GAME 117 - August 10: Sweeping up After a Blowout

Houston 13, Cincinnati 4

Quote of the Day: "Carlos who?" (Carlos Lee, to Cecil Cooper, in the dugout in the second inning, when the Astros were leading 6-0)

I felt sorry for the Reds today. Unfortunately Astros fans know too well how it feels to lose game after game, to think that there just isn't any way to turn from the downward spiral of doom, to wonder if it will ever be FUN again.

On the other hand, it sure felt good to be on the other end of it, as the Astros took game 4 of the series in a blowout. By the third inning, they were leading 8-0. Wandy earned double points towards being called "Rodriguez," he pitched so well. The Reds didn't even get a runner on base until the fifth inning, while the Astros were hitting right and left. Wandy pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 2 solo homers, 5 hits total, 1 walk, and 7 strikeouts. I actually did feel sorry for his Reds counterpoint: It was Aaron Harang's first start after being activated from the DL, and he'd only had one rehab game. He was beat up in all 4 innings he pitched.

if I wondered if the Astros would be able to score any runs without El Caballo in the lineup, I guess the question was answered today. The Astros probably wondered too, as they started out the game with a small-ball strategy: Matsui hit a leadoff double, and Erstad (playing left field, batting second) bunted him to third. They quickly abandoned this strategy, as Tejada hit a double to score Matsui, Berkman walked, and Blum doubled to score Tejada. Berkman was tagged out on a close play at the plate on Pence's fielders choice for the second out. Then Bourn stole 4 bases in one swing with a 3-run homer, his fifth of the season. Five runs in, and they were just in the first inning. Lucky Wandy got a nice lead to start with, but he didn't really need it today.

The Astros scored another run in the second when Wandy doubled and scored on Erstad's RBI single. Wandy's hit would have been a simple fly ball had the outfield not been playing him in so far; instead the ball went over their heads and bounced before the warning track. That was not the only time in this game that it seemed that lackluster defense cost the Reds some runs. The Astros scored two more in the third inning on back-to-back homers by Berkman and Blum. It was Berkman's first long ball since the Home Run Derby of the All Star Game - I wonder if he'll ever volunteer for that again!? Hopefully, his muscle memory will tune in and do it again and again and again...

Harang's relievers shut down the Astros for few innings, giving the Reds a chance to score on their two solo homers. But ex-Nationals pitcher Gary Majewski gave the Astros the chance to score 5 more runs in the eighth. It wasn't completely his fault - there was a run-scoring throwing error mixed in with the singles, doubles, and hit batsman. Luckily, Quintero was hit on his elbow and after much grimacing and groaning he was able to take his base.

With a huge lead, the Astros bullpen wasn't too stressed. Hawkins relieved Wandy in the seventh with two outs and the bases loaded and got a fly ball out of pinch-hitter Javier Valentin to end the threat. Lefty Wright threw a scoreless eighth. In the ninth, Byrdak gave up a double, followed by a homer, to make it 13-4. But that's all the excitement that the Reds could muster, as they lost their sixth game in a row, 14 out of their last 16. I really do feel sorry for them.

The Astros have now won 8 of their last 10, and are just a single game under .500. Today's score was the most lopsided win they have had all season, with a season high for both runs and extra-base hits. It was really a nice team effort too, not just a big bang from the heavy hitters. Happy story of the day: Bourn, trying to show the doubters his value, had 4 RBIs on 2 hits. Blum was 3 for 5 with a home run, double, and single, scoring 3 times, and knocking in 2 RBIs. Matsui and Erstad each had 2 hits. But overall, it was just some of everything from everyone. Erstad also made a couple of very fine plays in left field - plays that Carlos Lee probably would not have made. As much as it will hurt to lose Lee for the rest of the season, it will probably result in a defensive upgrade for the Astros.

In other news... On that rumor about Barry Bonds, I'd have to think that it was a very long shot. Bonds is, to say the least, not really a match for the Astros clubhouse. The guy has more baggage than the management likes to deal with. On the other hand, Tejada has too, and they went all out to get him. Berkman says he'd love to have him, and I wouldn't doubt that there are other players who feel the same way. Personally, it would be really hard for me to cheer for him.

Coming up next: A week-long home series against the San Francisco and Arizona. The Giants are 16 games under .500, and the NL West-leading Diamondbacks have lost their last 4 games. When the Astros rise above .500, then we can start thinking about Wild Cards, playoffs, and the like.