The Houston Astros defeated the Colorado Rockies Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park, 14-3.
The loss drops the Rockies to 10 games under .500 for the season with a 52-62 record.
Ahead are takeaways from the loss.
Lambert struggles
Colorado Rockies’ starting pitcher Peter Lambert struggled in his outing versus the 2017 World Series champions.
The Rockies provided Lambert with a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the first inning, but Houstons’ potent offense took advantage of the 22-year-old.
Lambert coughed up two home runs in the bottom of the first inning — a solo slam to Jose Altuve and a two-run blast from Yuli Gurriel, establishing a 4-1 lead for Houston.
Lambert worked a clean second inning, but he coughed up an additional run in the third inning. Lambert ran into more danger in the fourth inning.
The fourth started with Lambert issuing a walk to Martin Maldonado. From there, Lambert coughed up a single before walking Altuve to load the bases with no outs. Michael Brantley then ripped a single to right field, scoring a run to extend Houston’s lead to 6-2.
Lambert was then yanked from the game, but the damage was not done. Jesus Tinoco was unable to wiggle himself out of the jam as an additional four runs came across to score.
Lambert departed with a line of three innings pitched, allowing nine runs on seven hits while walking four batters and striking out one.
Gurriel tortures Colorado
Astros’ first baseman Yuri Gurriel dismantled the Rockies in the batter’s box Wednesday.
In a game where Houston collected 14 runs, Gurriel accounted for more than half of the Astros’ runs.
Gurriel collected two hits and drove in eight-run en route to a dominant victory for the Astros.
Gurriel cranked a home run in the first frame of the game and a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the fourth inning.
3 HRs in the last 18 hours for @el_yuly10. #TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/hgnC5K2dou
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 7, 2019
Story reaches a milestone
Wednesday’s game marked the 500th career game played for Rockies’ shortstop Trevor Story. It just so happens the game came in Story’s home state of Texas.
Story collected a home run in the first inning of the game to provide the Rockies with an early lead.
A Story for the family.#StoryTime 📚 pic.twitter.com/BDjOmOl3wY
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 7, 2019
Story has now hit a home run in four of his last five games. Additionally, he has recorded a hit in six consecutive games.
Story has been sensational for the Rockies this season, batting .282 with 25 home runs and 63 runs batted in.
Story was named to his second-consecutive All-Star team in 2019.
Arenado thrives versus American League
Rockies’ third baseman Nolan Arenado has been on a tirade at the plate in August, and his impressive performance continued Wednesday in Houston.
Arenado cranked his 25th home run of the season, a solo shot to left-center field off of Astros’ starter Gerrit Cole.
NOLAN BEING NOLAN 😍 pic.twitter.com/qtcELLsuUS
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 7, 2019
The home run was Arenado’s eighth this season against American League club’s, which is tied with Charlie Blackmon for the single-season interleague club record.
Additionally, Arenado has recorded 26 RBIs versus interleague opponents this season which is tied with Frank Thomas for the most since interleague play began in 1997.
Arenado’s 25 home runs this season put him in rare air within the Rockies’ record books as he joins Larry Walker, Todd Helton, Vinny Castilla, Dante Bichette and Carlos Gonzalez as the only players in club history with five or more seasons with 25+ home runs.
Arenado, Castilla and Helton are the only players to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons.