In nine starts, J.P. France's ERA is 3.54, second-lowest among rookie starters with at...
Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France winds up to throw against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 23, 2023, in Los Angeles.France navigated near-constant traffic for six innings Friday. He limited the damage to three runs partly thanks to a well-executed relay by left fielder Corey Julks and shortstop Jeremy Peña in the fourth. The quality start was France’s fourth in a row and fifth in his nine outings.
For a second straight start, France all but pocketed his slider, his best pitch early this season. He threw just five on 93 pitches. His cutter, a liability early in the season, was his second-most used pitch Friday. Opponents were batting .379 against the cutter entering Friday. France threw 26 against the Dodgers, who put six into play, just two for hits.
“I’ve tweaked my grip. I’ve got the velo back up,” France said. “It’s been a pitch that’s worked for me for the past two, three years and I feel like it’s going to be a pitch that continues to work and get outs.” France struck Martinez out twice on cutters. He also mixed in a few changeups, a pitch he has thrown almost solely to lefthanded hitters, against righties. Betts flied out on a changeup in the fourth inning; Will Smith skied one for a flyout in the fifth. Betts had homered on a fastball in the first. Still, the right-on-right changeup was a divergent call to Betts with a runner on second in the fourth. France threw it nearly in the middle of the strike zone.
“He tries to attack the zone and listens to a lot,” Tucker said. “He’s pretty prepared and he trusts Maldy behind the plate.”
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