GAME 91 - July 8: Waterlogged Astros Lose Again

Pittsburgh 4, Houston 3

Quote of the Day: "I was so [mad] the other day when I wasn't allowed to finish what I started, and then they gave me the opportunity tonight and I didn't get it done." (Brocail, on blowing the lead in the eighth)

Even the Pittsburgh TV announcers were sympathetic. Two days after a long rain delay followed by a 17-inning loss, and a 3 AM arrival in Pittsburgh, only to lose again, here they were sitting around Tuesday night, waiting out yet another rain storm. Two rain delays interrupted the game this time, adding up to over 3 hours, and putting the end of the game into Wednesday morning. At least the Astros were winning... up till the eighth inning.

In Sunday's game, I questioned why Coop pulled Brocail to bring in Valverde with two outs and a slim lead - which the big guy then blew, leading to another 9 innings of play. In this game, Cooper must have thought that he'd learned from Sunday's experience. He left Brocail in the game with a 3-1 lead in the eighth, just a little too long - Brocail gave up 3 runs, and the Astros lost again.

All 3 of the Astros' runs scored on home runs: a wind-blown solo flight from Pence, and a 2-run homer from El Caballo.

Backe had a good, but abbreviated, start: He pitched 3 scoreless innings, giving up 3 hits, no walks, and striking out 3. He'd thrown less than 50 pitches but when the first rain delay went on for 2 hours and 39 minutes, Cooper decided to go to the bullpen. Notable relief work in this game: Geary pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings.

Stats of interest: Total elapsed time, including two rain delays: 6 hours, 5 minutes. Paid attendance: 17,867; total left by the end of the game: less than 500. Probably a lot less. I stuck around to watch the whole game, from the comfort of my kitchen in Maryland.