GAME 6: Shut Out and Swept Away...

April 12: Cardinals 3, Astros 0

There was a time at the beginning of last season when it seemed like every opposing pitcher was an ace. Game after game, their pitcher was having a big game, and our guys just couldn't figure him out. Unfortunately, this pattern seems to be recurring in the early days this spring, capped by Kyle Lohse's shutout today, to complete the Cardinals' series sweep. Over the weekend in St Louis, Astros batters were outscored 19-5.

Wandy had a solid start -- not at all terrible, but still just enough to join the other Astros starters in the loss column. He pitched 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 BBs, stiking out 4. The Astros' bullpen was the only really bright spot in this game. Byrdak followed Wandy with a perfect seventh, striking out 2 and fielding the third out himself. Valverde, needing exercise at the end of a very light work week, pitched a scoreless eighth.

After giving up 27 runs in the previous 3 games, the Astros should have been able to overcome a mere 3 run defecit. But from Lohse's first pitch, which Matsui punched into left for a single, up until the ninth inning, when Bourn and Pence singled, he did not allow a single base runner. Three up, three down, three up, three down... the same old depressing pattern we've seen in many April games.

(On the other hand, it wasn't quite as depressing as the way the Mets let down Santana today. He pitched 7 innings, giving up 2 unearned runs on 3 hits and one walk, striking out 13 Marlins - and he lost. Reminded me of what the Astros used to do to Clemens back in '05...)

I'm certainly not giving up on the Astros, or preaching gloom and doom, this early in the season. But today's game was the only one I'm going to be able to watch liveover a 10 day period, due to holiday observance, off-days, and afternoon games. I just wish it had been a bit more FUN.