GAME 27 - April 28: Well, it was nice to see Qualls again...

Arizona 5, Houston 3

Quote of the Day: "I think they have a real good team over there [in Houston]. They've got some good players. Hopefully, they start playing well again after they leave here." (Diamondback player, Chris Burke, on rooting for the Astros)

After a break of three days without baseball, it was good to come home to a ballgame. It would have been better without the D-backs' Dan Haren setting down batter after batter. The Astros didn't even get their first baserunner until the 5th inning, as Haren set down the first 12 batters. Meanwhile, the Snakes put up 4 runs off of Chris Sampson.

It actually looked kind of hopeful in the 5th. Berkman walked, and Lee doubled. Pence grounded out, but Berkman scored on the play. Loretta singled to score Lee, making it 4-2. Then Towles was hit by a pitch and Sampson reached on a bunt single to load the bases with one out and the top of the lineup coming up. But Matsui popped out and Bourn struck out, and the inning was over.

The Astros had another good opportunity for a comeback in the 8th - with 2 outs, back to back doubles by Bourn and Tejada brought in another run, making it 5-3. At that point, the D-Backs went with a very familiar reliever to pitch to Berkman -- Chad Qualls. I always liked Qualls and was sorry that the Astros traded him, but under the circumstances, I was hoping for one of those whoops! moments when Qualls gives up a home run. Who better than Berkman - just names as last week's NL Player of the Week? He struck out. The 'Stros went down 1-2-3 without a peep in the 9th, for their third loss in a row.

I can't claim to have really enjoyed the loss, but like I've said before, there's always something to like. In this game it was the Astros relief pitching. Sampson only lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits, 2 BBs, and no Ks. Borkowski came in with one out and runners on first and second, and quickly finished off the next two batters to end the inning. He then pitched a perfect sixth.In 1 2/3 innings, he faced 5 batters and struck out 4 of them. Villareal pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. Geary got in trouble in the eighth - he walked the first three batters. Cooper pulled him and brought in the Wright Lefty with the bases loaded and no outs. Wright struck out the next batter, then induced a double play to end the threat. Cool. Nervy kid.

It was nice to see Qualls, and Burke was in the dugout too. I guess this will be a recurring theme this year as the Astros face the teams that have their ex-players.

The Arizona FSN broadcasters called Berkman "Fat Elvis," and said he liked being called that.