Astros' Fan Tries To Catch Home Run Ball And Gets Blasted In The Face [VIDEO]
HOUSTON (AP) — Chris Rusin got off to a good start with a one-run lead after two innings. The third inning put a damper on his day.
Against a team that has lived on its slugging, the left-hander gave up five runs in the third — including a three-run shot to Luis Valbuena, the third basemans's second homer of the day— and the Houston Astros went on to an 8-5 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
"That was a tough blow," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "These guys, they hit the ball out of the park. You keep them in the park, you got a pretty good chance of beating them. They score a lot of runs with the home run. That's what they did again."
Rusin (2-2) wasted a 3-1 lead and gave up seven runs and nine hits in four innings.
Valbuena hit a solo homer in the second to pull the Astros to 3-2, before they took the lead with their big inning in the third.
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"It was just me missing my spot," Rusin said, referring the Valbuena's first home run. "I tried to go in and I left it middle and he was able to inside-out it to left field, short porch. If I make my pitch there, he either grounds out or jams on himself."
Will Harris (3-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of rookie Vince Velasquez, who gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Luke Gregerson threw a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 19 chances.
The Rockies have a 13-game road losing streak in interleague play, which is tied for the second-longest all-time.
Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for Colorado that chased Velasquez. He was also initially credited with a solo homer over the right-field foul pole in the seventh, but first-base umpire Bob Davidson's fair call was overturned in a video review.
"The ball was fair coming off the bat," Gonzalez said. "It was really fair and then at the end it started fading away. I think Bob said it was a fair ball because it was really hard to tell at the beginning."
Hank Conger also hit a solo homer for the Astros, who lead the majors with 91 home runs. Houston is 25-0 this year when it has a multi-homer game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: Rafael Betancourt, on the disabled list since June 8 with vertigo symptoms, pitched a bullpen session. Manager Walt Weiss said there is no timetable for his return.
Astros: Brad Peacock is scheduled to see another doctor regarding his right hip injury.
TRIPLES GALORE
Rockies catcher Michael McKenry hit his third triple in five games. McKenry had gone his first 276 major league games without a triple.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Kyle Kendrick (2-8) faces the Astros on Wednesday, when the teams play in Denver.
Astros: Brett Oberholtzer (1-1) is to make his third start for Houston on Wednesday.
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