Fall Classic Game 4 loss places Astros on brink of elimination

One glaring statistic stands out in the Astros' 3-2 World Series Game 4 loss to the Atlanta Braves: 0-for-8.

The Astros, who sought to knot the Fall Classic a second time in three days, failed to capitalize on eight opportunities in which they had a runner in scoring position, Click2Houston reported.

In all, 11 Houston runners could do nothing but claim residency to the bases the host Braves successfully kept them parked at.

Very painful for a ballclub that had gotten its groove back at the plate, and that started the night in the lead. 

Starter Zack Greinke didn't disappoint; he kept the Braves scoreless through the first four innings, a nod to his younger days.

"We were going to take him as far as he could, and we took him to that point," Astros manager Dusty Baker said, MLB.com reported. "He was dealing, and he threw up some key double plays. He was vintage Greinke."

The best Atlanta's hitters could do against the 38-year-old veteran was four singles.

Shortstop Carlos Correa's RBI groundout complemented Greinke's solid performance in the first and second baseman Jose Altuve's solo home run in the fourth, both plays components of Houston's 2-0 lead that dissipated in the seventh.

Back-to-back home runs by the Braves' Jorge Soler and Dansby Swanson enabled Atlanta to take a 3-2 lead and not look back, MLB.com.

Now behind three games to one, the Astros have the unenviable task of forcing the Fall Classic back to Houston for a Game 6.

Game 5 is tonight at 7:15 p.m.

Framber Valdez gets the start on the mound for Houston.