Former-First Fan Among Fans of the Day as Astros Win Fourth Game in a Row

George H. W. Bush is a great Astros fan. Even I know that - as a Fan in Exile who watches all the Astros games on mlb.tv, I regularly see a big white halo directly behind the ump when the camera is pointed at the batter. That big white halo is Barbara Bush, and right next to her (although less easily detectable) sits #41 himself. The former First Lady wasn't able to come to Kissimmee due to health issues, but the Original President Bush was at the game today, sitting in the stands right behind home plate. He stayed for the whole game. (This game was televised, so you can probably see him in his usual spot behind the ump.)

It's kind of difficult to compete for attention with a former president, but there were actually some other notable Fans of the Day at the game today. Boot Woman -- or Linda as her friends and family know her -- is an Astros fan who lives in Dallas. Yet she withstands the temptation to just give in and cheer for that Other Texas Team (which was coincidentally owned in the past by #43), and stays true to her Astros.

Also key to the fan support for Monday's win over the Marlins were Ann and Mike, my other Fans of the Day. They've been coming to Astros Spring Training for the past four years. Although now a big Astros fan, Ann admits to having an ongoing fondness for the Braves, who play on the classier end of US 192. However, she limits herself to a surreptitious tomahawk chop or two - it's really hard to break old habits.

With these great fans cheering for them today, the Astros didn't have much of a choice: They just had to reel in those wily Fish. They fought back time and time again, as the Marlins fought hard. But the Astros persevered, and managed to land their fourth "W" in as many days.

The player of the game was Lance Berkman, who smacked two long balls out of Osceola County Stadium. (See my previous blog entry for an explanation of Berkman's increasing power.) The first was a solo shot in the third inning, putting the Astros ahead 3-2. Florida bounced back with a 5-3 lead in the fourth. Berkman's two-run homer helped the Astros retake the lead in a three-run fifth inning.

The battle went back and fourth, as the Fish scored 4 in the sixth, then the Astros matched that with 4 of their own in the bottom of the seventh. Each team added one more run for good measure in the eighth, pushing the score to 10-8, Astros ahead. That's where things stood when, in the middle of the ninth inning, the stadium announcer proclaimed that the game was over and in the books. However, since the Marlins still had a pitcher who needed work, they would play the bottom of the inning anyway. Or, as the announcer called it, "free baseball." (Nothing interesting happened, and it was not included in the box score.)

Obviously Berkman was not solely responsible for the Astros' double-digit score. Special kudos go to Michael Bourn, who went 3 for 4, with 3 RBI, and his 8th stolen base of the spring. Another light hitter, JR Towles, also had a good day at the plate, hitting (a double and a single) and scoring in both of his at bats. Matsui hit a double - that might be the first time that I've seen him hit once since I've been in Kissimmee. Tejada went 2 for 4 with a double and single. All in all, a great team effort and some nice crooked numbers.

With a final score of 10-8, this was not a pitchers' duel like yesterday's game. Astros starter Mike Hampton pitched 5 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 7 hits, no walks, and 4 strikeouts. Chad Paronto pitched to 3 batters in the sixth, allowing 2 of them to get on base before being removed due to an injury. He was obviously unhappy about being taken out; he booted the ball across the field in frustration. Gilbert De La Vara finished off the inning, but not before giving up an inside-the-park home run, allowing Paronto's runners to score.

Chris Sampson pitched a perfect seventh inning, and Houston had some fun in the bottom of the inning, to earn him the win. Bud Norris, who got roughed up in his 1/3 of an inning on Friday, finished off the game. He had much better luck today, giving up one run on a solo homer in his 2 innings on the mound, and earning the save. (Although I was sitting right over the Astros dugout, a great location for shooting pictures, I just had to get out of my seat to position myself to get this photo of Bud, who's actually Not-So-Lite. I couldn't resist it.)

For those who like to bash the Astros this year, I have to note: Giving up 8 earned runs doesn't sound too hot, but only 3 of the runs were allowed by pitchers who are likely to be on the roster in April. I'm not giving up on this team yet - I've been pleasantly surprised by the pitching since I've been here.

Next up: The hated Mets. (It's a long story.) And more hated, leaving Kissimmee after the game to go home.