August 29: Houston 3, St. Louis 2
August 30: Houston 8, St. Louis 5
August 31: Houston 3, St. Louis 0
Quote of the Day: "Never hit a walk-off home run, has he? This would be a good time..." "This would be a fantastic time." (Exchange between Astros TV broadcasters, just before Berkman hit his first-ever walk-off home run Friday night)
No one currently playing in the Majors has gone longer and hit more home runs, without ever having hit a walk-off homer, than Lance Berkman. So the one that he hit to left center on Friday night, in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 2-2, was pretty sweet. Even sweeter as it set the tone for a weekend sweep of the perennial late season rival Cardinals.
Continuing a recent trend, the Astros' other two runs Friday night were thanks to a long ball - Newhan's 2-out 2-run blast to right in the seventh inning. Up until then, Cards' starter Kyle Lohse hadn't let the Astros do much of anything, let alone get on the scoreboard. But Randy Wolf matched him, giving up 2 runs in his seven innings, only one earned. The unearned run was his own fault, though, as he mishandled a 2-out grounder for a fielding error, then launched it over Berkman's head for a throwing error. The bullpen continued their great support, with two scoreless innings from Sampson and then a close from Brocail, who earned the win.
Berkman hit his game ender off his good friend, ex-Astro Russ Springer. One pitch earlier, Berkman had worked up the crowd with a just-barely foul blast into the right-field seats. Then he launched the next pitch the other way,into left center field. The crowd went nuts and fireworks exploded as Berkman headed for home for the customary brain bashing by his teammates.
Hunter Pence made a nice contribution in the Friday night game also - he went 2 for 3, scored on Newhan's homer, and made an outfield assist, throwing out a runner at first after a caught fly ball in right. It was his 14th outfield assist, tying for the league lead.
Saturday night's game got off to an ominous start, as Moehler gave up a 3-run home run in the top of the first inning. But his teammates didn't make him worry over that for long: The first seven Astros batters got on base, beating up on Braden Looper. Erstad singled, then Wigginton hit another August home run to cut the lead to 3-2. Tejada doubled, Berkman walked, then Blum hit a double, scoring Tejada to tie the game. Pence followed with a 3-run homer, to give the Astros a 6-3 lead that they never gave up.
After his early trouble, Moehler settled down and pitched well through the sixth inning. The Astros threatened to score again in the third inning, after Pence led off with a single and Newhan walked. Two on and no outs - and it all came apart in seconds. With Quintero at the plate Newhan was picked off for the first out. Then Quintero hit a fly ball to center field, which was caught on a bounce by a sliding fielder. But the umpire made an embarrassingly wrong call, saying that the ball had been caught, and the fielder threw to second to double up Pence. There was no doubt about the catch; from every camera angle, the ball clearly hit the ground before the fielder gloved it. The ump refused to get a second opinion, and when Cooper rightly argued for that, he was tossed.
The bad call did not affect the outcome of the game, however. The Astros added a pair of insurance runs on Blum's 2-run homer in the fifth. The Card got two in the seventh, when Byrdak walked a batter and Brocail then gave up a 2-run homer to Pujols. (Pujols has to do that at least once in an Astros series. They should be glad that was all the damage he did in a 4 for 4 game.) Hawkins pitched a perfect eighth to set up Valverde for the save, his 36th.
Carlos Who? Wiggington, still out in left field, substituting for the pinkie-challenged Lee, has gone wild in August. He finished up the month with yet another home run on Sunday, to tie my beloved Bagwell for the "most home runs in August" team record (12). The two-run homer in the eighth gave the Astros a bit of breathing room, as dueling pitchers left Houston with a fragile 1-0 lead late in the game. Wandy pitched very well, carrying a shutout into the sixth inning, when he was pulled out with a strained right oblique muscle. Chris Sampson relieved him, finishing off the sixth and then the seventh inning without giving up a run. Hawkins threw a perfect eighth to set up Valverde for a perfect ninth, his league-leading 37th save of the season. He also set a new Astros team record, for saves in his tenth consecutive appearance.
The Astros scored their first run in the second inning, when Berkman led off with a double, and then scored on Pence's RBI single. Pence also contributed another outfield assist in the first inning - his league-leading 15th of the season.
Wandy was pulled just after he struck out Pujols and then Ludwick to start the sixth. Both batters struck out looking, and both complained to the umpire. La Russa came out of the dugout to continue the fruitless discussion of balls and strikes, and was ejected for his troubles, as he knew he would be.
I had to go to a social event Saturday night right after the Sabbath, so I watched all three games on Sunday. (Yes, I already knew the outcome of the first two!) After losing every series against the Cards this season, 1 game to 2, the sweep was a nice touch. With 5 wins in a row, the Astros finish the month with 21 wins and 9 losses. As good as that is, it's only the third best August record in the league, and unfortunately, the other two teams are both ahead of the Astros in the NL Central. So their terrific play since the All Star break has not actually helped them advance in the standings - they've lost ground to the Cubs and the Brewers. So, as sweet as the sweep was, it probably hurt St. Louis (which is also ahead of the Astros) more than it helped Houston. I never give up on the Astros until they are actually mathematically eliminated - especially when they are over .500 - but it's going to take more than an incredible run to make the playoffs. It's going to take humongous meltdowns from several other teams - especially the Brewers.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
GAMES 132-134 - August 26-28: Seeing a Nice Shade of Red
August 26: Cincinnati 2, Houston 1
August 27: Houston 4, Cincinnati 1
August 28: Houston 3, Cincinnati 2
Quote of the Day: "After he threw that last pitch, he kind of gave me a little stare. I got goose bumps. It was a good thing. I really liked the competition. It was honestly a fun at-bat, but I lost in that situation." (Joey Votto, after striking out to Oswalt to end the sixth)
I usually like it when the Astros play the Reds. It's not just that Cincinnati's record is worse than Houstons', giving them a chance to win. That's true of the Pirates, too, and the Astros have been terrible against them. But the Astros do seem to be lucky against the Reds. The Cincinnati team looked different this time, though, with long-time teammates Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr gone in trades.
They weren't too lucky on Tuesday night in an unlikely pitchers' duel between Wandy and Bronson Arroyo. The high-kicker threw all nine innings, allowing only a single Astros run on 5 measly hits. It was the second game in a row that the Astros were bested by a complete game performance. But Wandy was no slouch either in his seven innings. In one of his best starts all season, he gave up only 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk, and struck out out 10. The game differentiator turned out to be a Reds hit off the wall off of Geary in the 8th - a close call that would have been checked out on the instant replay two days later, when that goes into effect. But the ump called it a homer, and the Reds took a 2-1 lead.
The Astros lone run was patched together in the fifth. Loretta led off with a single, and moved to second on Pence's walk. Newhan's ground ball out moved them both up a base. Loretta scored from third on Ausmus' ground out.
Wednesday night's game was a rerun of a show I've seen so many times before - and never get tire of: Oswalt beating the Reds. It was classic Wizard: Seven innings, 1 run, 5 hits, a couple of BBs and a few Ks. Cincinnati may have a new cast of characters, but they were as befuddled as ever with Roy O on the mound. The Reds' sole run scored in the first, on an infield single, double, and ground ball combo. After that, they couldn't do anything against Oswalt - with the same result as so many times before: Oswalt 22, the Reds 1.
Unlike his last start, the Astros gave Oswalt some friendly run support in this game. The Astros scored all four of their runs on homers - one 2-run home run for Pence in the fourth and a matching one for Wiggington in the seventh. Berkman was 3 for 3, scoring on Pence's homer. To back up Oswalt completely, Hawkins pitched a scoreless eighth, and Valverde struck out the side for the save.
In the rubber match Thursday afternoon, it was Backe up against Aaron Harang. Backe, in his pingpong approach to pitching this season (one game dominant, next game skunked), broke the pattern. He was due for a huge loss; instead he pitched a very respectable 6 2/3 innings, not giving up any runs until the seventh inning, when he allowed a pair. Meanwhile, Harang pitched a quality start also, only allowing the Astros to score 3 runs in his 7 innings. So it was a very close game that the bullpen inherited in the seventh. They didn't let Backe down: Brocail, Hawkins, and Valverde threw 2 1/3 perfect innings to keep the Reds in their place. For the second game in a row, Valverde struck out the side, earning his 35th save.
Offensively for the Astros, the game turned on another outstanding performance by Wiggington. Since taking over for Carlos Lee in left field, the guy has been amazing. This time it was another pair of solo homers - one in the second and one in the sixth - that accounted for two of the Astros' three runs. Quintero's solo homer in the fifth added the third. The past two games have been a home run derby for the Astros - all of the runs in both games were scored on long balls.
Another series win, as the Astros continue their strong performance since the All Star Break. But it's probably still too little, and too late, as the teams ahead of them have been even better.
August 27: Houston 4, Cincinnati 1
August 28: Houston 3, Cincinnati 2
Quote of the Day: "After he threw that last pitch, he kind of gave me a little stare. I got goose bumps. It was a good thing. I really liked the competition. It was honestly a fun at-bat, but I lost in that situation." (Joey Votto, after striking out to Oswalt to end the sixth)
I usually like it when the Astros play the Reds. It's not just that Cincinnati's record is worse than Houstons', giving them a chance to win. That's true of the Pirates, too, and the Astros have been terrible against them. But the Astros do seem to be lucky against the Reds. The Cincinnati team looked different this time, though, with long-time teammates Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr gone in trades.
They weren't too lucky on Tuesday night in an unlikely pitchers' duel between Wandy and Bronson Arroyo. The high-kicker threw all nine innings, allowing only a single Astros run on 5 measly hits. It was the second game in a row that the Astros were bested by a complete game performance. But Wandy was no slouch either in his seven innings. In one of his best starts all season, he gave up only 1 run on 3 hits and 1 walk, and struck out out 10. The game differentiator turned out to be a Reds hit off the wall off of Geary in the 8th - a close call that would have been checked out on the instant replay two days later, when that goes into effect. But the ump called it a homer, and the Reds took a 2-1 lead.
The Astros lone run was patched together in the fifth. Loretta led off with a single, and moved to second on Pence's walk. Newhan's ground ball out moved them both up a base. Loretta scored from third on Ausmus' ground out.
Wednesday night's game was a rerun of a show I've seen so many times before - and never get tire of: Oswalt beating the Reds. It was classic Wizard: Seven innings, 1 run, 5 hits, a couple of BBs and a few Ks. Cincinnati may have a new cast of characters, but they were as befuddled as ever with Roy O on the mound. The Reds' sole run scored in the first, on an infield single, double, and ground ball combo. After that, they couldn't do anything against Oswalt - with the same result as so many times before: Oswalt 22, the Reds 1.
Unlike his last start, the Astros gave Oswalt some friendly run support in this game. The Astros scored all four of their runs on homers - one 2-run home run for Pence in the fourth and a matching one for Wiggington in the seventh. Berkman was 3 for 3, scoring on Pence's homer. To back up Oswalt completely, Hawkins pitched a scoreless eighth, and Valverde struck out the side for the save.
In the rubber match Thursday afternoon, it was Backe up against Aaron Harang. Backe, in his pingpong approach to pitching this season (one game dominant, next game skunked), broke the pattern. He was due for a huge loss; instead he pitched a very respectable 6 2/3 innings, not giving up any runs until the seventh inning, when he allowed a pair. Meanwhile, Harang pitched a quality start also, only allowing the Astros to score 3 runs in his 7 innings. So it was a very close game that the bullpen inherited in the seventh. They didn't let Backe down: Brocail, Hawkins, and Valverde threw 2 1/3 perfect innings to keep the Reds in their place. For the second game in a row, Valverde struck out the side, earning his 35th save.
Offensively for the Astros, the game turned on another outstanding performance by Wiggington. Since taking over for Carlos Lee in left field, the guy has been amazing. This time it was another pair of solo homers - one in the second and one in the sixth - that accounted for two of the Astros' three runs. Quintero's solo homer in the fifth added the third. The past two games have been a home run derby for the Astros - all of the runs in both games were scored on long balls.
Another series win, as the Astros continue their strong performance since the All Star Break. But it's probably still too little, and too late, as the teams ahead of them have been even better.
GAME 131 - August 25: Split Infinitive
New York 9, Houston 1
Quote of the Day: No comment.
Carlos Delgado and Mike Pelfrey are the Mets to hate in this game, robbing the Astros of another series win against their evil birth twins. Delgado hit a pair of 3-run homers. Pelfrey pitched a complete game, keeping the Astros from scoring even a single run until the ninth inning. Nothing the Astros did in this game came close, so I think I won't write any more about it.
Move on. Next stop - the Reds in Houston.
Quote of the Day: No comment.
Carlos Delgado and Mike Pelfrey are the Mets to hate in this game, robbing the Astros of another series win against their evil birth twins. Delgado hit a pair of 3-run homers. Pelfrey pitched a complete game, keeping the Astros from scoring even a single run until the ninth inning. Nothing the Astros did in this game came close, so I think I won't write any more about it.
Move on. Next stop - the Reds in Houston.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
GAME 130 - August 24: The Case of the Blind Squirrel
Houston 6, New York 4
Quote of the Day: "It was just the case of a blind squirrel finding an acorn." (Ausmus, on his game-winning homer in the tenth)
It was a good thing for the Astros that this game didn't have to go deep into extra innings, since they'd used up their whole bench by the time Lance Berkman came in to pinch hit in the tenth. In what must be the most effective bench performance of the year, all but one of them got on base. Ironically, the one who didn't was Berkman, pinch batting in the tenth after taking the day off to nurse a sore hamstring. He flied out for the second out. But that out was wedged in between solo home runs from two of the least likely sources - two players who had only 3 homers all season between them.
After entering the game in the eighth inning, Ausmus led off the tenth with the score tied 4-4. After two quick strikes, the next pitch - a biiiiiig curveball - went behind him. He was a bit disappointed that the ball didn't hit him, until the next pitch - another curve ball - leapt off of his bat and landed in the stands, his second home run of the season. After Bourn struck out and Berkman flied out, Erstad knocked his second pitch over the fence in right. It was the first time in the whole game that the Astros had been ahead. Valverde took good care of that 6-4 lead, with a 1-2-3 tenth, to earn his 33rd save.
Randy Wolf had let the Mets take an early 3-0 lead on Beltran's second inning 2-run homer, followed by a 2-out bases-loaded walk in the third. After failing to score in the second inning with Wiggington on third with no outs, the Astros tied the game in the fourth. Erstad had reached on an infield single, then advanced to third on Tejada's double. Loretta's 1-out sac fly gave the Astros their first run. Then Pence (never a patient batter) whacked the first pitch he saw over the wall for a 2-run homer to tie the game 3-3.
Beltran's second home run of the game put the Mets ahead again, 4-3, in the fifth inning. The score sat there until the seventh inning, when the bench started to kick in. With one out and Pence on first, Blum hit a pinch-hit double, advancing Pence to third. Then Newhan followed with a pinch-hit single, scoring Pence. Blum, unfortunately, was tagged out trying to score, leaving the game tied at 4-4.
That the score was still tied in the tenth was to due to a lights-out performance by the bullpen: Sampson in the seventh and eighth innings, followed by Hawkins in the ninth, and Valverde in the tenth. After Oswalt and Backe had pitched into the eighth innings in the previous two games, the bullpen was well rested and ready to go. The Mets never had a base runner after a lead-off single in the sixth. From Wolf's three outs in sixth through Valverde's save, Astros' pitchers set down 15 Mets batters in a row.
While I like nothing better than a good win over the F-ing Mets, it would be nice if the Astros were at least picking up some games in the Wild Card. But the Brewers keep winning, and the Astros not getting any closer as September looms...
Quote of the Day: "It was just the case of a blind squirrel finding an acorn." (Ausmus, on his game-winning homer in the tenth)
It was a good thing for the Astros that this game didn't have to go deep into extra innings, since they'd used up their whole bench by the time Lance Berkman came in to pinch hit in the tenth. In what must be the most effective bench performance of the year, all but one of them got on base. Ironically, the one who didn't was Berkman, pinch batting in the tenth after taking the day off to nurse a sore hamstring. He flied out for the second out. But that out was wedged in between solo home runs from two of the least likely sources - two players who had only 3 homers all season between them.
After entering the game in the eighth inning, Ausmus led off the tenth with the score tied 4-4. After two quick strikes, the next pitch - a biiiiiig curveball - went behind him. He was a bit disappointed that the ball didn't hit him, until the next pitch - another curve ball - leapt off of his bat and landed in the stands, his second home run of the season. After Bourn struck out and Berkman flied out, Erstad knocked his second pitch over the fence in right. It was the first time in the whole game that the Astros had been ahead. Valverde took good care of that 6-4 lead, with a 1-2-3 tenth, to earn his 33rd save.
Randy Wolf had let the Mets take an early 3-0 lead on Beltran's second inning 2-run homer, followed by a 2-out bases-loaded walk in the third. After failing to score in the second inning with Wiggington on third with no outs, the Astros tied the game in the fourth. Erstad had reached on an infield single, then advanced to third on Tejada's double. Loretta's 1-out sac fly gave the Astros their first run. Then Pence (never a patient batter) whacked the first pitch he saw over the wall for a 2-run homer to tie the game 3-3.
Beltran's second home run of the game put the Mets ahead again, 4-3, in the fifth inning. The score sat there until the seventh inning, when the bench started to kick in. With one out and Pence on first, Blum hit a pinch-hit double, advancing Pence to third. Then Newhan followed with a pinch-hit single, scoring Pence. Blum, unfortunately, was tagged out trying to score, leaving the game tied at 4-4.
That the score was still tied in the tenth was to due to a lights-out performance by the bullpen: Sampson in the seventh and eighth innings, followed by Hawkins in the ninth, and Valverde in the tenth. After Oswalt and Backe had pitched into the eighth innings in the previous two games, the bullpen was well rested and ready to go. The Mets never had a base runner after a lead-off single in the sixth. From Wolf's three outs in sixth through Valverde's save, Astros' pitchers set down 15 Mets batters in a row.
While I like nothing better than a good win over the F-ing Mets, it would be nice if the Astros were at least picking up some games in the Wild Card. But the Brewers keep winning, and the Astros not getting any closer as September looms...
GAME 129 - August 23: Bouncing Backe
Houston 8, New York 3
Quote of the Day: "I have a long way to go to redeem myself." (Backe)
If Brandon Backe continues his ping-pong ball of a season, the Reds will be having some fun next Thursday afternoon, his next scheduled start. In a continuation of his alternating pattern of great starts and complete embarrassments, Backe held back the Mets on Saturday night to give the Astros a much-needed win. Actually, his game was not quite as good as Roy O's the night before - 3 runs in 7 innings on 5 hits and a walk, striking out 4 - but he had one big advantage over the Wizard: The Astros got some runs. Lots of runs - too bad they couldn't have split them evenly over the two games and won them both!
Continuing from Oswalt's 20 up-20 down the night before, Backe put down the first 14 batters he faced, before giving up a walk and RBI double in the fifth inning. He allowed a pair of runs in the eighth in a repeat performance from the previous game, by the same two ex-Nats: Church singled, then Schneider hit a 2-run homer. Byrdak finished up the inning, and Geary threw a hitless ninth to keep the Mets at 3.
But, as Oswalt knows from Friday night, that only helps if your teammates score some runs. This time they did, starting to rough up starter John Maine in the second inning. Berkman led off with a ground rule double - a 400+ foot smack to center, then scored on Blum's RBI single. The scoring became more serious in the third inning. Backe, with his .300+ batting average, got it started in the right direction with a single. Erstad walked, and Bourn moved them both over with a sacrifice bunt. Backe scored on Tejada's RBI single. Berkman didn't wait around to join the fun - he knocked the first pitch over the wall in left center to make it 5-0.
In the sixth, right after the Mets scored their first run, Newhan won one back for them with a lead-off homer. Quintero and Backe struck out. Then, with two down, Erstad, Bourn, Tejada, and Berkman hit consecutive singles to plate another pair of runs, to give the Astros an 8-1 lead.
This all took place just before I turned on the game after the Sabbath ended, so I didn't actually get to see any of the Astros' offensive fun on Saturday night. The Mets' bullpen shut the Astros down for the last 3 innings. But no need for greed; I watched the rest of the game on Sunday morning.
Wiggington, uncharacteristically, did not have a hit in the game, but should have - he was totally robbed by an amazing leaping-twirling-throwing play by Mets third baseman David Wright. Wright also made a terrific play to steal a hit from Newhan, but Newhan got payback with a nice defensive play of his own in the sixth: Playing second, he gloved the ground ball and flipped it from his glove to Tejada, who then threw to Berkman to complete the double play.
It's hard to know when a pitcher has redeemed himself after a couple of huge meltdowns like Backe's had recently. Backe doesn't feel like he's there yet. Maybe it's when he gets his ERA back under 5. Maybe in his next game he'll throw a no-hitter - and hit a grand slam too. That should do it.
Quote of the Day: "I have a long way to go to redeem myself." (Backe)
If Brandon Backe continues his ping-pong ball of a season, the Reds will be having some fun next Thursday afternoon, his next scheduled start. In a continuation of his alternating pattern of great starts and complete embarrassments, Backe held back the Mets on Saturday night to give the Astros a much-needed win. Actually, his game was not quite as good as Roy O's the night before - 3 runs in 7 innings on 5 hits and a walk, striking out 4 - but he had one big advantage over the Wizard: The Astros got some runs. Lots of runs - too bad they couldn't have split them evenly over the two games and won them both!
Continuing from Oswalt's 20 up-20 down the night before, Backe put down the first 14 batters he faced, before giving up a walk and RBI double in the fifth inning. He allowed a pair of runs in the eighth in a repeat performance from the previous game, by the same two ex-Nats: Church singled, then Schneider hit a 2-run homer. Byrdak finished up the inning, and Geary threw a hitless ninth to keep the Mets at 3.
But, as Oswalt knows from Friday night, that only helps if your teammates score some runs. This time they did, starting to rough up starter John Maine in the second inning. Berkman led off with a ground rule double - a 400+ foot smack to center, then scored on Blum's RBI single. The scoring became more serious in the third inning. Backe, with his .300+ batting average, got it started in the right direction with a single. Erstad walked, and Bourn moved them both over with a sacrifice bunt. Backe scored on Tejada's RBI single. Berkman didn't wait around to join the fun - he knocked the first pitch over the wall in left center to make it 5-0.
In the sixth, right after the Mets scored their first run, Newhan won one back for them with a lead-off homer. Quintero and Backe struck out. Then, with two down, Erstad, Bourn, Tejada, and Berkman hit consecutive singles to plate another pair of runs, to give the Astros an 8-1 lead.
This all took place just before I turned on the game after the Sabbath ended, so I didn't actually get to see any of the Astros' offensive fun on Saturday night. The Mets' bullpen shut the Astros down for the last 3 innings. But no need for greed; I watched the rest of the game on Sunday morning.
Wiggington, uncharacteristically, did not have a hit in the game, but should have - he was totally robbed by an amazing leaping-twirling-throwing play by Mets third baseman David Wright. Wright also made a terrific play to steal a hit from Newhan, but Newhan got payback with a nice defensive play of his own in the sixth: Playing second, he gloved the ground ball and flipped it from his glove to Tejada, who then threw to Berkman to complete the double play.
It's hard to know when a pitcher has redeemed himself after a couple of huge meltdowns like Backe's had recently. Backe doesn't feel like he's there yet. Maybe it's when he gets his ERA back under 5. Maybe in his next game he'll throw a no-hitter - and hit a grand slam too. That should do it.
GAME 128 - August 22: Santana Wins Duel with the Wizard
New York 3, Houston 0
Quote of the Day: "He pitched eight innings so he beat me there." (Johan Santana, on Roy Oswalt)
As pitching duels go, this was a good one: Santana vs. Roy O. Just because I don't like the outcome doesn't take away from that. All of Oswalt's hits and runs came in the first two innings - 4 hits, including a 2-run homer in the second. But after that, the Mets were helpless against him for the rest of the game as the Wizard set down 20 of the Evil Ones in a row.
Unfortunately, Oswalt's teammates couldn't figure out an angle for scoring against Santana. It wasn't like they didn't have their chances - he only had one 1-2-3 inning. With 8 hits, the Astros had plenty of base runners to work with. In the second inning, Pence was on third with one down, and missed a chance to score on Ausmus' ground ball - a base-running flub that earned him a chat with Cooper after the game. Berkman grounded out to end the fifth with runners on second and third. The only part of the Astros' anti-Santana game plan that worked was the attempt to run up his pitch count, starting with Berkman's 11-pitch strikeout in the first inning. By the end of seven innings, Santana had logged a season-high 121 pitches, and to his chagrin, minor-league teammate Oswalt had outlasted him in the game. But the Astros had no luck against the Mets' bullpen, so the strategy didn't buy them anything in the end.
So, a sad loss for Roy O, after a mostly stellar outing. I told my sons, who live in NY and attended this game, to cheer for the Wizard. I'm thinking that they might not have done that.
In other news... The Astros have picked up Jose Castillo off waivers from the Giants, to shore up the infield with Matsui still out. He didn't play in this game.
Quote of the Day: "He pitched eight innings so he beat me there." (Johan Santana, on Roy Oswalt)
As pitching duels go, this was a good one: Santana vs. Roy O. Just because I don't like the outcome doesn't take away from that. All of Oswalt's hits and runs came in the first two innings - 4 hits, including a 2-run homer in the second. But after that, the Mets were helpless against him for the rest of the game as the Wizard set down 20 of the Evil Ones in a row.
Unfortunately, Oswalt's teammates couldn't figure out an angle for scoring against Santana. It wasn't like they didn't have their chances - he only had one 1-2-3 inning. With 8 hits, the Astros had plenty of base runners to work with. In the second inning, Pence was on third with one down, and missed a chance to score on Ausmus' ground ball - a base-running flub that earned him a chat with Cooper after the game. Berkman grounded out to end the fifth with runners on second and third. The only part of the Astros' anti-Santana game plan that worked was the attempt to run up his pitch count, starting with Berkman's 11-pitch strikeout in the first inning. By the end of seven innings, Santana had logged a season-high 121 pitches, and to his chagrin, minor-league teammate Oswalt had outlasted him in the game. But the Astros had no luck against the Mets' bullpen, so the strategy didn't buy them anything in the end.
So, a sad loss for Roy O, after a mostly stellar outing. I told my sons, who live in NY and attended this game, to cheer for the Wizard. I'm thinking that they might not have done that.
In other news... The Astros have picked up Jose Castillo off waivers from the Giants, to shore up the infield with Matsui still out. He didn't play in this game.
Friday, August 22, 2008
GAMES 125-127 - August 18-20: Nasty Brew
August 18: Milwaukee 9, Houston 3
August 19: Houston 5, Milwaukee 2
August 20: Milwaukee x, Houston y
Quote of the Day: "I'm predicting that [the Astros will sweep the Brewers], I'm going out on a limb. You heard it here first."" (Cooper, according to Kristin Oliphant on Astros.com)
I miss Alyson Footer. She's still reporting for Astros.com, but not every day. More often than not the games and news are covered by Kristin Oliphant, who makes little mistakes in the facts (a no-no in a game where stats are holy). And who prints quotes like the one above, without giving any indication to Cooper's tone when he predicted that the Astros would sweep the Brewers - was he really serious? Joking? Ironic? Hopeful? I don't know the man, but from what I've read of him from others, he doesn't seem the type to jinx his team by making a boastful claim to sweep the team that leads the Wild Card pack. Meanwhile, McTaggert at the Chronicle was also predicting a sweep - with Houston on the losing end.
It would have been sweet if the Astros had swept the Brewers, but it wasn't very likely, given that they would be facing the top of Milwaukee's rotation: newer-Brewer Sabbathia, long-time nemesis Sheets, and Parra to round it out.
While the scores in this series were not as lopsided as the Dback's one, the outcome was the same: The Astros lost the series two games to one.
Monday night, the dreaded Sabbathia was anything but lights out as he gave up 11 hits in his complete game, but the Astros missed opportunities and ended up with only 3 runs, each a singleton. Two were solo homers - one by Wiggington (of course) and the other by pinch-hitter Abercrombie. Sabbathia did them just as much damage at the plate as on the mound. Randy Wolf had been pitching well for the Astros when, in the fifth inning, with runners on first and second and two outs, he decided to walk the catcher to pitch to Sabbathia. This turned out to be the beginning of the end for Wolf, as Sabbathia hit a 2-RBI single that kicked off a 5-run scoring spree. Sampson came in to throw a perfect 8-pitch sixth inning, but every Astros pitcher after than dug their hole a little deeper. Brocail gave up one in the sixth, Wright struck out the side in the seventh but allowed a solo homer in the middle, and Geary gave up one more for good measure in the eighth. But all that was just decoration.
Tuesday night's game was a nice comeback, considering that Milwaukee starter Ben Sheets has a history of good luck against the Astros. Moehler didn't have his best start of the season - he gave up 9 hits in his 5 1/3 innings - but kept the Brewers to only 2 runs, one in each of the first two innings. The bullpen was nearly lights out: Between Sampson, Geary, Hawkins, and Valverde, the Brewers only eked out a single hit in 3 2/3 innings. The difference in the game came in the sixth, when Blum broke open the 2-2 tie with a 3-run home run.
Wednesday afternoon's game was bad luck all around. First of all, I hate afternoon games on work days, since I can't watch them at the office. But even more, I hate squandered opportunities. This game was full of them - not the least, the eighth-inning bases-loaded, no-out chance that got away. The Astros loaded the bases on luck: Tejeda beat out a bunt, Berkman was hit (just barely) by a pitch, Blum made it safely to first on a fielding error. But the luck ended in a blink of an eye, as Pence (not a patient batter) was jammed swinging at the first pitch and set off a double play. Then Newhan swung at his first pitch - and grounded out. Two pitches and it was all over. Wandy, who didn't pitch badly (3 runs, 2 earned, in 5 1/3 innings) got a loss. I'm guessing that he's going to stay "Wandy" in my journal for the rest of the season.
So no sweep, either way, but Houston missed a great opportunity to pick up ground on the Wild Card race. Instead, the Astros leave Milwaukee 8 1/2 games out, with plenty of other teams in between. On to New York for a 4-game series against the Mets, who are probably anxious to avenge their sweep in Houston.
August 19: Houston 5, Milwaukee 2
August 20: Milwaukee x, Houston y
Quote of the Day: "I'm predicting that [the Astros will sweep the Brewers], I'm going out on a limb. You heard it here first."" (Cooper, according to Kristin Oliphant on Astros.com)
I miss Alyson Footer. She's still reporting for Astros.com, but not every day. More often than not the games and news are covered by Kristin Oliphant, who makes little mistakes in the facts (a no-no in a game where stats are holy). And who prints quotes like the one above, without giving any indication to Cooper's tone when he predicted that the Astros would sweep the Brewers - was he really serious? Joking? Ironic? Hopeful? I don't know the man, but from what I've read of him from others, he doesn't seem the type to jinx his team by making a boastful claim to sweep the team that leads the Wild Card pack. Meanwhile, McTaggert at the Chronicle was also predicting a sweep - with Houston on the losing end.
It would have been sweet if the Astros had swept the Brewers, but it wasn't very likely, given that they would be facing the top of Milwaukee's rotation: newer-Brewer Sabbathia, long-time nemesis Sheets, and Parra to round it out.
While the scores in this series were not as lopsided as the Dback's one, the outcome was the same: The Astros lost the series two games to one.
Monday night, the dreaded Sabbathia was anything but lights out as he gave up 11 hits in his complete game, but the Astros missed opportunities and ended up with only 3 runs, each a singleton. Two were solo homers - one by Wiggington (of course) and the other by pinch-hitter Abercrombie. Sabbathia did them just as much damage at the plate as on the mound. Randy Wolf had been pitching well for the Astros when, in the fifth inning, with runners on first and second and two outs, he decided to walk the catcher to pitch to Sabbathia. This turned out to be the beginning of the end for Wolf, as Sabbathia hit a 2-RBI single that kicked off a 5-run scoring spree. Sampson came in to throw a perfect 8-pitch sixth inning, but every Astros pitcher after than dug their hole a little deeper. Brocail gave up one in the sixth, Wright struck out the side in the seventh but allowed a solo homer in the middle, and Geary gave up one more for good measure in the eighth. But all that was just decoration.
Tuesday night's game was a nice comeback, considering that Milwaukee starter Ben Sheets has a history of good luck against the Astros. Moehler didn't have his best start of the season - he gave up 9 hits in his 5 1/3 innings - but kept the Brewers to only 2 runs, one in each of the first two innings. The bullpen was nearly lights out: Between Sampson, Geary, Hawkins, and Valverde, the Brewers only eked out a single hit in 3 2/3 innings. The difference in the game came in the sixth, when Blum broke open the 2-2 tie with a 3-run home run.
Wednesday afternoon's game was bad luck all around. First of all, I hate afternoon games on work days, since I can't watch them at the office. But even more, I hate squandered opportunities. This game was full of them - not the least, the eighth-inning bases-loaded, no-out chance that got away. The Astros loaded the bases on luck: Tejeda beat out a bunt, Berkman was hit (just barely) by a pitch, Blum made it safely to first on a fielding error. But the luck ended in a blink of an eye, as Pence (not a patient batter) was jammed swinging at the first pitch and set off a double play. Then Newhan swung at his first pitch - and grounded out. Two pitches and it was all over. Wandy, who didn't pitch badly (3 runs, 2 earned, in 5 1/3 innings) got a loss. I'm guessing that he's going to stay "Wandy" in my journal for the rest of the season.
So no sweep, either way, but Houston missed a great opportunity to pick up ground on the Wild Card race. Instead, the Astros leave Milwaukee 8 1/2 games out, with plenty of other teams in between. On to New York for a 4-game series against the Mets, who are probably anxious to avenge their sweep in Houston.
Monday, August 18, 2008
GAME 124 - August 17: A Fairy Tale Ending to a Crappy Series
Houston 3, Arizona 0
Quote of the Day: "I think the coolest thing about Astros fans is they love the logo, but they truly love the person that wears it more." (Craig Biggio, as the Astros retired jersey number 7)
Craig Biggio got it right. I've been wondering all season why I'm still an Astros fan after all these years living far from my childhood home in Houston, why I still cheer for a team I get to see at Spring Training and maybe - in a good year - 3 or 4 games when they play my curren
t home town. And the only answer that I ever come up with is that it's those guys - the ones I was calling the Good Guys before that slogan was adopted, embarrassingly, for last year's losing season. The big puzzle for me now is whether, with Bagwell and Biggio now reduced to big starred retired numbers in Minute Maid Park, those guys that make up the current Astros team are really enough to sustain fandom-in-exile. This question really hit home this Spring, when I was in Kissimmee and barely recognized anyone on the team.
I've been cheering as much as ever, watching the games on mlb.tv, keeping up my game diary. There are a few of my old favorites left - Berkman, Oswalt, Backe, and of course Ausmus, and some old not-quite-favorites like Wandy. There are some new favorites - ball-smashing Lee, serious and solid Loretta, and especially the outfielder my cousin Jon calls "Underpants." By now, of course, I recognize all the guys on the team at a glance - Erstad's samurai sword at bat, highly charged Valverde, the suddenly super Wiggington. But what is it about this particular collection of guys that's worth cheering for - especially in a year like this one when I'm pretty much alone in claiming a Playoff berth for them?
Watching Biggio's jersey number 7 retired on Sunday brought a lot of these thoughts to mind. Of course, Biggio has been gone all season, but seeing him in a suit and tie out on the field for the ceremony made it more real. My guys, the ones that have been the face of the team all these years, aren't ball players anymore. Baseball players wear uniforms on the field. It was so much nicer seeing Bagwell in a uniform at Spring Training, even in a coaching role, than in bluejeans at this ceremony. I'm not in a crisis of faith over my fanship-in-exile, but the retirement of jerseys number 5 and 7 made me think about it.
With all this in my head, the Astros were busy redeeming themselves for the terrible performances on Friday and Saturday nights. As bad as Wandy and Backe were in their starts, Roy O was stellar in his Sunday start against Randy Johnson. Johnson wasn't bad either; the only luck that the Astros had against him was Wiggington's first inning 3-run homer. After that came a long line of zeros for the rest of the game. But the Dbacks' line of zeros went all the way across, start to finish. This wasn't one of those games where Oswalt gave up 9 runs, and maybe eked out a win anyway. This was the old Roy O, pitching shutout 8 innings, giving up 1 run and a pair of walks, and striking out 10. The Ace, the Wizard. Actually, it was better than the old Roy O; I can't remember when I've seen him pitch a better game.
Luckily for Oswalt, Wiggington took it upon himself to continue in the tradition of Carlos Lee, and gave him a few runs to work with. Wigs earned the NL co-player of the week award for his recent offensive barrage. He has more than made up for Lee, since he's hitting like El Caballo and fielding better. (But I'm greedy - can you imagine how much better the Astros would be doing if they had both of them? And if Berkman would start knocking the ball out of the place...?)
So a very bad series start had a happy ending after all: A nice tribute for Bidge, a season-best performance from Oswalt, and a win for the Good Guys - and I for one never say that ironically.
Quote of the Day: "I think the coolest thing about Astros fans is they love the logo, but they truly love the person that wears it more." (Craig Biggio, as the Astros retired jersey number 7)
Craig Biggio got it right. I've been wondering all season why I'm still an Astros fan after all these years living far from my childhood home in Houston, why I still cheer for a team I get to see at Spring Training and maybe - in a good year - 3 or 4 games when they play my curren
t home town. And the only answer that I ever come up with is that it's those guys - the ones I was calling the Good Guys before that slogan was adopted, embarrassingly, for last year's losing season. The big puzzle for me now is whether, with Bagwell and Biggio now reduced to big starred retired numbers in Minute Maid Park, those guys that make up the current Astros team are really enough to sustain fandom-in-exile. This question really hit home this Spring, when I was in Kissimmee and barely recognized anyone on the team.I've been cheering as much as ever, watching the games on mlb.tv, keeping up my game diary. There are a few of my old favorites left - Berkman, Oswalt, Backe, and of course Ausmus, and some old not-quite-favorites like Wandy. There are some new favorites - ball-smashing Lee, serious and solid Loretta, and especially the outfielder my cousin Jon calls "Underpants." By now, of course, I recognize all the guys on the team at a glance - Erstad's samurai sword at bat, highly charged Valverde, the suddenly super Wiggington. But what is it about this particular collection of guys that's worth cheering for - especially in a year like this one when I'm pretty much alone in claiming a Playoff berth for them?
Watching Biggio's jersey number 7 retired on Sunday brought a lot of these thoughts to mind. Of course, Biggio has been gone all season, but seeing him in a suit and tie out on the field for the ceremony made it more real. My guys, the ones that have been the face of the team all these years, aren't ball players anymore. Baseball players wear uniforms on the field. It was so much nicer seeing Bagwell in a uniform at Spring Training, even in a coaching role, than in bluejeans at this ceremony. I'm not in a crisis of faith over my fanship-in-exile, but the retirement of jerseys number 5 and 7 made me think about it.
With all this in my head, the Astros were busy redeeming themselves for the terrible performances on Friday and Saturday nights. As bad as Wandy and Backe were in their starts, Roy O was stellar in his Sunday start against Randy Johnson. Johnson wasn't bad either; the only luck that the Astros had against him was Wiggington's first inning 3-run homer. After that came a long line of zeros for the rest of the game. But the Dbacks' line of zeros went all the way across, start to finish. This wasn't one of those games where Oswalt gave up 9 runs, and maybe eked out a win anyway. This was the old Roy O, pitching shutout 8 innings, giving up 1 run and a pair of walks, and striking out 10. The Ace, the Wizard. Actually, it was better than the old Roy O; I can't remember when I've seen him pitch a better game.
Luckily for Oswalt, Wiggington took it upon himself to continue in the tradition of Carlos Lee, and gave him a few runs to work with. Wigs earned the NL co-player of the week award for his recent offensive barrage. He has more than made up for Lee, since he's hitting like El Caballo and fielding better. (But I'm greedy - can you imagine how much better the Astros would be doing if they had both of them? And if Berkman would start knocking the ball out of the place...?)
So a very bad series start had a happy ending after all: A nice tribute for Bidge, a season-best performance from Oswalt, and a win for the Good Guys - and I for one never say that ironically.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
GAMES 122-123 - August 15-16: Consistent Inconsistency
August 15: Arizona 12, Houston 2
August 16: Arizona 11, Houston 5
Quote of the Day: "I just wanted to see if he was OK, and I said, 'I really need you to get this guy.' He said, 'OK, I can do it.' That's why I left him in. Hindsight's always good, but I'd do it again if I had to do it." (Cooper, on leaving Backe in with the bases loaded, just before he gave up his second granny)
Brandon Backe's been back and forth like a pingpong ball - bad, good, bad, good - this season. He had a really nice start last week, and thought that maybe it had made up for his previous one, when he gave up 9 runs, including a grand slam. But he outdid even that on Saturday night, giving up 5 runs in the first inning and 11 total - including two grand slams. Backe's line - 5 2/3 innings, giving up 11 runs on 9 hits and 5 walks, striking out 6 - doesn't even fully illuminate how bad he was pitching. A more telling stat: Of his 119 pitches, only 69 were strikes.
One might ask why Backe, who had given up his first granny in the first inning, was still in the game in the sixth, when he allowed the second one. The answer ultimately rests with Cecil Cooper, who visited Backe on the mound and then let him keep pitching, even though he had just walked the bases loaded, even though he already had over 110 pitches. Bad judgment, especially when he says that he'd do it again? It's hard to guess what might have happened if Cooper had not let Backe dig quite such a deep hole. The bullpen - Geary, Brocail, and Hawkins - finished off the game without surrendering another run, and Houston came back late in the game to score some runs, one in the seventh and three more in the ninth. But it was too little, too late.
The other reason that Backe wasn't taken out much earlier rests on someone else: Wandy Rodriguez. Wandy's pitching meltdown the night before resulted in the bullpen having to start in the third inning. It was apparently their overuse on Friday that factored in Cooper's leaving Backe in the game, even though he had been way off his game all night. Wandy, on Friday night, was proportionally even worse: Of the 77 pitches that he threw in his 2 1/3 innings, only 39 were strikes. He gave up 3 runs in the first inning and another in the third, before he was yanked out. With ace Brandon Webb on the mound for the Dbacks, Cooper knew that he had to keep the score within reach, and Wandy wasn't doing that. Unfortunately, his relief pitchers didn't offer much in the way of relief. Sampson gave away a pair of runs in his two-plus innings. Brydak threw in 6 more in 3 innings, all on home runs - one in each inning. Wright pitched a perfect ninth, but by then the score was 12-2 and the Astros streak was broken at 8 games.
The lone bright spot in Friday night's game was Ty Wiggington, who continues to crush the ball - he went 3 for 4 including a home run. Then he followed that up on Saturday with 3 more hits - 2 doubles and an RBI triple. Wiggington's recent offensive barrage has received plenty of attention, but I'm not sure if anyone is attributing it to the true source: He's taken over in left field for El Caballo, out for the year with a broken pinky. Apparently RBIs are contagious.
I was expecting the Astros to have some problems scoring runs off of the strong Diamondback pitching, but that didn't mean that the Astros pitching needed to melt down too. The Astros are facing quite a few big shot pitchers over the next week or so, and they'll need to do much better to get their winning momentum back. They can start with Sunday's series finale: the Wiz vs the Big Unit.
August 16: Arizona 11, Houston 5
Quote of the Day: "I just wanted to see if he was OK, and I said, 'I really need you to get this guy.' He said, 'OK, I can do it.' That's why I left him in. Hindsight's always good, but I'd do it again if I had to do it." (Cooper, on leaving Backe in with the bases loaded, just before he gave up his second granny)
Brandon Backe's been back and forth like a pingpong ball - bad, good, bad, good - this season. He had a really nice start last week, and thought that maybe it had made up for his previous one, when he gave up 9 runs, including a grand slam. But he outdid even that on Saturday night, giving up 5 runs in the first inning and 11 total - including two grand slams. Backe's line - 5 2/3 innings, giving up 11 runs on 9 hits and 5 walks, striking out 6 - doesn't even fully illuminate how bad he was pitching. A more telling stat: Of his 119 pitches, only 69 were strikes.
One might ask why Backe, who had given up his first granny in the first inning, was still in the game in the sixth, when he allowed the second one. The answer ultimately rests with Cecil Cooper, who visited Backe on the mound and then let him keep pitching, even though he had just walked the bases loaded, even though he already had over 110 pitches. Bad judgment, especially when he says that he'd do it again? It's hard to guess what might have happened if Cooper had not let Backe dig quite such a deep hole. The bullpen - Geary, Brocail, and Hawkins - finished off the game without surrendering another run, and Houston came back late in the game to score some runs, one in the seventh and three more in the ninth. But it was too little, too late.
The other reason that Backe wasn't taken out much earlier rests on someone else: Wandy Rodriguez. Wandy's pitching meltdown the night before resulted in the bullpen having to start in the third inning. It was apparently their overuse on Friday that factored in Cooper's leaving Backe in the game, even though he had been way off his game all night. Wandy, on Friday night, was proportionally even worse: Of the 77 pitches that he threw in his 2 1/3 innings, only 39 were strikes. He gave up 3 runs in the first inning and another in the third, before he was yanked out. With ace Brandon Webb on the mound for the Dbacks, Cooper knew that he had to keep the score within reach, and Wandy wasn't doing that. Unfortunately, his relief pitchers didn't offer much in the way of relief. Sampson gave away a pair of runs in his two-plus innings. Brydak threw in 6 more in 3 innings, all on home runs - one in each inning. Wright pitched a perfect ninth, but by then the score was 12-2 and the Astros streak was broken at 8 games.
The lone bright spot in Friday night's game was Ty Wiggington, who continues to crush the ball - he went 3 for 4 including a home run. Then he followed that up on Saturday with 3 more hits - 2 doubles and an RBI triple. Wiggington's recent offensive barrage has received plenty of attention, but I'm not sure if anyone is attributing it to the true source: He's taken over in left field for El Caballo, out for the year with a broken pinky. Apparently RBIs are contagious.
I was expecting the Astros to have some problems scoring runs off of the strong Diamondback pitching, but that didn't mean that the Astros pitching needed to melt down too. The Astros are facing quite a few big shot pitchers over the next week or so, and they'll need to do much better to get their winning momentum back. They can start with Sunday's series finale: the Wiz vs the Big Unit.
GAME 121 - August 14: Double Sweep!
Houston 7, San Francisco 4
Question of the Day: When was the last time that the Astros won back-to-back 4-game sweeps? (Answer: Never)
You could say that it was just the Giants, just the Reds, two teams that aren't exactly hot this year, but back-to-back 4-game sweeps are still a major accomplishment. For an Astros team that has been swept by the likes of the PIrates, this 8 game streak has got to be a huge high.
The Astros first run came on a second-inning play that was reminiscent of Wednesday's weird-fest: Pence had hit a 1-out ground-rule double, and moved up to third base on Newhan's ground out. With two out, Quintero struck out on 3 pitches. But the third pitch got away from the catcher, allowing Q to safely reach first, as Pence scrambled home for a run. The Giants seemed to be giving away free runs again.
Berkman, looking more and more like his May self, was responsible for much of the fun, offensively. Erstad and Wiggington opened the third inning with back-to-back singles. Tejada's fielders choice erased Erstad at third. Then Berkman hit a big double to deep left center, scoring Wiggy and putting Tejada on third. Blum's sac fly tied it up 3-3.
Moehler didn't have a particularly sharp start. Opening the game with three consecutive singles, he gave up a pair of runs in the first inning. He also allowed solo runs in the third and sixth innings. Total damage: Four runs in 5 1/3 innings, on 8 hits, no walks, and 1 strikeout. He left the game down a run, in line for the loss. But the bullpen was fantastic again: Geary, Byrdak, Wright, Hawkins and Valverde combined for 3 2/3 hitless innings.
With that kind of help from the pitching staff, the Astros just needed to figure out a way to get another couple of runs. They got the tying run in the seventh, again with a little give-away from the Giants. Newhan led off with a single, advancing to second on a passed ball, and then to third on Quintero's groundout. After Loretta lined out for the second out, Erstad's RBI single plated Newhan to tie the game.
In the eighth, Berkman came through again. Tejada led off with a single. Then Berkman knocked one into the Crawford boxes to put Houston ahead 6-4. Blum followed with a double, and scored on Quintero's RBI single. With the score now, 7-4, it was a save situation for Valverde, who didn't mess around to make it more interesting. He only took 6 pitches to eliminate the side, earning his 30th save of the season.
For the Astros it was back-to-back sweeps, for an 8 game winning streak. All this good work is saving up for a rainy day, which may come soon: Arizona's coming to town, and Coope'r' claim that "When you're playing like we're playing, you start to feel a little invincible" is going to be tested by their pitchers.
Question of the Day: When was the last time that the Astros won back-to-back 4-game sweeps? (Answer: Never)
You could say that it was just the Giants, just the Reds, two teams that aren't exactly hot this year, but back-to-back 4-game sweeps are still a major accomplishment. For an Astros team that has been swept by the likes of the PIrates, this 8 game streak has got to be a huge high.
The Astros first run came on a second-inning play that was reminiscent of Wednesday's weird-fest: Pence had hit a 1-out ground-rule double, and moved up to third base on Newhan's ground out. With two out, Quintero struck out on 3 pitches. But the third pitch got away from the catcher, allowing Q to safely reach first, as Pence scrambled home for a run. The Giants seemed to be giving away free runs again.
Berkman, looking more and more like his May self, was responsible for much of the fun, offensively. Erstad and Wiggington opened the third inning with back-to-back singles. Tejada's fielders choice erased Erstad at third. Then Berkman hit a big double to deep left center, scoring Wiggy and putting Tejada on third. Blum's sac fly tied it up 3-3.
Moehler didn't have a particularly sharp start. Opening the game with three consecutive singles, he gave up a pair of runs in the first inning. He also allowed solo runs in the third and sixth innings. Total damage: Four runs in 5 1/3 innings, on 8 hits, no walks, and 1 strikeout. He left the game down a run, in line for the loss. But the bullpen was fantastic again: Geary, Byrdak, Wright, Hawkins and Valverde combined for 3 2/3 hitless innings.
With that kind of help from the pitching staff, the Astros just needed to figure out a way to get another couple of runs. They got the tying run in the seventh, again with a little give-away from the Giants. Newhan led off with a single, advancing to second on a passed ball, and then to third on Quintero's groundout. After Loretta lined out for the second out, Erstad's RBI single plated Newhan to tie the game.
In the eighth, Berkman came through again. Tejada led off with a single. Then Berkman knocked one into the Crawford boxes to put Houston ahead 6-4. Blum followed with a double, and scored on Quintero's RBI single. With the score now, 7-4, it was a save situation for Valverde, who didn't mess around to make it more interesting. He only took 6 pitches to eliminate the side, earning his 30th save of the season.
For the Astros it was back-to-back sweeps, for an 8 game winning streak. All this good work is saving up for a rainy day, which may come soon: Arizona's coming to town, and Coope'r' claim that "When you're playing like we're playing, you start to feel a little invincible" is going to be tested by their pitchers.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
GAME 120 - August 13: Opportunity Knocks and Astros Answer
Houston 6, San Francisco 2
Quote of the Day: "We found a way, and that's the important thing. It wasn't the prettiest and it wasn't like we were driving balls or hitting the ball hard, but we found a way." (Wiggington)
In the weird game department, this one was a classic. No, the Astros weren't driving balls or hitting them hard - they weren't hitting the ball much at all. In the crazy sixth inning, when all of the Astros' runs were scored, the players were hit almost as often as the ball was. Six players accounted for the six runs - and not one of them had a hit. Here's how it happened:
Like Monday's game, the Astros hadn't been able to do much against the Giants' starter, Barry Zito, for 5 innings. Wiggington opened the sixth by beating out an infield single, then moved up on Loretta's walk. Tejada's bloop single to right loaded the bases with no outs, and Berkman coming to the plate? Another grand slam would have been improbably - but it would have been a lot less odd than what actually happened. Zito walked in the run. The bases were still loaded, for Blum, whose sac fly scored the second run. Pence was intentionally walked, loading up the bases again. Abercrombie's sac fly scored Tejada, for the third run. Two down. After Zito hit Quintero with a pitch and then walked pitcher Randy Wolf for the fourth run, he was replaced. His reliever, young Barry Sadler won't want to think much about this game in years to come: He hit both Wiggington and Loretta with pitches, giving the Astros a pair of additional runs. Grand total: 6 runs scored by 12 batters, 2 hits (one infield, one bloop), 2 sac flies, 4 walks, and 3 hit batsmen (tied for a major league record for HBPs in an inning).
Opportunistic? You bet. We'll take it.
On the Houston pitching side, it was pretty much a mirror of the previous game. Starting pitcher went seven, two relievers each had a perfect inning. This time it was Wolf to start - he threw 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. Geary and Brocail did the honors to close it out.
Seven in a row. Go for the sweep!
Quote of the Day: "We found a way, and that's the important thing. It wasn't the prettiest and it wasn't like we were driving balls or hitting the ball hard, but we found a way." (Wiggington)
In the weird game department, this one was a classic. No, the Astros weren't driving balls or hitting them hard - they weren't hitting the ball much at all. In the crazy sixth inning, when all of the Astros' runs were scored, the players were hit almost as often as the ball was. Six players accounted for the six runs - and not one of them had a hit. Here's how it happened:
Like Monday's game, the Astros hadn't been able to do much against the Giants' starter, Barry Zito, for 5 innings. Wiggington opened the sixth by beating out an infield single, then moved up on Loretta's walk. Tejada's bloop single to right loaded the bases with no outs, and Berkman coming to the plate? Another grand slam would have been improbably - but it would have been a lot less odd than what actually happened. Zito walked in the run. The bases were still loaded, for Blum, whose sac fly scored the second run. Pence was intentionally walked, loading up the bases again. Abercrombie's sac fly scored Tejada, for the third run. Two down. After Zito hit Quintero with a pitch and then walked pitcher Randy Wolf for the fourth run, he was replaced. His reliever, young Barry Sadler won't want to think much about this game in years to come: He hit both Wiggington and Loretta with pitches, giving the Astros a pair of additional runs. Grand total: 6 runs scored by 12 batters, 2 hits (one infield, one bloop), 2 sac flies, 4 walks, and 3 hit batsmen (tied for a major league record for HBPs in an inning).
Opportunistic? You bet. We'll take it.
On the Houston pitching side, it was pretty much a mirror of the previous game. Starting pitcher went seven, two relievers each had a perfect inning. This time it was Wolf to start - he threw 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3. Geary and Brocail did the honors to close it out.
Seven in a row. Go for the sweep!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
GAME 119 - August 12: Slam Dunk!
Houston 12, San Francisco 4
Quote of the Day: "It was a weird game. It started out like a pitchers' duel and ended up like a blowout." (Berkman)
It's a good thing that no one can see me watching the Astros games on my computer. I really get into the game. I clap when they get a hit, jump up and down when they score a run. I do the little claw thing every time they show the Little Pumas. If anyone were watching, it would be pretty embarrassing. So I'm not going to say what I did when Lance Berkman hit his seventh inning grand slam.
What was predicted to be a fast-paced pitchers' duel between Roy O and the Giants' All Star pitcher Tim Lincecum didn't quite turn out that way. The game started out as expected, with relatively little offensive progress on either side into the fifth inning. The Astros were not doing well against Lincecum - they only had two hits, although they parlayed them into a pair of runs (one unearned), thanks to an error. Then in the bottom of the fifth, the Astros caught another lucky break (hopefully not literally) when Ausmus hit a sharp line drive that smacked the pitcher right in his knee. A few minutes later, Lincecum limped off the field and the Astros had a second chance against the Giants' bullpen.
Meanwhile, Oswalt was not having a clean game. He gave up a lot of hits, but managed to get out of most of his jams, allowing one run in three different innings. He loaded up the bases with no outs in the second inning on a walk, single and bunt single; then he got out of the inning with only one run scoring on a sac fly. Another run scored on a sac fly in the fifth when the bases were loaded with one out. Oswalt only had one 1-2-3 inning in the seven he pitched, giving up 3 runs on 10 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He almost didn't make it to the end of the seventh inning: After Oswalt allowed a couple of base hits, Cooper came out to chat with him on the mound. But Oswalt was allowed to continue, and finished off the inning without any problems.
So when Oswalt left the mound in the seventh, behind by a run in a 3-2 game, he was liable for the loss but still eligible for the win, if the Astros could score quickly. With Oswalt at 112 pitches and due to bat third, it was clear that he'd be replaced by a pinch hitter. If his teammates planned to help him get to double-digit wins tonight, this was their last chance.
Bourn, leading off, failed to bunt his way on - one down. Ausmus got on with a walk. Then Pence, pinch hitting for Oswalt, declined the opportunity to hit into a double play; instead he hit a single. Loretta walked to load the bases. Then Erstad hit the ball to left field. Pence, reading it as a base hit started to run towards third, while Ausmus, unsure, stayed close to third base. In a near repeat of a crazy play from a couple of weeks ago, Pence came in to home plate, literally on the heels of the runner in front of him. Both runners scored, giving the Astros a 4-3 lead. When this happened on August 2, Pence and Loretta both slid, taking out the Mets' catcher in a collision at the plate - but both runners were safe. This time was a lot less violent, with the same good outcome.
Tejada singled to load up the bases again, with only one out, bringing up Berkman, batting right-handed against the lefty pitcher. Berkman had struck out in his first two at bats, and after flying out in his third at bat, he'd flung his bat in frustration. He was overdue for a hit. At this point, the Little Pumas and I were doing the scratching paw thing. I couldn't hear them, but I'm sure that they were yelling the same thing that I was: Home Run! Grand Slam! I stood up in the kitchen and waved my invisible puma paws along with them: Home Run! Grand Slam! My dog Shana gave me a funny look; I guess she doesn't care for felines. The count went to 3 and 1. What was the poor pitcher to do? With the bases loaded there was no where to put Berkman; he had to throw to him. The Little Pumas and I were in a frenzy: Home Run! Grand Slam! The 3-1 pitch was just perfect for Berkman. He swung...
HOME RUN! GRAND SLAM!
You have to love a man who listens. I wonder if he was wearing his jersey that the Astronauts took to the space station when he launched that ball out of the field?
The Astros now led 8-3, and normally deadpan Roy O was high-fiving the guys in the bullpen. But they still weren't done. Blum launched a ball into deep left center; it was that close to being another home run. He settled for a double. But Wiggington launched the ball into the right field stand for a two-run homer to make it 10-3. The 8-run seventh was Houston's biggest-scoring inning this season.
Meanwhile, up in Boston, the Sox had blown a 10-0 first-inning lead over the Ranger; by the eighth inning they were tied 16-16. Seeing that on the scoreboard, the Astros clearly felt compelled to add on to their big lead. Pence led off the eighth with a solo homer. Loretta singled, and Tejada knocked him in with a double. The Astros now led 12-3.
The only way to lose now would be a complete meltdown of the bullpen. Sampson had done his usual good job in the eighth. Now Brydak was called on to close. (Who know what kind of havoc would result from giving Valverde the ball with a 9 run lead?! He probably wouldn't have been able to get his pulse over 60 until he'd made it into a save situation - then he'd strike out the side.) Byrdak gave up a solo homer, but finished up without any other excitement.
Other game factoids: Oswalt threw exactly 17 pitches in each of the first 5 innings. Erstad, that versatile fellow, played three different positions in this game: right field, left field, and first base. Reggie Abercrombie got a pinch-hit single. Pence, who didn't start the game, got his first base hit as a pinch hitter in the seventh; he stayed in the game and homered on his next at bat. Not bad for a day off...
I'm making a big deal about this game for a good reason: The Astros are now, officially, a Winning Team again. They are over .500 for the first time since June 10. It takes a winning team to make the playoffs, and now that they are over .500, it's time to start watching the other team. It's pretty likely, with only 40-something games left, that they'll have to aim for the Wild Card spot. But it has happened before that the Cubs have disappointed their fans... The Astros are 16-8 since the All Star game. They'd probably have to pretty much stay on that pace for the next 7 weeks to make the playoffs. But it ain't over till it's over, you know.
In other news: Carlos Lee's pinky reconstruction was successful - the finger was broken in 5 places. It is still estimated that he'll be out the rest of the season. (Until the playoffs, that is.) In his absence, the players covering for him in left field have had multiple RBIs in each game so far. Hopefully, it's contagious. Matsui had to leave this game with a sore back; no update on his status yet.
Quote of the Day: "It was a weird game. It started out like a pitchers' duel and ended up like a blowout." (Berkman)
It's a good thing that no one can see me watching the Astros games on my computer. I really get into the game. I clap when they get a hit, jump up and down when they score a run. I do the little claw thing every time they show the Little Pumas. If anyone were watching, it would be pretty embarrassing. So I'm not going to say what I did when Lance Berkman hit his seventh inning grand slam.
What was predicted to be a fast-paced pitchers' duel between Roy O and the Giants' All Star pitcher Tim Lincecum didn't quite turn out that way. The game started out as expected, with relatively little offensive progress on either side into the fifth inning. The Astros were not doing well against Lincecum - they only had two hits, although they parlayed them into a pair of runs (one unearned), thanks to an error. Then in the bottom of the fifth, the Astros caught another lucky break (hopefully not literally) when Ausmus hit a sharp line drive that smacked the pitcher right in his knee. A few minutes later, Lincecum limped off the field and the Astros had a second chance against the Giants' bullpen.
Meanwhile, Oswalt was not having a clean game. He gave up a lot of hits, but managed to get out of most of his jams, allowing one run in three different innings. He loaded up the bases with no outs in the second inning on a walk, single and bunt single; then he got out of the inning with only one run scoring on a sac fly. Another run scored on a sac fly in the fifth when the bases were loaded with one out. Oswalt only had one 1-2-3 inning in the seven he pitched, giving up 3 runs on 10 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He almost didn't make it to the end of the seventh inning: After Oswalt allowed a couple of base hits, Cooper came out to chat with him on the mound. But Oswalt was allowed to continue, and finished off the inning without any problems.
So when Oswalt left the mound in the seventh, behind by a run in a 3-2 game, he was liable for the loss but still eligible for the win, if the Astros could score quickly. With Oswalt at 112 pitches and due to bat third, it was clear that he'd be replaced by a pinch hitter. If his teammates planned to help him get to double-digit wins tonight, this was their last chance.
Bourn, leading off, failed to bunt his way on - one down. Ausmus got on with a walk. Then Pence, pinch hitting for Oswalt, declined the opportunity to hit into a double play; instead he hit a single. Loretta walked to load the bases. Then Erstad hit the ball to left field. Pence, reading it as a base hit started to run towards third, while Ausmus, unsure, stayed close to third base. In a near repeat of a crazy play from a couple of weeks ago, Pence came in to home plate, literally on the heels of the runner in front of him. Both runners scored, giving the Astros a 4-3 lead. When this happened on August 2, Pence and Loretta both slid, taking out the Mets' catcher in a collision at the plate - but both runners were safe. This time was a lot less violent, with the same good outcome.
Tejada singled to load up the bases again, with only one out, bringing up Berkman, batting right-handed against the lefty pitcher. Berkman had struck out in his first two at bats, and after flying out in his third at bat, he'd flung his bat in frustration. He was overdue for a hit. At this point, the Little Pumas and I were doing the scratching paw thing. I couldn't hear them, but I'm sure that they were yelling the same thing that I was: Home Run! Grand Slam! I stood up in the kitchen and waved my invisible puma paws along with them: Home Run! Grand Slam! My dog Shana gave me a funny look; I guess she doesn't care for felines. The count went to 3 and 1. What was the poor pitcher to do? With the bases loaded there was no where to put Berkman; he had to throw to him. The Little Pumas and I were in a frenzy: Home Run! Grand Slam! The 3-1 pitch was just perfect for Berkman. He swung...
HOME RUN! GRAND SLAM!
You have to love a man who listens. I wonder if he was wearing his jersey that the Astronauts took to the space station when he launched that ball out of the field?
The Astros now led 8-3, and normally deadpan Roy O was high-fiving the guys in the bullpen. But they still weren't done. Blum launched a ball into deep left center; it was that close to being another home run. He settled for a double. But Wiggington launched the ball into the right field stand for a two-run homer to make it 10-3. The 8-run seventh was Houston's biggest-scoring inning this season.
Meanwhile, up in Boston, the Sox had blown a 10-0 first-inning lead over the Ranger; by the eighth inning they were tied 16-16. Seeing that on the scoreboard, the Astros clearly felt compelled to add on to their big lead. Pence led off the eighth with a solo homer. Loretta singled, and Tejada knocked him in with a double. The Astros now led 12-3.
The only way to lose now would be a complete meltdown of the bullpen. Sampson had done his usual good job in the eighth. Now Brydak was called on to close. (Who know what kind of havoc would result from giving Valverde the ball with a 9 run lead?! He probably wouldn't have been able to get his pulse over 60 until he'd made it into a save situation - then he'd strike out the side.) Byrdak gave up a solo homer, but finished up without any other excitement.
Other game factoids: Oswalt threw exactly 17 pitches in each of the first 5 innings. Erstad, that versatile fellow, played three different positions in this game: right field, left field, and first base. Reggie Abercrombie got a pinch-hit single. Pence, who didn't start the game, got his first base hit as a pinch hitter in the seventh; he stayed in the game and homered on his next at bat. Not bad for a day off...
I'm making a big deal about this game for a good reason: The Astros are now, officially, a Winning Team again. They are over .500 for the first time since June 10. It takes a winning team to make the playoffs, and now that they are over .500, it's time to start watching the other team. It's pretty likely, with only 40-something games left, that they'll have to aim for the Wild Card spot. But it has happened before that the Cubs have disappointed their fans... The Astros are 16-8 since the All Star game. They'd probably have to pretty much stay on that pace for the next 7 weeks to make the playoffs. But it ain't over till it's over, you know.
In other news: Carlos Lee's pinky reconstruction was successful - the finger was broken in 5 places. It is still estimated that he'll be out the rest of the season. (Until the playoffs, that is.) In his absence, the players covering for him in left field have had multiple RBIs in each game so far. Hopefully, it's contagious. Matsui had to leave this game with a sore back; no update on his status yet.
Monday, August 11, 2008
GAME 118 - August 11: Back at .500!
Houston 3, San Francisco 1
Quote of the Day: "Say this or say that about them, but don't call them losers. At 59-59, they are losers no more." (Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle)
Carlos Lee will certainly be missed for the rest of the season, but put Ty Wiggington out in left field and he does a pretty good imitation. Wig, with a grand total of 5 previous starts in left, did a credible job fielding - he only got one fly ball to catch. But his Lee replacement work at the plate was stellar: Wiggington was responsible for all of the Astros' RBIs in the game.
After five innings of a slow waltz (1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3...), the Astros were not off to a promising start. Backe was pitching well, so they were only one run down when they came up in the sixth. Quintero opened the inning with a bloop single, and Backe - trying to bunt him over - beat it out for an infield single. Matsui sac bunted them both up a base. Then Wiggington's single to center scored Q and Backe, to put the Astros ahead 2-1. Wigginton hit a solo homer in the eighth for a little extra insurance.
That was all the damage the Astros could do from the plate, but the pitchers were up to the challenge: Backe, remorseful for his meltdown in his last start, pitched a beautiful game: Seven innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6. Hawkins and Valverde each contributed a perfect inning, and that was it: Astros win 3-1.
Although the game itself was not particularly eventful, the fact of the win was: It put the Astros back to sea level. Five hundred, for the first time since June 11. No longer a losing team, now it's time to look at who's ahead of us on the race to the finish. It's true that we're in double-digits out in the division, and it's unlikely that the Cubs, Brewers, and Cards will all simultaneously fall apart. But you never know with the wild card...
Quote of the Day: "Say this or say that about them, but don't call them losers. At 59-59, they are losers no more." (Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle)
Carlos Lee will certainly be missed for the rest of the season, but put Ty Wiggington out in left field and he does a pretty good imitation. Wig, with a grand total of 5 previous starts in left, did a credible job fielding - he only got one fly ball to catch. But his Lee replacement work at the plate was stellar: Wiggington was responsible for all of the Astros' RBIs in the game.
After five innings of a slow waltz (1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3...), the Astros were not off to a promising start. Backe was pitching well, so they were only one run down when they came up in the sixth. Quintero opened the inning with a bloop single, and Backe - trying to bunt him over - beat it out for an infield single. Matsui sac bunted them both up a base. Then Wiggington's single to center scored Q and Backe, to put the Astros ahead 2-1. Wigginton hit a solo homer in the eighth for a little extra insurance.
That was all the damage the Astros could do from the plate, but the pitchers were up to the challenge: Backe, remorseful for his meltdown in his last start, pitched a beautiful game: Seven innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6. Hawkins and Valverde each contributed a perfect inning, and that was it: Astros win 3-1.
Although the game itself was not particularly eventful, the fact of the win was: It put the Astros back to sea level. Five hundred, for the first time since June 11. No longer a losing team, now it's time to look at who's ahead of us on the race to the finish. It's true that we're in double-digits out in the division, and it's unlikely that the Cubs, Brewers, and Cards will all simultaneously fall apart. But you never know with the wild card...
Sunday, August 10, 2008
GAME 117 - August 10: Sweeping up After a Blowout
Houston 13, Cincinnati 4
Quote of the Day: "Carlos who?" (Carlos Lee, to Cecil Cooper, in the dugout in the second inning, when the Astros were leading 6-0)
I felt sorry for the Reds today. Unfortunately Astros fans know too well how it feels to lose game after game, to think that there just isn't any way to turn from the downward spiral of doom, to wonder if it will ever be FUN again.
On the other hand, it sure felt good to be on the other end of it, as the Astros took game 4 of the series in a blowout. By the third inning, they were leading 8-0. Wandy earned double points towards being called "Rodriguez," he pitched so well. The Reds didn't even get a runner on base until the fifth inning, while the Astros were hitting right and left. Wandy pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 2 solo homers, 5 hits total, 1 walk, and 7 strikeouts. I actually did feel sorry for his Reds counterpoint: It was Aaron Harang's first start after being activated from the DL, and he'd only had one rehab game. He was beat up in all 4 innings he pitched.
if I wondered if the Astros would be able to score any runs without El Caballo in the lineup, I guess the question was answered today. The Astros probably wondered too, as they started out the game with a small-ball strategy: Matsui hit a leadoff double, and Erstad (playing left field, batting second) bunted him to third. They quickly abandoned this strategy, as Tejada hit a double to score Matsui, Berkman walked, and Blum doubled to score Tejada. Berkman was tagged out on a close play at the plate on Pence's fielders choice for the second out. Then Bourn stole 4 bases in one swing with a 3-run homer, his fifth of the season. Five runs in, and they were just in the first inning. Lucky Wandy got a nice lead to start with, but he didn't really need it today.
The Astros scored another run in the second when Wandy doubled and scored on Erstad's RBI single. Wandy's hit would have been a simple fly ball had the outfield not been playing him in so far; instead the ball went over their heads and bounced before the warning track. That was not the only time in this game that it seemed that lackluster defense cost the Reds some runs. The Astros scored two more in the third inning on back-to-back homers by Berkman and Blum. It was Berkman's first long ball since the Home Run Derby of the All Star Game - I wonder if he'll ever volunteer for that again!? Hopefully, his muscle memory will tune in and do it again and again and again...
Harang's relievers shut down the Astros for few innings, giving the Reds a chance to score on their two solo homers. But ex-Nationals pitcher Gary Majewski gave the Astros the chance to score 5 more runs in the eighth. It wasn't completely his fault - there was a run-scoring throwing error mixed in with the singles, doubles, and hit batsman. Luckily, Quintero was hit on his elbow and after much grimacing and groaning he was able to take his base.
With a huge lead, the Astros bullpen wasn't too stressed. Hawkins relieved Wandy in the seventh with two outs and the bases loaded and got a fly ball out of pinch-hitter Javier Valentin to end the threat. Lefty Wright threw a scoreless eighth. In the ninth, Byrdak gave up a double, followed by a homer, to make it 13-4. But that's all the excitement that the Reds could muster, as they lost their sixth game in a row, 14 out of their last 16. I really do feel sorry for them.
The Astros have now won 8 of their last 10, and are just a single game under .500. Today's score was the most lopsided win they have had all season, with a season high for both runs and extra-base hits. It was really a nice team effort too, not just a big bang from the heavy hitters. Happy story of the day: Bourn, trying to show the doubters his value, had 4 RBIs on 2 hits. Blum was 3 for 5 with a home run, double, and single, scoring 3 times, and knocking in 2 RBIs. Matsui and Erstad each had 2 hits. But overall, it was just some of everything from everyone. Erstad also made a couple of very fine plays in left field - plays that Carlos Lee probably would not have made. As much as it will hurt to lose Lee for the rest of the season, it will probably result in a defensive upgrade for the Astros.
In other news... On that rumor about Barry Bonds, I'd have to think that it was a very long shot. Bonds is, to say the least, not really a match for the Astros clubhouse. The guy has more baggage than the management likes to deal with. On the other hand, Tejada has too, and they went all out to get him. Berkman says he'd love to have him, and I wouldn't doubt that there are other players who feel the same way. Personally, it would be really hard for me to cheer for him.
Coming up next: A week-long home series against the San Francisco and Arizona. The Giants are 16 games under .500, and the NL West-leading Diamondbacks have lost their last 4 games. When the Astros rise above .500, then we can start thinking about Wild Cards, playoffs, and the like.
Quote of the Day: "Carlos who?" (Carlos Lee, to Cecil Cooper, in the dugout in the second inning, when the Astros were leading 6-0)
I felt sorry for the Reds today. Unfortunately Astros fans know too well how it feels to lose game after game, to think that there just isn't any way to turn from the downward spiral of doom, to wonder if it will ever be FUN again.
On the other hand, it sure felt good to be on the other end of it, as the Astros took game 4 of the series in a blowout. By the third inning, they were leading 8-0. Wandy earned double points towards being called "Rodriguez," he pitched so well. The Reds didn't even get a runner on base until the fifth inning, while the Astros were hitting right and left. Wandy pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 2 solo homers, 5 hits total, 1 walk, and 7 strikeouts. I actually did feel sorry for his Reds counterpoint: It was Aaron Harang's first start after being activated from the DL, and he'd only had one rehab game. He was beat up in all 4 innings he pitched.
if I wondered if the Astros would be able to score any runs without El Caballo in the lineup, I guess the question was answered today. The Astros probably wondered too, as they started out the game with a small-ball strategy: Matsui hit a leadoff double, and Erstad (playing left field, batting second) bunted him to third. They quickly abandoned this strategy, as Tejada hit a double to score Matsui, Berkman walked, and Blum doubled to score Tejada. Berkman was tagged out on a close play at the plate on Pence's fielders choice for the second out. Then Bourn stole 4 bases in one swing with a 3-run homer, his fifth of the season. Five runs in, and they were just in the first inning. Lucky Wandy got a nice lead to start with, but he didn't really need it today.
The Astros scored another run in the second when Wandy doubled and scored on Erstad's RBI single. Wandy's hit would have been a simple fly ball had the outfield not been playing him in so far; instead the ball went over their heads and bounced before the warning track. That was not the only time in this game that it seemed that lackluster defense cost the Reds some runs. The Astros scored two more in the third inning on back-to-back homers by Berkman and Blum. It was Berkman's first long ball since the Home Run Derby of the All Star Game - I wonder if he'll ever volunteer for that again!? Hopefully, his muscle memory will tune in and do it again and again and again...
Harang's relievers shut down the Astros for few innings, giving the Reds a chance to score on their two solo homers. But ex-Nationals pitcher Gary Majewski gave the Astros the chance to score 5 more runs in the eighth. It wasn't completely his fault - there was a run-scoring throwing error mixed in with the singles, doubles, and hit batsman. Luckily, Quintero was hit on his elbow and after much grimacing and groaning he was able to take his base.
With a huge lead, the Astros bullpen wasn't too stressed. Hawkins relieved Wandy in the seventh with two outs and the bases loaded and got a fly ball out of pinch-hitter Javier Valentin to end the threat. Lefty Wright threw a scoreless eighth. In the ninth, Byrdak gave up a double, followed by a homer, to make it 13-4. But that's all the excitement that the Reds could muster, as they lost their sixth game in a row, 14 out of their last 16. I really do feel sorry for them.
The Astros have now won 8 of their last 10, and are just a single game under .500. Today's score was the most lopsided win they have had all season, with a season high for both runs and extra-base hits. It was really a nice team effort too, not just a big bang from the heavy hitters. Happy story of the day: Bourn, trying to show the doubters his value, had 4 RBIs on 2 hits. Blum was 3 for 5 with a home run, double, and single, scoring 3 times, and knocking in 2 RBIs. Matsui and Erstad each had 2 hits. But overall, it was just some of everything from everyone. Erstad also made a couple of very fine plays in left field - plays that Carlos Lee probably would not have made. As much as it will hurt to lose Lee for the rest of the season, it will probably result in a defensive upgrade for the Astros.
In other news... On that rumor about Barry Bonds, I'd have to think that it was a very long shot. Bonds is, to say the least, not really a match for the Astros clubhouse. The guy has more baggage than the management likes to deal with. On the other hand, Tejada has too, and they went all out to get him. Berkman says he'd love to have him, and I wouldn't doubt that there are other players who feel the same way. Personally, it would be really hard for me to cheer for him.
Coming up next: A week-long home series against the San Francisco and Arizona. The Giants are 16 games under .500, and the NL West-leading Diamondbacks have lost their last 4 games. When the Astros rise above .500, then we can start thinking about Wild Cards, playoffs, and the like.
GAME 116 - August 9: Season Ending Pinky for Lee
Houston 3, Cincinnati 1
Quote of the Day: "It's tough to lose him. It didn't look good. He carried us the last month and a half. It's a big hole to fill... I'm just now starting to suck it up."" (Cooper, on Lee's injury)
It wasn't intentional, but the Reds did manage to find a way to get rid of that pesky Ca
rlos Lee, who had played a large part in their losses in this series. In the third inning of Saturday night's game, Bronson Arroyo's high inside pitch smashed Lee's left pinky, causing him to fall to the ground in pain. When he took off his batting glove, the little finger was dripping blood. They later announced that he'd need surgery on Monday, and that the 6-8 week recovery would probably take Lee out for the rest of the season.
Despite that loss, the Astros did manage to eke out the win. Brian Moehler had another great start, throwing 7 innings, giving up only 1 run on 5 hits, no walks, and 3 strikeouts. Now with a 8-4 record and 3.83 ERA, Moehler has really been the Astros most consistent starter this season. Not bad for a guy who was a non-roster invitee in Kissimmee. Fiven that the Astros only put 3 runs of their own across, it was good that the bullpen was back to form to back up Moehler. Geary and Byrdak split the eighth inning, giving up only a single walk and no hits between them. Valverde came in with a two-run lead; this time it was a save situation and he didn't mess around. He took them down 1-2-3 to save the game (#28).
The Astros got first blood again, with a run in the first. Matsui opened with a full-count walk, Tejada singled to move him to third, and Berkman drove him in with a single to right. There wasn't much offensive action for until the fifth inning, when Moehler helped himself with a leadoff double, moved to third on Matsui's sac bunt, and scored on a wild pitch. Tejada added on another run with a solo homer in the seventh, making it 3-0. Moehler gave up one run to the Reds in the seventh, on 3 singles. That 3-1 score was where the game was when I checked after the Sabbath ended, and that was where it remained when I got home from the Tishe B'av service Saturday night.
So it was a good win but a big loss. Lee probably won't be back this season unless the Astros get into the playoffs. Can they do that without El Caballo, who has been such a dominating factor in their recent offensive surge? We'll see - it's time for Berkman to return to being a power hitter. I don't expect Abercrombie, brought up from Round Rock, to fill Lee's shoes. I expect to see Erstad out in left field for the most part. Maybe everyone can pitch in and make up for the hole in the lineup. I'm just starting to suck it up too.
Quote of the Day: "It's tough to lose him. It didn't look good. He carried us the last month and a half. It's a big hole to fill... I'm just now starting to suck it up."" (Cooper, on Lee's injury)
It wasn't intentional, but the Reds did manage to find a way to get rid of that pesky Ca
rlos Lee, who had played a large part in their losses in this series. In the third inning of Saturday night's game, Bronson Arroyo's high inside pitch smashed Lee's left pinky, causing him to fall to the ground in pain. When he took off his batting glove, the little finger was dripping blood. They later announced that he'd need surgery on Monday, and that the 6-8 week recovery would probably take Lee out for the rest of the season.Despite that loss, the Astros did manage to eke out the win. Brian Moehler had another great start, throwing 7 innings, giving up only 1 run on 5 hits, no walks, and 3 strikeouts. Now with a 8-4 record and 3.83 ERA, Moehler has really been the Astros most consistent starter this season. Not bad for a guy who was a non-roster invitee in Kissimmee. Fiven that the Astros only put 3 runs of their own across, it was good that the bullpen was back to form to back up Moehler. Geary and Byrdak split the eighth inning, giving up only a single walk and no hits between them. Valverde came in with a two-run lead; this time it was a save situation and he didn't mess around. He took them down 1-2-3 to save the game (#28).
The Astros got first blood again, with a run in the first. Matsui opened with a full-count walk, Tejada singled to move him to third, and Berkman drove him in with a single to right. There wasn't much offensive action for until the fifth inning, when Moehler helped himself with a leadoff double, moved to third on Matsui's sac bunt, and scored on a wild pitch. Tejada added on another run with a solo homer in the seventh, making it 3-0. Moehler gave up one run to the Reds in the seventh, on 3 singles. That 3-1 score was where the game was when I checked after the Sabbath ended, and that was where it remained when I got home from the Tishe B'av service Saturday night.
So it was a good win but a big loss. Lee probably won't be back this season unless the Astros get into the playoffs. Can they do that without El Caballo, who has been such a dominating factor in their recent offensive surge? We'll see - it's time for Berkman to return to being a power hitter. I don't expect Abercrombie, brought up from Round Rock, to fill Lee's shoes. I expect to see Erstad out in left field for the most part. Maybe everyone can pitch in and make up for the hole in the lineup. I'm just starting to suck it up too.
GAME 115 - August 8: Lee Hits a Thousand (RBIs)
Houston 9, Cincinnati 5 [10 innings]
Quote of the Day: "Man, that guy knows how to drive in those runs, doesn't he? You hate to see those guys come up in those situations. They're RBI machines." (Reds manager Dusty Baker, on Carlos Lee)
Yeah, that Carlos Lee is a RBI machine all right - his 4-for-5 game Friday night accounted for 3 of the Astros runs, including the two-run double that put them ahead in the tenth inning. This game put him at a cool 100 for the season, and pushed him past the 1000 career RBI mark. What a great run-maker! Too bad his season is over!
But - wait - I'm getting ahead of myself. By the time i saw the result of this game after the Sabbath ended, Carlos Lee had already been injured in the third inning of Saturday night's game. I'll write that bad news up in the next blog. In this game, though, he was a run machine, hitting a solo home run, a 2-run double, a pair of singles, and walking once too. He pushed his BA to .314. Over the past couple of months, he's been one of the most dominant offensive players in the game. Of course, he's not an All Star... enough said.
Houston got off to a very fast start in this game, with a leadoff home run from Matsui, followed by Lee's solo homer later in the first inning. Randy Wolf got off to a good start too - he struck out the side in the second inning. But he ran into trouble in the third inning, when a walk, an error, a double, and a homer added up to a 4-1 Reds lead. The Astros earned back one of the runs in the fifth, on Bourn's RBI single, his second hit of the night. Then they took the lead on Quintero's two-run homer in the top of the seventh.
Wolf's eligibility for the win didn't last long, however. Sampson, relieving Wolf, opened the bottom of the seventh with a double, a single, and a sac fly that allowed the Reds to tie the game at 5-5. But Sampson settled down after that, and did not give up another hit in his 3 innings on the mound. The Astros didn't score over those innings either, so the game went into extra innings.
Just one extra inning, actually. The top of the tenth wasn't looking all that promising after pinch-batter Newhan struck out and then Matsui flied out. But the BLT Sandwich came through: Tejada doubled, Berkman walked, and then Lee blasted a long fly ball to deep right field. Corey Patterson made a long run, and leaped; the ball was actually in his glove but he couldn't hold onto it. Lee ended up with a double, as Tejada and the Puma passed Go and collected their $200. Pence then sent a blast of his own into the left field stands, for another two runs. With a nice four-run lead, Cooper picked young lefty Wright to end the game instead of his closer, who had thrown 31 pitches the night before. Wright set down the Reds 1-2-3 to end the game. (Hey, kid, how does it feel to be a closer - get used to it!)
Some interesting numbers from this game: The Astros scored 8 of their 9 runs with two outs. (Reminder: It's not over till it's over.) Reds pitchers got 15 strikeouts against Astros hitters, including 3 by Pence. Pence redeemed himself with that tenth inning homer, and with a fantastic outfield assist in the fifth that pegged the runner at third. The Astros defense also provided four double plays, to rob the Reds of more opportunities to score.
Quote of the Day: "Man, that guy knows how to drive in those runs, doesn't he? You hate to see those guys come up in those situations. They're RBI machines." (Reds manager Dusty Baker, on Carlos Lee)
Yeah, that Carlos Lee is a RBI machine all right - his 4-for-5 game Friday night accounted for 3 of the Astros runs, including the two-run double that put them ahead in the tenth inning. This game put him at a cool 100 for the season, and pushed him past the 1000 career RBI mark. What a great run-maker! Too bad his season is over!
But - wait - I'm getting ahead of myself. By the time i saw the result of this game after the Sabbath ended, Carlos Lee had already been injured in the third inning of Saturday night's game. I'll write that bad news up in the next blog. In this game, though, he was a run machine, hitting a solo home run, a 2-run double, a pair of singles, and walking once too. He pushed his BA to .314. Over the past couple of months, he's been one of the most dominant offensive players in the game. Of course, he's not an All Star... enough said.
Houston got off to a very fast start in this game, with a leadoff home run from Matsui, followed by Lee's solo homer later in the first inning. Randy Wolf got off to a good start too - he struck out the side in the second inning. But he ran into trouble in the third inning, when a walk, an error, a double, and a homer added up to a 4-1 Reds lead. The Astros earned back one of the runs in the fifth, on Bourn's RBI single, his second hit of the night. Then they took the lead on Quintero's two-run homer in the top of the seventh.
Wolf's eligibility for the win didn't last long, however. Sampson, relieving Wolf, opened the bottom of the seventh with a double, a single, and a sac fly that allowed the Reds to tie the game at 5-5. But Sampson settled down after that, and did not give up another hit in his 3 innings on the mound. The Astros didn't score over those innings either, so the game went into extra innings.
Just one extra inning, actually. The top of the tenth wasn't looking all that promising after pinch-batter Newhan struck out and then Matsui flied out. But the BLT Sandwich came through: Tejada doubled, Berkman walked, and then Lee blasted a long fly ball to deep right field. Corey Patterson made a long run, and leaped; the ball was actually in his glove but he couldn't hold onto it. Lee ended up with a double, as Tejada and the Puma passed Go and collected their $200. Pence then sent a blast of his own into the left field stands, for another two runs. With a nice four-run lead, Cooper picked young lefty Wright to end the game instead of his closer, who had thrown 31 pitches the night before. Wright set down the Reds 1-2-3 to end the game. (Hey, kid, how does it feel to be a closer - get used to it!)
Some interesting numbers from this game: The Astros scored 8 of their 9 runs with two outs. (Reminder: It's not over till it's over.) Reds pitchers got 15 strikeouts against Astros hitters, including 3 by Pence. Pence redeemed himself with that tenth inning homer, and with a fantastic outfield assist in the fifth that pegged the runner at third. The Astros defense also provided four double plays, to rob the Reds of more opportunities to score.
GAME 114 - August 7: Oswalt Continues to Mystify the Reds
Houston 7, Cincinnati 4
Quote of the Day: "You always have a good feeling when he's on the mound, particularly since he's had good success against Cincinnati. The numbers say that, and it's just one of those freaky things in the game." (Berkman)
No one quite knows what it is about Roy Oswalt and the Cincinnati Reds, but somehow, he's got their number. That number is now up to 21, as in 21 wins and only 1 loss in his career against them. Whatever it is, it sure was welcome on Thursday night, after the embarrassments in Chicago over the previous couple of days.
Oswalt looked more like his classic self than in many of the earlier games this season. He pitched 7innings, giving up 1 run on 9 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6. It wasn't that he was perfect - there were plenty of base runners including a full house in the first inning. But he just doesn't seem to let it affect him. Bases loaded in the first? Strike out the batter to end the inning. He ended the first three innings with strikeouts. Cooper pulled him after the seventh, when he gave up his first run.
The Astros offense gave Oswalt some help. In what seems to be a new fad this year, they got first blood, scoring in the first inning on Tejada's double and Lee's RBI single. Then they gave Roy O a nice safety net in the third: Matsui, Berkman, and Lee singled for the first run, then Pence cleaned up the bases with a 3-run homer. Berkman scored again in the fifth on Wigginton's sac fly after the Puma had led off the inning with a double. That gave Oswalt a healthy 6-1 lead when he left the game. Much better odds than his last start, when the bullpen preserved his single-run lead to save his win!
The bullpen preserved this one too, but not so cleanly. Wesley Wright gave up a 2-run homer in the eighth to make it 6-3. New Astros reliever LaTroy Hawkins took a roundabout route to getting the third out of the inning, giving up a walk and a single before the inning ended with a harmless popup. The Astros put the score out of a save situation in the top of the ninth. Tejada led off with a single, and moved to third on Berkman's double - Puma's third hit of the game. Tejada scored on Wiggington's second RBI sac fly.
I was skeptical about bringing in Valvede to pitch in the non-save situation. He hasn't seemed to do his best when there's space for mistakes; he performs better when the game is on the line. He got the first two batters of the ninth right away, both on pop outs. But he'd fooled me into thinking that it would be easy: The next Red tripled, then scored on a wild pitch. A single and a walk brought the tying run to the plate. Now the game was on the line. Properly energized, he got the next batter to line out.
Michael Bourn is finally back from his sprained ankle, after missing 10 starts. He went 0 for 5. Doesn't really help to have a guy who can steal bases with impunity if he can't get to first. On a more positive note, the BLT went Triple 3 - Berkman, Lee, and Tejada each got three hits in this game.
Quote of the Day: "You always have a good feeling when he's on the mound, particularly since he's had good success against Cincinnati. The numbers say that, and it's just one of those freaky things in the game." (Berkman)
No one quite knows what it is about Roy Oswalt and the Cincinnati Reds, but somehow, he's got their number. That number is now up to 21, as in 21 wins and only 1 loss in his career against them. Whatever it is, it sure was welcome on Thursday night, after the embarrassments in Chicago over the previous couple of days.
Oswalt looked more like his classic self than in many of the earlier games this season. He pitched 7innings, giving up 1 run on 9 hits and 2 walks, striking out 6. It wasn't that he was perfect - there were plenty of base runners including a full house in the first inning. But he just doesn't seem to let it affect him. Bases loaded in the first? Strike out the batter to end the inning. He ended the first three innings with strikeouts. Cooper pulled him after the seventh, when he gave up his first run.
The Astros offense gave Oswalt some help. In what seems to be a new fad this year, they got first blood, scoring in the first inning on Tejada's double and Lee's RBI single. Then they gave Roy O a nice safety net in the third: Matsui, Berkman, and Lee singled for the first run, then Pence cleaned up the bases with a 3-run homer. Berkman scored again in the fifth on Wigginton's sac fly after the Puma had led off the inning with a double. That gave Oswalt a healthy 6-1 lead when he left the game. Much better odds than his last start, when the bullpen preserved his single-run lead to save his win!
The bullpen preserved this one too, but not so cleanly. Wesley Wright gave up a 2-run homer in the eighth to make it 6-3. New Astros reliever LaTroy Hawkins took a roundabout route to getting the third out of the inning, giving up a walk and a single before the inning ended with a harmless popup. The Astros put the score out of a save situation in the top of the ninth. Tejada led off with a single, and moved to third on Berkman's double - Puma's third hit of the game. Tejada scored on Wiggington's second RBI sac fly.
I was skeptical about bringing in Valvede to pitch in the non-save situation. He hasn't seemed to do his best when there's space for mistakes; he performs better when the game is on the line. He got the first two batters of the ninth right away, both on pop outs. But he'd fooled me into thinking that it would be easy: The next Red tripled, then scored on a wild pitch. A single and a walk brought the tying run to the plate. Now the game was on the line. Properly energized, he got the next batter to line out.
Michael Bourn is finally back from his sprained ankle, after missing 10 starts. He went 0 for 5. Doesn't really help to have a guy who can steal bases with impunity if he can't get to first. On a more positive note, the BLT went Triple 3 - Berkman, Lee, and Tejada each got three hits in this game.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
GAMES 111-113 - August 4-6: It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
August 4: Houston 2, Chicago 0 [8 innings]
August 5: Chicago 11, Houston 7
August 6: Chicago 11, Houston 4
Quote of the Day: "If they had continued the game, I wouldn't have gone back out there... you have to be an idiot to stand outside in a lightning storm." (Berkman)
Lance Berkman had more sense than anyone. When the big boom of thunder shook the field, he didn't wait for the ump to make a sign - he vacated. The umpire finally did the right thing and called a rain delay, for the second time in the game. The first time, at the end of the fifth inning, the Astros had a 2-0 lead. That rain delay was characterized not only by a heavy downpour and lightning, there were also tornado warnings. That would seem like enough to just call the game, since five innings had been played, but instead they sat it out for almost 3 hours. The umps resumed the game, even though there was still lightning in the area, which became progressively more frequent as the next three innings were played. But it was crazy to have the players still on the field - or the fans in the stands for that matter - with lightning striking the surrounding buildings. Finally, with the lightning storm upon them, they had the sense to call it. After all that, the score was just where it was when the rain first hit: Astros 2, Cubs 0.
The Astros shutout began with a terrific start by Brian Moehler. He threw 5 shutout innings on only 63 pitches, giving up 4 hits and no walks, and striking out 4. After the long rain delay he was relieved by Brydak, who pitched a hitless sixth. Geary threw a scoreless seventh, but had to come out of the game with a groin injury. The Astros' newest acquisition, LaTroy Hawkins pitched to one batter in the eighth before the game was called with a big bang. He struck him out and got a save for his trouble.
The Astros scored one run in the first inning when Tejada scored on Lee's RBI single. They scored their second run in the fourth inning, when they loaded up the bases on three singles, and then with two outs, Quintero walked in the run on 4 pitches.
This fairly miserable game was the high point of the Astros stay in Chicago. The rest of the series featured sunny weather and bleak outcomes. The Astros batters didn't have any trouble scoring runs, but their pitchers were giving them away like candy. And everyone knows how much bears like sweets.
I don't like it when the Astros play in Wrigley Field. Often as not, they play in the afternoon, while I'm at work, so I end up missing the games. But this time, they were games worth missing. On Tuesday, Wandy got off to a bad start, giving up 6 runs in the first two innings. Amazingly, he wasn't the losing pitcher - thanks to home runs by Wigginton, Blum, and Lee, the Astros more than made up the deficit. By the seventh inning, they had taken a 7-6 lead. But it didn't last long. Sampson started out the inning with a single, double, and sac fly to tie it up. He intentionally walked the next batter. Wright came in to pitch to one batter, who struck out. With two on and two out, Cooper brought in Brocail, expecting him to do his usual thing and get them out of trouble. Instead he gave up a 3-run homer. The fun wasn't over. A walk, stolen base, and a single added up to another run. The 5-run seventh inning put the Astros down for good. They didn't come back.
Wednesday it was Backe's turn to get beat up. Things were looking okay through the top of the third, when the Astros took a 4-1 lead on Berkman's RBI single and Lee's 3-run homer. But in the bottom of the inning, Backe had a meltdown. He gave up a 2-out grand slam to give the Cubs the lead. He allowed a double, and then walked the next batter to get to the pitcher, Jason Marquis, who hit an RBI double. Soriano was next to bat: He hit a 3-run home run. Total damage for the inning: 7 runs in, Cubs lead 8-4.
But the fun wasn't over yet. With Geary out injured, Cooper wanted to keep Backe in the game. He was responsible for another 2 runs in the fourth, before mercifully handing over the ball to the bullpen. Byrdak pitched longer than Backe, throwing 3 2/3 innings, giving up no runs on 2 hits, no walks, and 4 strikeouts. Hawkins struck out the side in the eighth. Unfortunately, the Astros' offense did nothing to reduce the deficit.
One rain-drenched, lightning-shortened win, and two blowout losses in Chicago. Not a very nice follow-up to the sweep last weekend.
August 5: Chicago 11, Houston 7
August 6: Chicago 11, Houston 4
Quote of the Day: "If they had continued the game, I wouldn't have gone back out there... you have to be an idiot to stand outside in a lightning storm." (Berkman)
Lance Berkman had more sense than anyone. When the big boom of thunder shook the field, he didn't wait for the ump to make a sign - he vacated. The umpire finally did the right thing and called a rain delay, for the second time in the game. The first time, at the end of the fifth inning, the Astros had a 2-0 lead. That rain delay was characterized not only by a heavy downpour and lightning, there were also tornado warnings. That would seem like enough to just call the game, since five innings had been played, but instead they sat it out for almost 3 hours. The umps resumed the game, even though there was still lightning in the area, which became progressively more frequent as the next three innings were played. But it was crazy to have the players still on the field - or the fans in the stands for that matter - with lightning striking the surrounding buildings. Finally, with the lightning storm upon them, they had the sense to call it. After all that, the score was just where it was when the rain first hit: Astros 2, Cubs 0.
The Astros shutout began with a terrific start by Brian Moehler. He threw 5 shutout innings on only 63 pitches, giving up 4 hits and no walks, and striking out 4. After the long rain delay he was relieved by Brydak, who pitched a hitless sixth. Geary threw a scoreless seventh, but had to come out of the game with a groin injury. The Astros' newest acquisition, LaTroy Hawkins pitched to one batter in the eighth before the game was called with a big bang. He struck him out and got a save for his trouble.
The Astros scored one run in the first inning when Tejada scored on Lee's RBI single. They scored their second run in the fourth inning, when they loaded up the bases on three singles, and then with two outs, Quintero walked in the run on 4 pitches.
This fairly miserable game was the high point of the Astros stay in Chicago. The rest of the series featured sunny weather and bleak outcomes. The Astros batters didn't have any trouble scoring runs, but their pitchers were giving them away like candy. And everyone knows how much bears like sweets.
I don't like it when the Astros play in Wrigley Field. Often as not, they play in the afternoon, while I'm at work, so I end up missing the games. But this time, they were games worth missing. On Tuesday, Wandy got off to a bad start, giving up 6 runs in the first two innings. Amazingly, he wasn't the losing pitcher - thanks to home runs by Wigginton, Blum, and Lee, the Astros more than made up the deficit. By the seventh inning, they had taken a 7-6 lead. But it didn't last long. Sampson started out the inning with a single, double, and sac fly to tie it up. He intentionally walked the next batter. Wright came in to pitch to one batter, who struck out. With two on and two out, Cooper brought in Brocail, expecting him to do his usual thing and get them out of trouble. Instead he gave up a 3-run homer. The fun wasn't over. A walk, stolen base, and a single added up to another run. The 5-run seventh inning put the Astros down for good. They didn't come back.
Wednesday it was Backe's turn to get beat up. Things were looking okay through the top of the third, when the Astros took a 4-1 lead on Berkman's RBI single and Lee's 3-run homer. But in the bottom of the inning, Backe had a meltdown. He gave up a 2-out grand slam to give the Cubs the lead. He allowed a double, and then walked the next batter to get to the pitcher, Jason Marquis, who hit an RBI double. Soriano was next to bat: He hit a 3-run home run. Total damage for the inning: 7 runs in, Cubs lead 8-4.
But the fun wasn't over yet. With Geary out injured, Cooper wanted to keep Backe in the game. He was responsible for another 2 runs in the fourth, before mercifully handing over the ball to the bullpen. Byrdak pitched longer than Backe, throwing 3 2/3 innings, giving up no runs on 2 hits, no walks, and 4 strikeouts. Hawkins struck out the side in the eighth. Unfortunately, the Astros' offense did nothing to reduce the deficit.
One rain-drenched, lightning-shortened win, and two blowout losses in Chicago. Not a very nice follow-up to the sweep last weekend.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
GAME 110 - August 3: Clean Sweep!
Houston 4, New York 0
Overly Dramatic Quote of the Day: "I lost about 8 years of my life." (Randy Wolf, on his 4th and 5th inning scares)
It hadn't happened in fifteen years, not since the '93 season. That was the last time the Astros had swept the Mets in a series. It was worth waiting for - a sweet sweep.
In Randy Wolf's first start last week, the Astros ultimately won the game, but he hadn't made it through 5 innings to qualify for the win. Today, in his first Houston home game, he lasted just long enough to get the win - 5 shutout innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 walks, and striking out 7. It was hardly a lights out performance with so many base runners, but Wolf managed to wiggle out of trouble every inning. He gave up a single to Beltran in the first inning, but caught him in a rundown. In the third, a bunt single and a walk put two runners on, but a strikeout, a caught foul ball, and a runner caught stealing ended the threat. In the fourth inning, Wolf loaded the bases with one out on a walk, a single, and a hit batsman, but then struck out the next two batters to get out of trouble. Three singles in the fifth loaded up the bases with Evil Mets, but again Wolf managed to get out of it without anyone scoring.
Continuing a very encouraging trend, the bullpen was terrific again. Sampson threw 2 scoreless innings, Wright pitched to one batter in the eighth, then Brocail finished up, and Valverde closed in the non-save situation. The Astros starters have not exactly been eating innings lately, but the bullpen has come through inning after inning. In the 11 innings of relief pitching in this series, not one run has scored.
Mark Loretta has been terrific in this series and Coop would have liked to play him, but he was too beat up from the train wreck at home plate last night. So Wiggington started at third in today's game, a choice that the fans heartily approved of when he led off the second inning with a home run. In the fourth inning, the two heavies Berkman and Lee made quick outs, but then back-to-back doubles from Wiggington and Pence scored one run, Erstad's RBI single plated a second one, and Quintero's double knocked in a third. This gave the Astros the 4-0 lead that they held onto to complete the sweep.
The score might have been a bit higher but for some base running gaffes. Both Pence and Lee hit long singles, that they tried - and failed - to turn into doubles. Erstad was out at third trying to get an extra base out of a throwing error. These didn't make a difference in the outcome of this game, and one might laud them for being aggressive. After all, it was Pence's crazy base running on Saturday night that allowed the Astros to tie the game in the ninth. But there was another base running glitch in Saturday night's game, when Pence was doubled off second. It might be something for Coop to look into.
On a more positive note, today's game was the 8th in a row in which the Astros have homered. A nice trend. It would be nice if Berkman could join that party - I think that this is the longest homer-less streak in his career.
This sweep gives Houston its 5th series win in the last 6, dating back to the Washington series before the All Star Game. (The only one they have lost since then was the Pirate sweep.) In addition, having won 7 of their last 9 games, the Astros are now 4 games under .500. They are still 13 games behind the division-leading Cubs, but there's no sense watching what the other teams are doing until the Astros get to .500. But we could be there in another week, if they keep up the good work.
Overly Dramatic Quote of the Day: "I lost about 8 years of my life." (Randy Wolf, on his 4th and 5th inning scares)
It hadn't happened in fifteen years, not since the '93 season. That was the last time the Astros had swept the Mets in a series. It was worth waiting for - a sweet sweep.
In Randy Wolf's first start last week, the Astros ultimately won the game, but he hadn't made it through 5 innings to qualify for the win. Today, in his first Houston home game, he lasted just long enough to get the win - 5 shutout innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 walks, and striking out 7. It was hardly a lights out performance with so many base runners, but Wolf managed to wiggle out of trouble every inning. He gave up a single to Beltran in the first inning, but caught him in a rundown. In the third, a bunt single and a walk put two runners on, but a strikeout, a caught foul ball, and a runner caught stealing ended the threat. In the fourth inning, Wolf loaded the bases with one out on a walk, a single, and a hit batsman, but then struck out the next two batters to get out of trouble. Three singles in the fifth loaded up the bases with Evil Mets, but again Wolf managed to get out of it without anyone scoring.
Continuing a very encouraging trend, the bullpen was terrific again. Sampson threw 2 scoreless innings, Wright pitched to one batter in the eighth, then Brocail finished up, and Valverde closed in the non-save situation. The Astros starters have not exactly been eating innings lately, but the bullpen has come through inning after inning. In the 11 innings of relief pitching in this series, not one run has scored.
Mark Loretta has been terrific in this series and Coop would have liked to play him, but he was too beat up from the train wreck at home plate last night. So Wiggington started at third in today's game, a choice that the fans heartily approved of when he led off the second inning with a home run. In the fourth inning, the two heavies Berkman and Lee made quick outs, but then back-to-back doubles from Wiggington and Pence scored one run, Erstad's RBI single plated a second one, and Quintero's double knocked in a third. This gave the Astros the 4-0 lead that they held onto to complete the sweep.
The score might have been a bit higher but for some base running gaffes. Both Pence and Lee hit long singles, that they tried - and failed - to turn into doubles. Erstad was out at third trying to get an extra base out of a throwing error. These didn't make a difference in the outcome of this game, and one might laud them for being aggressive. After all, it was Pence's crazy base running on Saturday night that allowed the Astros to tie the game in the ninth. But there was another base running glitch in Saturday night's game, when Pence was doubled off second. It might be something for Coop to look into.
On a more positive note, today's game was the 8th in a row in which the Astros have homered. A nice trend. It would be nice if Berkman could join that party - I think that this is the longest homer-less streak in his career.
This sweep gives Houston its 5th series win in the last 6, dating back to the Washington series before the All Star Game. (The only one they have lost since then was the Pirate sweep.) In addition, having won 7 of their last 9 games, the Astros are now 4 games under .500. They are still 13 games behind the division-leading Cubs, but there's no sense watching what the other teams are doing until the Astros get to .500. But we could be there in another week, if they keep up the good work.
GAME 109 - August 2: Sweet Comeback
Houston 5, New York 4
Similes of the Day: "They looked like bowling pins at home plate." (Astros broadcast announcer, on the three-way crash at home in the ninth) "I felt like a fullback going in there. It was like a car wreck." (Loretta)
When I turned on the computer after the Sabbath ended, it was the seventh inning and Houston was down 4-1. Roy O was already out, but Mets starter Johan Santana was still on the mound. Aside from a bit of fun and games in the fourth inning, the Astros hadn't been able to do anything against him. And Billy Wagner was available to close. Things didn't look too promising.
The score got a bit closer in the eighth inning, with Matsui's leadoff homer, but the BLT sandwich couldn't keep it going. So the Astros went into the bottom of the ninth down by 2 runs, with Billy Wagner taking the mound. Wagner, still an All Star pitcher, had converted 13 of his last 14 save opportunities. But, I reminded myself, Wagner is beatable. In fact, I distinctly remember two consecutive games in September 2005 when the Astros beat Wags in Philly. I nearly fell off my chair screaming when Biggio hit a 2-out 3-run homer for the winning run against his old friend.
This time, Wagner got off to a bad start: Loretta hit a leadoff double, and advanced to third on Pence's single to center. Erstad struck out on a foul tip - one down. Ausmus walked to load the bases. Now it was getting pretty interesting. Then Blum, pinch-hitting for the pitcher, sent the ball into left field. Loretta stayed close to third, waiting to see if the ball would be caught, but Pence on second read it as a hit, and started running. When the ball fell for a single, Loretta stumbled coming off the base, and Pence was already at third. As the left-fielder threw the ball to the plate, Pence was just a step or two behind Loretta all the way down the third base line. The impact of the two of them with poor Mets catcher, Ramon Castro, knocked the ball out of his mitt and both runs scored to tie the game 4-4. Castro left the game with a sprained ankle. Sadly, Matsui and Tejada were unable to do anything else, and the other two runners were stranded as the game went into extra innings.
Valverde threw a scoreless tenth. The Astros got another chance to score in the bottom of the inning against reliever Aaron Heilman - the same pitcher who gave up Loretta's grand slam the night before. Berkman walked, then advanced to third on Lee's single. Runners at the corners, no outs - they just have to score, right? The Mets changed pitchers to change their luck. Bourn, pinch hitting for Valverde, struck out. Pence was intentionally walked to load the bases. I had already convinced myself that Erstad would hit into a double play and the game would go on all night. But I was wrong - he hit a little fly ball into shallow left. The fielder had to dive and roll to catch it, so he couldn't make the quick throw home, and Berkman zipped across the plate for the winning run. Much ritual head-bashing ensued as the Astros celebrated their win.
This was another game with great stuff from the bullpen. Oswalt lasted a little longer than his last start - an even 100 pitches. He tjrew 6 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Byrdak and new teammate LaTroy Hawkins combined for a scoreless seventh, and Geary pitched two perfect innings to keep the Astros in the game. Valverde, after pitching a scoreless tenth, earned the win, as the Astros secured the series.
Anyone care for a sweep?
Similes of the Day: "They looked like bowling pins at home plate." (Astros broadcast announcer, on the three-way crash at home in the ninth) "I felt like a fullback going in there. It was like a car wreck." (Loretta)
When I turned on the computer after the Sabbath ended, it was the seventh inning and Houston was down 4-1. Roy O was already out, but Mets starter Johan Santana was still on the mound. Aside from a bit of fun and games in the fourth inning, the Astros hadn't been able to do anything against him. And Billy Wagner was available to close. Things didn't look too promising.
The score got a bit closer in the eighth inning, with Matsui's leadoff homer, but the BLT sandwich couldn't keep it going. So the Astros went into the bottom of the ninth down by 2 runs, with Billy Wagner taking the mound. Wagner, still an All Star pitcher, had converted 13 of his last 14 save opportunities. But, I reminded myself, Wagner is beatable. In fact, I distinctly remember two consecutive games in September 2005 when the Astros beat Wags in Philly. I nearly fell off my chair screaming when Biggio hit a 2-out 3-run homer for the winning run against his old friend.
This time, Wagner got off to a bad start: Loretta hit a leadoff double, and advanced to third on Pence's single to center. Erstad struck out on a foul tip - one down. Ausmus walked to load the bases. Now it was getting pretty interesting. Then Blum, pinch-hitting for the pitcher, sent the ball into left field. Loretta stayed close to third, waiting to see if the ball would be caught, but Pence on second read it as a hit, and started running. When the ball fell for a single, Loretta stumbled coming off the base, and Pence was already at third. As the left-fielder threw the ball to the plate, Pence was just a step or two behind Loretta all the way down the third base line. The impact of the two of them with poor Mets catcher, Ramon Castro, knocked the ball out of his mitt and both runs scored to tie the game 4-4. Castro left the game with a sprained ankle. Sadly, Matsui and Tejada were unable to do anything else, and the other two runners were stranded as the game went into extra innings.
Valverde threw a scoreless tenth. The Astros got another chance to score in the bottom of the inning against reliever Aaron Heilman - the same pitcher who gave up Loretta's grand slam the night before. Berkman walked, then advanced to third on Lee's single. Runners at the corners, no outs - they just have to score, right? The Mets changed pitchers to change their luck. Bourn, pinch hitting for Valverde, struck out. Pence was intentionally walked to load the bases. I had already convinced myself that Erstad would hit into a double play and the game would go on all night. But I was wrong - he hit a little fly ball into shallow left. The fielder had to dive and roll to catch it, so he couldn't make the quick throw home, and Berkman zipped across the plate for the winning run. Much ritual head-bashing ensued as the Astros celebrated their win.
This was another game with great stuff from the bullpen. Oswalt lasted a little longer than his last start - an even 100 pitches. He tjrew 6 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Byrdak and new teammate LaTroy Hawkins combined for a scoreless seventh, and Geary pitched two perfect innings to keep the Astros in the game. Valverde, after pitching a scoreless tenth, earned the win, as the Astros secured the series.
Anyone care for a sweep?
GAME 108 - August 1: Sibling Rivalry
Houston 7, New York 3
Words for the Day: Sibling Rivalry. Competition between siblings especially for the attention, affection, and approval of their parents.
I can't really explain, in a rational way, why it is that I so dislike the Mets. If you were to ask the players which team is their biggest rival, they might pick one of the NL Central division teams - the Cards or the Cubs - or even (to our shame) the Pirates. If they have a sense of history, they might pick our old Playoff nemesis, the Braves. But for me, it's always the Mets, the f-ing Mets. Probably the only guy out on the field who shares this sense of rivalry is Cheo Cruz - he was on the Astros team in '85 an '86 when the Mets kept Houston out of the Series. For me it goes back longer, way before any of the current players were born, back to when the Mets and the Colt 45s were hatched together in the '62 expansion, and shared honors for being the worst teams. But then the Mets went on to be Miracles, and the Colt 45s went on to be the Astros in the bad old days. I freely admit - it's just mean-spirited jealousy. I just hate the Mets.
Friday night's game was a nail-biter, stuck in a 3-3 tie from the fourth inning on to the bottom of the eighth, when pinch-hitter Mark Loretta came up to the plate with 1 out and the bases loaded. It seemed like a sure-thing that they'd score - if I had to pick anyone to pinch hit in this situation, Loretta would be my first choice. But just one inning before, the Mets had loaded up the bases with no outs - a sure thing that the Evil Ones would score. Coop pulled Backe and used 3 relievers - each facing one batter - to retire the side without allowing a run to score. So there's no such thing as a sure thing. Don't tell Loretta though - he came through with a big fat grand slam to give the Astros a 7-3 lead.
Backe pitched into the seventh inning, giving up 3 runs on 10 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He gave up a small-ball run in the first inning, then shut the Mets down for a couple of innings. In the fourth, Backe got the first two batters out quickly, but then allowed two runs on four consecutive singles. In the seventh inning, the Mets lucked out to load the bases on an infield single, a bunt single (which should have resulted in an out), and a single to right. But then their luck ran out. Cooper pulled Backe, and called on his bullpen. Brydak, Sampson, and Wright each pitched to one batter. Each got his man, rescuing Backe from his bases-loaded-no-outs predicament. Wright pitched to Beltran in the eighth, getting the first out. Brocail finished the inning, becoming the pitcher of record when the Astros took the lead in the bottom of the inning, eligible for the win. With a 4-run lead, it wasn't a save situation, but Coop didn't take any chances. He went straight to Valverde, who pitched a perfect ninth.
All of the Astros runs scored on homers. Matsui hit his in the first inning to start the game right. Backe - with his over-.300 batting average - opened the third inning with a bomb.Then Lee hit one to kick off the fourth inning. In the bottom of the eighth, the bases were loaded up for Loretta by the BLT sandwich: Tejada singled, Berkman ground-rule doubled, and Lee got an intentional pass. Pence reached on a fielders choice and Tejada was out at home. When he was running to first, and the ball cleared the wall, Loretta gave a little wave, but that was his only outward expression of what must have been a real high. (I can't even imagine what Valverde would do in the unlikely event of his hitting a grand slam. Cartwheels?)
Pedro Martinez pitched for the Mets for the first 5 innings in his first start since July 12. According to the Houston broadcasters, it was Pedro's first start in MMP since 2005. If so, that would have been July 28, 2005, when Pedro faced off with Ezequiel Astacio in a very unlikely pitching duel. Pedro was having a great year, and Astacio was just up from the minors to replace an injured Backe. But Astacio won. Ironicially, as a prize he was sent down to Round Rock immediately after the game to make room for another minor leaguer: Wandy Rodriguez.
This was a Sabbath evening game, so I already knew the ending when I watched the game on the mlb.tv archive late Saturday night. Some people might avoid learning the outcome, so they can experience the game as if it were live. Not me - I hate surprises and my fingernails are already cut too short to bite.
Words for the Day: Sibling Rivalry. Competition between siblings especially for the attention, affection, and approval of their parents.
I can't really explain, in a rational way, why it is that I so dislike the Mets. If you were to ask the players which team is their biggest rival, they might pick one of the NL Central division teams - the Cards or the Cubs - or even (to our shame) the Pirates. If they have a sense of history, they might pick our old Playoff nemesis, the Braves. But for me, it's always the Mets, the f-ing Mets. Probably the only guy out on the field who shares this sense of rivalry is Cheo Cruz - he was on the Astros team in '85 an '86 when the Mets kept Houston out of the Series. For me it goes back longer, way before any of the current players were born, back to when the Mets and the Colt 45s were hatched together in the '62 expansion, and shared honors for being the worst teams. But then the Mets went on to be Miracles, and the Colt 45s went on to be the Astros in the bad old days. I freely admit - it's just mean-spirited jealousy. I just hate the Mets.
Friday night's game was a nail-biter, stuck in a 3-3 tie from the fourth inning on to the bottom of the eighth, when pinch-hitter Mark Loretta came up to the plate with 1 out and the bases loaded. It seemed like a sure-thing that they'd score - if I had to pick anyone to pinch hit in this situation, Loretta would be my first choice. But just one inning before, the Mets had loaded up the bases with no outs - a sure thing that the Evil Ones would score. Coop pulled Backe and used 3 relievers - each facing one batter - to retire the side without allowing a run to score. So there's no such thing as a sure thing. Don't tell Loretta though - he came through with a big fat grand slam to give the Astros a 7-3 lead.
Backe pitched into the seventh inning, giving up 3 runs on 10 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He gave up a small-ball run in the first inning, then shut the Mets down for a couple of innings. In the fourth, Backe got the first two batters out quickly, but then allowed two runs on four consecutive singles. In the seventh inning, the Mets lucked out to load the bases on an infield single, a bunt single (which should have resulted in an out), and a single to right. But then their luck ran out. Cooper pulled Backe, and called on his bullpen. Brydak, Sampson, and Wright each pitched to one batter. Each got his man, rescuing Backe from his bases-loaded-no-outs predicament. Wright pitched to Beltran in the eighth, getting the first out. Brocail finished the inning, becoming the pitcher of record when the Astros took the lead in the bottom of the inning, eligible for the win. With a 4-run lead, it wasn't a save situation, but Coop didn't take any chances. He went straight to Valverde, who pitched a perfect ninth.
All of the Astros runs scored on homers. Matsui hit his in the first inning to start the game right. Backe - with his over-.300 batting average - opened the third inning with a bomb.Then Lee hit one to kick off the fourth inning. In the bottom of the eighth, the bases were loaded up for Loretta by the BLT sandwich: Tejada singled, Berkman ground-rule doubled, and Lee got an intentional pass. Pence reached on a fielders choice and Tejada was out at home. When he was running to first, and the ball cleared the wall, Loretta gave a little wave, but that was his only outward expression of what must have been a real high. (I can't even imagine what Valverde would do in the unlikely event of his hitting a grand slam. Cartwheels?)
Pedro Martinez pitched for the Mets for the first 5 innings in his first start since July 12. According to the Houston broadcasters, it was Pedro's first start in MMP since 2005. If so, that would have been July 28, 2005, when Pedro faced off with Ezequiel Astacio in a very unlikely pitching duel. Pedro was having a great year, and Astacio was just up from the minors to replace an injured Backe. But Astacio won. Ironicially, as a prize he was sent down to Round Rock immediately after the game to make room for another minor leaguer: Wandy Rodriguez.
This was a Sabbath evening game, so I already knew the ending when I watched the game on the mlb.tv archive late Saturday night. Some people might avoid learning the outcome, so they can experience the game as if it were live. Not me - I hate surprises and my fingernails are already cut too short to bite.
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