Have you seen this man?
(c) AP/Dave Einsel
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J.A. Happ was scheduled to start tonight's game for Houston, but someone wearing his uniform took the mound and spun a three-hit shutout over the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night.
Happ's doppelganger pitched seven strong innings and struck out six to lead the Astros to a 2-0 victory that tied their season-high win streak at four games, and completed a three-game sweep of the reeling Bucs.
No Pittsburgher so much as reached second base.
The Astros' only runs came in the fourth. Jimmy Paredes worked a leadoff walk, then Angel Sanchez singled him to third. Humberto Quintero was thrown out on a weak grounder, but Paredes slid home. Jordan Schafer bunted safely to plate Sanchez.
The Astros wasted a golden opportunity in the second against Pirates starter James McDonald. Brian Bogusevic, Paredes, and Sanchez loaded the bases with nobody out on three consecutive singles, but Houston failed to score: a popup, strikeout, and groundout neutralized the threat.
Houston closed out the month of August with a 12-17 record, still bad but a vast improvement over July's even more dismal 6-20 showing.
The Astros have Thursday off as they prepare to host the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game weekend set. Newly called-up Lucas Harrell (0-0, 7.20) will start for Houston in Friday's opener against the Brew Crew's ace Zack Greinke (13-5, 4.05). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. CT.
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