Blanco's search for consistency continues in tough start vs. Boston

HOUSTON -- The Astros have had solid starting pitching and timely hitting since the start of August, which has correlated to Houston taking control in the AL West.

That formula didn’t add up on Tuesday night, as Ronel Blanco struggled to get through the fourth and the Astros’ offense struggled with runners in scoring position in a 6-5 loss to the Red Sox at Minute Maid Park.

Blanco allowed five runs on six hits with six strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. He also walked a career-high-tying four.

“Obviously, there’s some teams that are more aggressive at the plate and some are more passive,” Blanco said through an interpreter. “I think this is a team that is patient but can be aggressive. That’s one of the things that has made them successful.”

Boston also got to Blanco for three runs (two earned) in four innings on Aug. 9.

“I think that’s a lineup that won’t change much,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “It’s tough to navigate a couple times through. I thought after that first inning he settled and started making pitches. They just make you work. … It’s just a tough lineup. I thought he battled and kept us in the game.”

The Red Sox got to Blanco quickly, with the first three batters combining to hit two doubles and a two-run homer in the first to take a 3-0 lead eight pitches in.

Blanco stranded the bases loaded in the second and sent Boston down in order in the third, but he gave up two more runs in the fourth, with his night ending after a Triston Casas RBI single.

“They’re a really good team,” Blanco said. “I thought I was prepared, but they had a really good game tonight.”

Blanco started the season 9-3, but he is 0-3 over his past seven starts and hasn’t won since July 9. He has thrown a career-high 137 2/3 innings this season.

“Physically, I feel really strong, which is the most important thing,” Blanco said. “I’m trying not to focus on that. I’m trying to go out there and compete.”

Since Aug. 2, which was the same day Yusei Kikuchi made his first start for the Astros, Houston starters had posted a 2.26 ERA and allowed two earned runs or fewer in 15 of its 16 games. The Astros entered Tuesday 12-4 in that stretch.

With Justin Verlander set to return off the injured list Wednesday, that should help Blanco’s workload as the Astros go to a six-man rotation.

“I think it will help him,” Espada said. “I think it will help the entire staff. They all can use the extra day [of rest], so having JV back is very important because we can stretch it out a little bit and give those guys an extra day.”

Defensively, the Astros were much better Tuesday night after committing a season-high four errors on Monday.

Jake Meyers kept the Astros within a run in the fifth, sprinting back to the wall and robbing Tyler O’Neill of extra bases with a leaping grab against the center-field wall. Meyers stood still for a moment and took a deep breath before throwing the ball in as the rest of the Astros celebrated the catch and reliever Bryan King applauded from the mound.

Offensively, Houston had chances and delivered on some, but faltered on others.

Trailing 3-0, the Astros tied it up in the first with a Jeremy Peña sacrifice fly and a Jon Singleton two-run homer. Chas McCormick hit a sacrifice fly in the second to give Houston a 4-3 lead.

After Boston regained a 5-4 lead in the fourth, Yainer Diaz knotted it back up with a solo homer in the fifth. It was Diaz’s third straight game with a home run. He hit his first career walk-off homer Monday night.

Houston left runners in scoring position in the second, third, fourth and eighth innings. The Astros finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

“Just not our night with runners in scoring position,” Espada said “We’ve been really good here in the last two weeks. Just not our night.”