2011 GAMES 20-22: Wackiest Game of the Season

GAME 20 - April 22: Brewers 14, Astros 7
GAME 21 - April 23: Astros 9, Brewers 6
GAME 22 - April 24: Brewers 4, Astros 1

Weird. Wonderful. Wacky.

I'm talking about the middle game of the series in Milwaukee. I could go back and watch this one again, just to see how crazy it was. A goofball play (fielders colliding in a tangle of limbs on the mound) followed by what was almost a triple play. First extra inning game of the season, and the Astros pull off a win in the end. Q's first steal ever.

It was another Saturday  night game, so I joined in midstream after the Sabbath ended, with the Astros leading 4-3. The Astros added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, then starter Brett Myers gave up a 2-run homer after the stretch, leaving the bullpen with a slim 6-5 lead to protect.

Speaking of Myers.... Exchange on Twitter during the game:

zacharylevine Zachary Levine  Just out of curiosity, does anyone own a Brett Myers Astros jersey? I can't remember ever seeing one. -Z

AGAME_ River Austin @zacharylevine you mean a "wife beater?"

AstrosFanInXile Susan Lilly @AGAME_ @zacharylevine Serious ouch!

Anywhere, that's where things stood when things got kind of wild in the bottom of the eighth. Melancon gave up a leadoff single. Then a little bunt dribbled to the mound caused Wallace to become entangled with Melancon; both of them fell down, and Wallace's throw to first went astray. That put runners on the corners with no outs. Uh oh. The next batter hit a grounder to CJ, who worked with Quintero to catch the runner on third in a rundown. That runner was unwisely waving the runner from first around second, and he too got caught in a rundown between second and third. Once he was tagged, Quintero quickly threw to first base and nearly caught the batter straying off base for what would have been the third out of the play. Instead it was an extremely entertaining double play, which erased the scoring threat.

Lyon came in for the save situation, with that 6-5 lead still intact. But a Braun single, followed by a Fielder double, blew the save. Lyons walked a pair of batters to load the bases before wiggling out of the inning with the score tied 6-6. In the tenth, with Wallace on second (double) and Hall on first (walk), Q hit a big fly ball to right center for a two-out ground rule double, scoring both runners. Now with a two-run lead, Mills left in Lyon to bat, so he could pitch the bottom of the inning. Well, why not? Astros hurlers lead the lead in batting average for pitchers. Let 'em bat! Lyon doubled to score Q, bumping the lead to 9-6. Oh, did I mention that Quintero stole third base -- the first steal in his whole career? I told you that this was a wild and crazy game! Lyon pitched a perfect tenth, to add a W to his BS.

I could definitely watch this game again!

On the other hand, I didn't bother to watch Friday night's 14-7 rout at all. And the only thing I can say I liked about Sunday's loss was that JR Towles' eighth inning homer kept the Astros from being shut out. The Astros lost another series, but the Streak Goes On!!!!