GAME 48 - May 21: A Sensible Decision

Houston 5, Chicago 3

Word for the Day: Decision. The act of reaching a conclusion.

Shawn Chacon wasn't really enjoying his new Major League record: The most no-decision starts ever to open a season. He didn't like his new nickname: ND. On his tenth try, he was really, really hoping to get a decision. And after just six batters, it looked like he was well on his way. Unfortunately, he was going in the wrong direction. After a walk, home run, and a pair of doubles, Chacon and the Astros were down by three runs - and not yet out of the first inning.

Then Chacon settled down to business. Over the next six innings, no one could score off of him; other than a single in the second and a double in the seventh, the Cubbies largely spent the top of each inning watching from the dugout. Brocail followed with a perfect eighth, and Valverde's no-hit ninth saved the game.

Happily, the Astros are finding that they can get fired up and win games in a new way - one that doesn't depend on Berkman lighting all the matches. In Tuesday's win, it was Pence's grand slam. Wednesday, it took back-to-back singles from the top of the lineup - Bourn, Matsui, and Tejada and a home run from El Caballo to take a 4-3 lead in the third inning. Blum's RBI single in the fifth added an insurance run, which the great pitching made superfluous.

Bourn had a long awaited great night at the plate - he went 3 for 5, raising his BA to .208. Okay, it's still low, but you gotta start somewhere. After being demoted in the lineup, he's back to batting at the top. GIven his speed, a few extra hits could really add value - he's just as likely to be in scoring position within a few pitches. Bourn got his 20th steal in this game.

It wasn't Berkman's night at the plate, however. He went 0 for 3 - and the 3 were all strikeouts. At least in this game, he didn't sling the bat across the field on the third strikes! After his stunning road trip, Berkman has come home to find a base hit hard to get; he only had one hit in 10 at bats during the Cubs series, and he struck out 8 times! However, the lack of hits didn't figure into his ability to contribute to Houston's score. In the fifth inning, he was hit in the ribs by a pitch. That must have rattled the Cubs pitcher a bit - the last thing he expected was for Berkman to steal a base - he made it to second without even needing to slide (#9 for the season). Then he hustled to score that insurance run on Blum's single. Berkman's fielding was excellent also - he totally robbed Theriot of a hit with a lunging grab of a sharp liner. The replays showed a rare sight - Berkman parallel to the ground, flying though the air to snag that ball.

The star of the game, though, was the very decisive Shawn Chacon. WIth his first W in an Astros uniform, he now very proudly holds a 1-0 record for the season.