Blanco outshines Rogers in Astros game one win

[Kevin Barral]

Although Trevor Rogers had a solid bounce-back start, the Marlins offense didn't do much against Ronel Blanco. A late-game home run by Alex Bregman pushed the Astros past the Marlins.

For the first time since 2022, the Miami Marlins traveled to Houston to take on the Astros in a three-game set. Ronel Blanco—recently snubbed from the All-Star Game—showed on Tuesday night why he should've made it, going seven innings of two-run ball and striking out seven. Some help from Alex Bregman, whose go-ahead home run made the difference in a 4-3 series-opening win for the Astros.

Despite serving a midseason suspension due to sticky stuff, Blanco has been the most consistent pitcher in the Astros rotation. He posted a 64% first-pitch strike rate against the Marlins, filling up the strike zone. Blanco's secondary pitches made hitters work the most, generating 10 out of the 11 whiffs on the night. The efficiency that Blanco pitched with got him through seven, averaging 12 pitches per inning.

Before finding his groove, though, the Astros starter surrendered a lead-off home run to Jazz Chisholm Jr., Chisholm's 11th of the season and third lead-off homer.

Following the home run, Blanco allowed a base hit to Bryan De La Cruz. From there, he would go on to retire 17 straight Marlins before allowing a walk to De La Cruz in the top of the sixth.

In that same top of the sixth, Jesús Sánchez took advantage of the famous Crawford Boxes. His opposite-field solo home run tied the game at two apiece. Sánchez joined Chisholm and De La Cruz as the third Marlin in the double-digit home run club this season.

The last time Trevor Rogers took the mound, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker noted that the final line did not speak for how good Rogers' stuff was. On Tuesday, Rogers had better results. Throwing a career-high 107 pitches, he went 5 ⅓ innings, allowing two runs off of five hits and two walks. He also struck out five.

In the bottom of the second inning, Rogers surrendered an RBI single to Chas McCormick, which drove in Jake Meyers. In the bottom of the fifth, Alex Bregman drove in McCormick on an RBI single. Rogers left the game with the Marlins trailing, 2-1.

One of Rogers' biggest issues this season has been the sinker. It represented just 14.0% of his pitch mix in Houston, the lowest usage of any start he's made. Overall, his ERA dipped to 4.82, the best it's been since April. Even so, Rogers keeps falling behind in the count. He posted a 37.5% first-pitch strike percentage in this start.

Huascar Brazoban relieved Rogers in the sixth and stayed in for the seventh. That's where he would run into trouble. Xavier Edwards made an inaccurate throw to first base, allowing Chas McCormick to reach safely on the error. With two outs, Alex Bregman's two-run homer gave Houston a 4-2 lead. That would mark the first home run surrendered by Brazoban this season. The Astros third baseman ended his night going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Although the Marlins would get within one thanks to a Bryan De La Cruz RBI single, they fell by a final score of 4-3.

Bryan Hoeing will take the mound for the Marlins on Wednesday and for the Astros, it'll be Framber Valdez. First pitch will be at 8:10 pm.

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[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Ugh. This game was certainly winnable. Games like this and the first game of the White Sox series, to mention recent ones, alternately give me hope and add to the despair.  The Marlins can be competitive faster with a few positional upgrades and the healthy starting staff already under team control. On the other hand, the team's chronic issues are not easily solved. David Samson addresses these - which we all know. These issues are intertwined with baseball's systemic problems. So, I conclude that the Bendix strategy truly is the only realistic way to long-term competitiveness. If management is competent, it can work as it has elsewhere for those teams that a) recognize their structural limitations, and b) properly manipulate assets. The methodical/disciplined and (to some fans) a bit ruthless approach to player management, combined with competent personnel up and down the organization, must be pursued.