GAMES 28-31: When Do We Start Turning this Ship?

GAME 28 - May 6: Diamondbacks 6, Astros 3
GAME 29 - May 7: Padres 7, Astros 0
GAME 30 - May 8: Padres 2, Astros 1
GAME 31 - May 9: Astros 4, Padres 3

The Astros managed to eke out a happy ending for their pink-bat Mothers Day game with what's starting to be kind of a rare occasion: A win. This one was courtesy of an eleventh inning walk off double by Hunter Pence. It may not have been an ideal win, coming three innings too late to reward Roy Oswalt for his seventh quality start of the season. On the other hand, they didn't stick him with a loss this time. Oswalt pitched eight innings, in hopes that if he stayed around long enough, maybe the guys would score a few runs for him. Lee and Pence hit back-to-back homers in the sixth, but it wasn't quite enough to get a win for the Wiz. In his 8 innings, Oswalt gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk, striking out 9. The three runs he allowed all came in a very contentious fifth inning, resulting in the ejection of Brad Mills by the home plate ump. It was the same umpire who had ejected Michael Bourn last night, over a play at first base. Bourn might really have been out last night, but the strike zone today was pretty erratic.

The really good news in today's win was the unusually hot bats of the very guys on the team that ought to have them -- Berkman, Lee, and Pence. Pence went 3 for 5, with a homer and that game-winning double. Lee hit a solo homer and a single, and Berkman hit a double and a single. The other really good news was excellent relief pitching by Lindstrom (2 scoreless innings), and Lyon (1 perfect 5-pitch inning), who got the win.

Just about the only nice thing I can say about the preceding three games, all losses, was that Paulino pitched a beautiful game (Astros.com said "dazzling") on Saturday, throwing 7 innings, giving up 2 runs (only one earned) on 5 hits, no walks, and 11 strikeouts. Lyon and Lindstrom combined in that game for two scoreless innings to keep the Astros in the running, but the Astros only managed to score once on 3 measly hits. I saw the end of this game after the Sabbath ended last night.

On the other hand, I didn't even bother to watch Friday night's shutout.  Norris only lasted 4 innings, throwing 94 pitches, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits (including 2 homers) and 3 walks, and striking out 7. The bullpen was mostly very good. Chacin pitched 2 scoreless innings, and Sampson threw a perfect seventh (his ERA is down to 1.38).  Fulchino finished up the game with a scoreless ninth, striking out 2. But Wilton Lopez got tagged for a pair of runs in the eighth. Not that it mattered much - the Astros had lost the game back when Bud Lite gave up the first Padre run in the second inning. Houston batters only managed to get three hits -- a double (Matsui) and a pair of singles (Lee and Feliz). Not even a walk. Not a game I'd go back and watch just for fun.

I did see the final game of the Dback series back on Thursday night. If I'd thought that the happy ending the night before (Lee's walkoff homer) was going to start a trend, that was not the case. I'd like to think today's win will start a trend. But after an off day tomorrow, the Astros are heading for St Louis for the start of an 8-game road trip.

The Astros are dead last in the whole NL in nearly every batting category. With their 10-21 record, they are just about on target to start the season with a 2005-matching 15-30 record. We all know where that led - straight to the pennant. Now all we need is for the Houston Chronicle to run a tombstone with "RIP ASTROS SEASON" to get us on the right track.