanically that could have something to do with it, but overall, it was a disappointment.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: OF Raimel Tapia was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a right big toe strain. Colorado selected the contract of 3B Taylor Motter from Triple-A Albuquerque to take Tapia’s spot on the roster. … 2B Brendan Rogers was out of the lineup for a second straight game after suffering a bruised right hand when he was hit by a pitch on Saturday. Black said he was a little sore, but improving, and could be ready to return as soon as Wednesday.
Astros: RHP Rafael Montero was placed on the 10-day IL with right shoulder discomfort. … RHP Andre Scrubb (right shoulder strain) was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster for Báez. … RHP José Urquidy (right shoulder discomfort) threw a bullpen on Tuesday and was expected to leave for Florida on Wednesday to begin a rehabilitation assignment, Baker said.
BREGMAN ‘NOT READY’
Astros 3B Alex Bregman, who has been out since June 17 with a left quad strain, returned to Houston from a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday because his 20-day rehab window had ended, per league rules, Baker said. Bregman will stay with the Astros for five days then return to Sugar Land to start a new 20-day rehab window on Friday, Baker said.
“He’s not ready,” Baker said, adding the team didn’t want to rush Bregman’s return to the lineup and risk reaggravating the injury.
UP NEXT
LHP Framber Valdez (7-3, 3.22 ERA) will start the finale of the two-game series Wednesday for the Astros opposite Colorado RHP Antonio Senzatela (2-8, 4.73 ERA).
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