GAME 63 - June 7: Aside from That Second Inning...

St Louis 8, Houston 4

Quote of the Day: "Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?" (Traditional quip)

So, if you could just erase that second inning, this wasn't really a bad game. Starting the inning by giving up a home run wasn't a great sign for Shawn Chacon, with a walk and a single close behind. But he got the first two outs without any further damage, and for a moment, it looked manageable. Then BAM! Triple, double, walk (IBB to Pujols), and homer - and the next thing you know, it's 7-0. After two, Chacon looked well positioned to avoid the dreaded no-decision.

(Uneducated fan commentary: This early-inning IBB to Pujols thing is just not working out. They tried that in Wandy's welcome-back game, also, with an intentional pass to Pujols to load the bases in the first inning - and three runs came in that time too. I wish they'd just pitch to the guy. They can get him out: He was 0 for 3 in this game!)

Surprisingly, Cooper did not pull Chacon after this mess. He stuck with him through five innings, and though Chacon gave up leadoff hits in each of the succeeding innings, no further runs scored on his watch. At least all that was hurt was his ego. His opponent, Adam Wainwright, had to leave the game in the sixth with a sprained finger. Although the finger was clearly bothering him throughout the game, he still largely shut down the Astros. Pence's solo home run in the fifth was the only run to cross the plate while he was on the mound.

Houston had better luck against the bullpen, after Wainwright was gone. In fact, despite the game's outcome, the hit count tied for the most of the year: 15. There were plenty of chances to score, and the Astros capitalized on some - but not enough - of them. In the sixth, Berkman led off with a double, advanced to third on Wiggington's 1-out single, and scored on Bourn's single. Ausmus singled to load the bases. Blum popped it for the second out. But Pence beat out an infield single to score Wiggington. Matsui struck out to end the inning with the bases loaded. That made it 7-3.

Tejada homered to start the seventh inning, narrowing the deficit to three runs. But despite putting two runners on base in each of the last two innings, the Astros were unable to plate another run. The Cards picked up a gratuitous extra run in the ninth, making the final score 8-4. By the time I was watching the game after the Sabbath, it was in the late innings and the Astros were looking like the better team. Except for that 7-run second inning, of course.

The Astros bullpen did a good job with the long-relief situation. Wright had a 1-2-3 sixth, striking out two. Despite walking two in the seventh, Villareal escaped without allowing a run. Byrdak also walked two in the eighth, but Sampson came in to face Pujols with two outs - and got him out on a long fly ball. Sampson finished off the game, allowing one run to score on a double and a pair of sac flies to move him around. But that was just gravy for the Cards, as the winning run had crossed the plate back in the second inning.

It was a crummy loss, but the resurgence in hitting is good to see. Pence was 3 for 5 with a homer, Matsui was 2 for 5 with a homer too. Bourn and Ausmus - two notable weak spots in the lineup where help is needed - were both 3 for 4. Cooper has Bourn hitting seventh, with Pence leading off - being moved down in the order may take some of the pressure off of Bourn and give him a chance to improve his hitting.

Wandy will be on the mound for the rubber game - let's hope it's a classic Minute Maid Park game for him!