GAME 9: Astros on a Winning Streak!

GAME 9 - April 16: Astros 5, Cardinals 1

Okay, I'll admit that it's a streak of one game. But after losing the first 8, Astros fans will take what we can get!

Rookie Bud Norris was the first Astros pitcher to earn his W, with a performance that was short in innings but long on quality. He threw 5 innings, giving up only one unearned run on 4 hits and 3 walks, and striking out nine - including Pujols' first two at bats. He also hit an RBI single for the Astros first run of the game, and did some nice fielding as well. He left the game with the Astros ahead, but just barely - the 2-1 score was not exactly a comfortable lead.

The bullpen really pulled behind Norris to get him the win. Chris Sampson followed with perfect sixth and seventh innings. Lyon and Lindstrom each pitched a one-hit scoreless inning to give the Astros their first win of the season.

Just in case things didn't work out so well for the bullpen, the Astros came through with another 3 runs in the eighth for a bit of insurance. Johnson led off with a ground out. Quintero singled, but was still standing on first when Sullivan lined out for the second out. Happily the Astros had their one-two punch coming up next. Bourn and Keppinger are among the very few Astros players not to be in batting slumps. Bourn doubled, moving Q to third. Then Kepp followed with a 2-RBI single. Feliz followed with a double, scoring Keppinger. That brought up Carlos Lee, who grounded out to short. What a surprise.

Lee is having a miserable season start. He was 0 for 4, ending the game with a .086 batting average. To add insult to injury, he dropped a routine two-out fly ball, setting the stage for the unearned run that was subsequently scored. His huge salary is a bone of contention with lots of folks, even in a good year. This is not a good year, at least so far.

I'm not good at keeping secrets. I'm typing this up the day after, and the Astros have already finished their day game against the Cubs. The winning streak ends at 1.

Catch up with you again after the Sabbath.  The Astros are playing in the afternoon. Hopefully I will turn on my computer after dark and find out that there's a great Astros win to watch tomorrow night.

Shabbat Shalom!