GAME 8: This One Will be Short

GAME 8 - April 14: Cardinals 2, Astros 1

I'll keep this very short and not so sweet. I'm only bothering to write up loss #8 for the sake of completeness, because I already know that the losing streak is over. The Astros won this afternoon, while I was at work, and I can't wait to watch the game. (Sorry to give away the ending, in case you hadn't heard.) But first, I'm going to conclude this bad chapter with a quick game report, and then I'm going to treat myself to a nice glass of win, and the recorded ball game from this afternoon.

I've been prepared to dislike Brett Myer since I heard that the Astros picked him up in the off season. No need to rehash his domestic issues; I just have kind of a thing against big guys who knock around little women. I thought the Astros had a similar kind of thing, based on the Lugo case a few years back, but apparently they're over it. Anyway, I'll have to hold my nose and cheer for him anyway this year, since he's in the rotation whether I like him or not.

I have to admit that Myers pitched a very solid game yesterday, even if he took home a loss from it. It was similar to Oswalt's last game - a 2-1 loss. After giving up 2 runs in the first inning (only one of them earned), he held the Cards to 6 more scoreless innings - bottom line of 4 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Lyon and Byrdak split the eighth inning, to maintain the close game. So another very nice performance by the pitching staff.

The offense was deadly. The Astros scored early, but not often. Bourn led off with a single, advaned to second on a flubbed pickoff attempt, moved to third on Matsui's ground out, and scored on Feliz' sac fly. So there it was: The Astros only run of the game, scored on exactly one single and a bunch of Bourn base-running. Bourn did his part in this game - he hit a single and a double, and is sitting on a .379 batting average - approximately the same as Matsui, Pence, Lee, and Towles' batting averages all added together. This is really, really sad.

I actually didn't see the Astros score, since I was at an office dinner. I got home in time to see the Astros throw away a chance at a win in the eighth inning. They loaded the bases on a single and a pair of two-out walks.  But Matsui (batting .118 and not making a good case for being an Astro after this year) grounded out to end the fun.

One might have hoped with a 2-1 game, and the 3-4-5 batters coming up, the Astros would have had another chance in the ninth. But it only took the Cards pitcher 6 pitches to take out Feliz, Lee, and Pence. Lee (AKA El Slackero per Austin's blog) is now down to a .097 batting average. I'm not sure what they can do with a guy who's getting a huge chunk of their salary budget and not doing diddlysquat. He looks really terrible at the plate, so it's not clear that things are on the verge of turning around. Might be worth sitting him for a day or two, maybe watch a few videos and think happy thoughts. Maybe he has something in his eye?

Well, enough gloom. I've had enough of writing disappointing endings. I'm going to pop the cork on a nice bottle of Rioja and sit back to watch Bud Norris lead the Astros to their first win. A winning streak! But that's my next blog...