Minute Maid Park 5O1 Crawford St. Houston, TX 77OO2 Phone 713.259.8900 Houston Astros (10-22) at Detroit Tigers (18-9) LHP Brett Oberholtzer (0-5, 5.63) vs. LHP Robbie Ray (NR) Tuesday, May 6, 2014 • Comerica Park • Detroit, MI • 6:08 PM CT • CSN Houston GAME #33 ................ ROAD #14 ROAD TRIPPIN’: Tonight’s game is the second VALDES TO TRIPLE A: LHP Raul Valdez, who ABOUT THE RECORD of a seven-game road trip, during which the As- was designated for assignment on Sunday, has Overall Record: ......................10-22 tros will be in Detroit (0-1) for four games and in cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Home Record: ..........................6-13 Baltimore for three...in 2013, the Astros finished Triple A Oklahoma City...former Detroit Tiger --with Roof Open: ...................... 4-7 with more wins on the road than at home. LHP Darin Downs took his place on the active --with Roof Closed: .................... 2-6 roster...with the removal of Valdes, the Astros 40- Road Record: ............................. 4-9 TONIGHT’S GAME: LHP Brett Oberholtzer man roster now stands at 39 players. Current Streak: ...................... Lost 3 (0-5) will make his seventh start of the season Last Homestand: ........................ 3-6 and the first of his career against Detroit in the FELIZ CUMPLEANOS: The Astros would like to Current Road Trip: .................... 0-1 first of two lefty matchups this series...starting wish second baseman Jose Altuve a happy 24th Last 5 Games: ............................ 1-4 opposite Oberholtzer will be LHP Robbie Ray, birthday today...Altuve shares his birthday with Last 10 Games: .......................... 3-7 who is making his Major League debut...Ober- actor George Clooney, NBA player Chris Paul and Series Record: ........................ 2-7-1 holtzer has posted a 2.50 ERA (5ER/18IP) in his baseball legend Willie Mays...key figures in his- Sweeps: ..................................... 0-3 three road starts this season. tory were also born on May 6, including scientist When Scoring 4 or More Runs: .. 9-4 Sigmund Freud (1856) and movie director Orson When Scoring 3 or Fewer Runs: ..1-18 DEBUTS VS. HOUSTON: LHP Robbie Ray will Welles (1915). Shutouts: .................................... 0-4 be making his MLB debut as a starter against the In One-Run Games: ................... 3-6 Astros tonight...Houston has faced a pitcher mak- NO FLY ZONE: The Astros pitching staff ranks In Two-Run Games: ................... 2-6 ing their Major League debut as a starter once first in the AL and fifth in the Majors in ground vs. Left-Handed Starters: ........... 2-7 in each of the last three seasons...those pitchers ball to fly ball ratio with a 1.70 mark...LHP Dallas vs. Right-Handed Starters: ........8-15 were RHP Taijuan Walker (8/30/13 vs. SEA), Keuchel (3.58, 1st), RHP Jarred Cosart (2.41, During the Day: ......................... 2-7 RHP Justin Grimm (6/16/12 at TEX) and LHP 6th) and RHP Scott Feldman (2.14, 7th) all rank At Night: ...................................8-15 Eric Surkamp (8/27/11 at SF). among the AL’s top 10 pitchers in GB/FB ratio When Scoring First: ................... 8-5 (min. 25IP). Opponent Scores First: ............2-17 LAST NIGHT’S RECAP: The Astros and Tigers Outhit Opponent: ...................... 5-2 were locked in a pitcher’s duel last night as RHP CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR: Six of the Astros last Outhit by Opponent: ................4-18 Jarred Cosart (0ER/7IP) and RHP Max Scherzer eight games have been decided by two-or-fewer Equal Hits: ................................. 1-2 (0ER/8IP) went toe to toe for 7.0 innings...the tie runs, including one-run games in five of those When Hitting Home Run: ........... 9-9 was broke on an unearned run by Detroit in the contests...each of their last four games have been No Home Runs: .........................1-13 7th, which eventually led to a 2-0 Astros loss in decided by two-or-fewer runs. Walkoff Home Runs: .................. 0-0 the series opener...Cosart allowed just the one Come-from-Behind Wins: ..............3 unearned run, four hits and three walks and GOIN’ DEEP: The Astros rank fourth in the AL Largest Comeback: .......................2 struck out three on the night. in home runs with 33...they are 9-9 in games that Losses After Leading: ....................7 they homer in this season, and 1-13 when they do Last At-Bat Wins: ............................3 TOUGH LUCK: Last night’s starter, RHP Jarred not...the last time Houston had at least 33 home Largest Blown Lead: ..............3 runs Cosart, received the loss despite allowing just runs thru their first 32 games of a season was in Extra-Inning Games: ................. 2-2 one unearned run in 7.0 innings pitched...the last 2008 (39 HRs). Different Batting Orders: .............26 Astros pitcher to receive a loss after going 7.0+ After Six Innings: innings without allowing an earned run was RHP JONNY-V IS ALIVE: SS Jonathan Villar hit his Lead: 9-5 ........Tied: 0-3 ...Trail: 1-14 Mark Portugal (0ER/8IP) on Sept. 9, 1991 vs. SD. fifth home run of the season on Sunday vs. SEA After Seven Innings: and leads all AL shortstops in home runs and Lead: 8-3 ........Tied: 1-3 ...Trail: 1-16 ADVANTAGE PITCHER: Since RHP Jarred in extra base hits with 14...he leads all Astros After Eight Innings: Cosart’s Major League debut on July 12, 2013, he players in OPS with a .847 mark (.321 OBP/.526 Lead: 9-2 ........Tied: 1-4 ...Trail: 0-16 ranks fifth in the American League in opponent’s SLG) and ranks second among all Major League 2013 Record vs. Detroit: batting average (min. 95IP)...both the Astros and shortstops in the category, trialing only Troy Overall in 2013: ......................... 1-6 Tigers have two players on the list below. Tulowitzki (1.310). At Minute Maid Park: ................. 0-4 Lowest Opponent’s Batting Avg.-AL (since 7/12/13): Most Extra-Base Hits - AL Shortstops: At Comerica Park: ..................... 1-2 1. Scherzer - .197 4. A. Sanchez - .214 1. Jonathan Villar - 14 XBH All-Time vs. Detroit: 2. Feldman - .210 5. Cosart - .216 2. Alexei Ramirez - 12 XBH Overall:.... ..............................10-13 3. Darvish - .211 6. Gray - .221 3. Erick Aybar - 11 XBH Record in Houston: .................... 5-5 Record in Detroit: ...................... 5-8 VS. THE TIGERS: The Astros enter tonight’s ON THE DEFENSIVE: 2B Jose Altuve has not game 10-13 all-time against the Tigers, including made an error in his last 67 games and 321 total THIS DATE IN ASTROS HISTORY: a 5-8 mark in Detroit...there are heavy connec- chances (last error was on Aug. 16, 2013 at LAA)... May 6 tions between the two clubs as the Astros carry since July 9, 2013, he has made just one error in 95 former Tiger LHP Darin Downs and Detroit games and 450 TC for a .998 fielding percentage, 2001 - Jeff Bagwell hits a grand slam carries former Astro OF J.D. Martinez on their which is tops in the Majors in that span among and drives in five runs in a 13-7 win active rosters...Downs played his last two seasons second basemen. over the Expos at Olympic Stadium (2012-13) in Detroit, while Martinez played his in Montreal...Richard Hidalgo adds a last three in Houston (2011-13)...on the Tigers ASTROS ANNOUNCE MILB POTM: Yesterday, three-run HR. coaching staff, manager Brad Ausmus (1997-98, the Astros announced their minor league Players 2001-08) played for the Astros for 10 seasons, and Pitchers of the Month at each of their four 1968 - Astros owner Judge Roy Hof- while third base coach Dave Clark served on active affiliates...the list rounded out as follows: heinz gives San Francisco’s Wil- the Astros coaching staff for six years (2008-13)... AFFILIATE - Player, Pitcher lie Mays a 569-lb. cake for his 37th additionally, in the Astros broadcast booth, color Triple A OKC - IF Jon Singleton, LHP Rudy Owens birthday...Rusty Staub drives home man Steve Sparks pitched for Detroit for four Double A CC - OF Preston Tucker, LHP Tommy Shirly six runs in a 10-2 Houston win in the seasons (2000-03). Class A Lancaster - 2B Tony Kemp, RHP Kyle Smith Astrodome. Class A QC - OF Brett Phillips, RHP Gonzalo Sanudo CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: Astros Manager Bo Porter challenged two plays in last night’s CORREA RETURNS TO FIELD: Astros top pros- game, marking the sixth and seventh challenges pect SS Carlos Correa returned to play shortstop made by the Houston this season...Porter has for the first time since April 24 last night and re- had the call overturned in five of his seven chal- sponded with three hits, including an RBI triple... lenges made this season, including one of two last Correa, who is currently at Class A Advanced night...the Astros have been involved in 16 total Lancaster, missed a week of play and served as a challenges on the year, seven issued by Houston, designated hitter over his last three games while six by their opponents and three umpire reviews. recovering from a minor shoulder injury. UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL) Date Time Opponent Pitchers Television Wed., May 7 6:08 at Detroit RHP Brad Peacock (0-2, 5.26) vs. RHP Rick Porcello (4-1, 3.66) CSN Houston Thu., May 8 12:08 at Detroit LHP Dallas Keuchel (2-2, 3.96) vs. LHP Drew Smyly (2-1, 2.45) CSN Houston All Astros regular-season games are broadcast in English on SportsTalk 790 AM in Houston, the flagship station of the Astros Radio Network.