Houston Astros’ Matt Dominguez swings for a three-run homer against the Atlanta Braves in the fifth inning of their game Thursday, June 26, 2014, in Houston.HOUSTON – Atlanta starter Mike Minor was pitching well Thursday before one big mistake broke open a close game in a 6-1 loss to the Houston Astros.
The Braves trailed by one run in the fifth inning when Matt Dominguez snapped an 0-for-23 skid with a three-run homer to left-center field off Minor (2-5) to push the lead to 5-1.
“I’d like to have one pitch back really,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said about the home run ball to Dominguez. “You look back on in the course of the game when you’re dissecting a little bit and you go: ‘Wait a second.’ We keep it within one run and it’s a different story. It became a four-run game there and it was an 0-2 pitch which makes it even tougher.”
Houston starter Jarred Cosart (8-5) allowed six hits and a run in seven innings for his fourth straight victory.
“He’s got some plus pitches that he was mixing up and we couldn’t solve him,” Justin Upton said.