HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Jake Odorizzi sailed through the first four innings of his start against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night, but he was thrown off course in the fifth.
Luis Torrens started the inning with a single and advanced to third when Jared Kelenic doubled. Odorizzi recovered to induce a shallow fly ball from Tom Murphy and a pop up off the bat of Jake Bauers, but J.P. Crawford laced a two-strike single to centerfield to drive home both runners. Mitch Haniger lined out to end the frame, which would be his final pitch of the night, marking another in a long line of short starts for the Astros right-hander.
"It seems like something always happens at that point (of the game)," Astros manager Dusty Baker said following his team's 5-4 win in 10 innings. "When things keep reoccurring at the same time of the game then it's time for us and everyone to the face the music that maybe that's how it is, at least for now, but we don't have time to experiment too much more during the season.
"This is the second or third time in a row and he's been dealing early and then all of a sudden, something happens. I know he's not crazy about coming out, we're not crazy about taking him out, but we're in a pennant race and we have to do we have to do."
Odorizzi did not agree with Baker's assessment or how he's been used during his first season with the Astros.
"I think it's bullshit," he said.
Odorizzi hasn't completed six innings in any of his 10 starts since the All Star Break despite allowing three or fewer runs in seven of those outings. Tuesday night was the fourth straight time he's held the opposition to two or fewer runs.
He says he hasn't been given an explanation why his starts continue to get cut short, which has increased his dissatisfaction.
"I think it's pretty friggin obvious. Just go take a look at it. It's not like I just made my debut yesterday. I've been doing this for a while. So it's extremely frustrating."
Entering Tuesday's game, Odorizzi had held opposing hitters to a .619 OPS the first time through the order and .727 OPS the second time through the order, but opponents compiled a 1.359 OPS when facing him a third time, which was when Crawford two-run single occurred in the fifth. Still, Odorizzi thought he deserved to continue deeper into the game.
"The hit I gave up in the 5th inning, the ball off the plate exactly where I wanted to throw it. I'm not upset at all. I had good stuff. I had 66 pitches through 5 innings. I don't really know what needs to be said more than that."
Odorizzi's ERA sits at 4.28 after 21 games, 20 starts, with the Astros this season. He is signed for 2022 with a team option for 2023.