GAME 20 - April 21: KAAAA-BOOOOOM!

Houston 10, San Diego 3

Word for the Day: Blowout: A lopsided victory or thorough defeat.

Finally the game we have all been waiting to see all season - the Astros' first double-digit blowout win! What's not to like about a game with ten Houston runs, thirteen hits, homers for Berkman and Tejada, two Bourn steals, and another Oswalt "W"?! The only possible complaint was missing the first inning, when the Astros scored half their runs; I couldn't turn on the computer until the second day of Passover ended at dark. Hey, really, I am not complaining!

The offense was the shining star of this game, with Tejada the brightest of all. Continuing his very hot home stand, he went 4 for 5, with a home run, a double, and a pair of singles, good for 3 RBI. Berkman hit a 3-run homer (#5) in the first inning, and Pence followed with an RBI double for his first of 2 hits of the game. Matsui also got 2 hits, and scored twice.

Staked to an early 5-0 lead, Oswalt pitched like the real Roy O, not like The Alien from the start of the season. He pitched 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits, 2 BBs, and 6 Ks. The bullpen backed him up well: Tim Byrdak, just up from Round Rock, pitched a scoreless 8th, and Villareal followed to shut down the Padres in the 9th. All and all, a good game for the pitching staff.

At the same time, the team continued to do the other little things that are shaping this season: another game, another double play. No errors in this game; only 7 for the season, fewest in the league. Two more stolen bases for Bourn - he's leading the league now with 13. Lots of little things to like about this team.

But the best part of all was the hitting and scoring! It was so nice not to have to see a nailbiter for a change. A blowout! Finally a chance to see the Astros as the slugger team that they were predicted to be this season. (Even Oswalt got a hit!) Things are really starting to come around in the offense department. Tejada has been a monster this home stand. Pence, after a horrible season start, has gone 7 for 14 in the past 4 games. If Tejada, Berkman, Lee, and Pence can all get hot at the same time, this double-digit game won't be an aberration!

Meanwhile, guess who is not in last place in the NL Central!