GAMES 111-113 - August 4-6: It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

August 4: Houston 2, Chicago 0 [8 innings]
August 5: Chicago 11, Houston 7
August 6: Chicago 11, Houston 4

Quote of the Day: "If they had continued the game, I wouldn't have gone back out there... you have to be an idiot to stand outside in a lightning storm." (Berkman)

Lance Berkman had more sense than anyone. When the big boom of thunder shook the field, he didn't wait for the ump to make a sign - he vacated. The umpire finally did the right thing and called a rain delay, for the second time in the game. The first time, at the end of the fifth inning, the Astros had a 2-0 lead. That rain delay was characterized not only by a heavy downpour and lightning, there were also tornado warnings. That would seem like enough to just call the game, since five innings had been played, but instead they sat it out for almost 3 hours. The umps resumed the game, even though there was still lightning in the area, which became progressively more frequent as the next three innings were played. But it was crazy to have the players still on the field - or the fans in the stands for that matter - with lightning striking the surrounding buildings. Finally, with the lightning storm upon them, they had the sense to call it. After all that, the score was just where it was when the rain first hit: Astros 2, Cubs 0.

The Astros shutout began with a terrific start by Brian Moehler. He threw 5 shutout innings on only 63 pitches, giving up 4 hits and no walks, and striking out 4. After the long rain delay he was relieved by Brydak, who pitched a hitless sixth. Geary threw a scoreless seventh, but had to come out of the game with a groin injury. The Astros' newest acquisition, LaTroy Hawkins pitched to one batter in the eighth before the game was called with a big bang. He struck him out and got a save for his trouble.

The Astros scored one run in the first inning when Tejada scored on Lee's RBI single. They scored their second run in the fourth inning, when they loaded up the bases on three singles, and then with two outs, Quintero walked in the run on 4 pitches.

This fairly miserable game was the high point of the Astros stay in Chicago. The rest of the series featured sunny weather and bleak outcomes. The Astros batters didn't have any trouble scoring runs, but their pitchers were giving them away like candy. And everyone knows how much bears like sweets.

I don't like it when the Astros play in Wrigley Field. Often as not, they play in the afternoon, while I'm at work, so I end up missing the games. But this time, they were games worth missing. On Tuesday, Wandy got off to a bad start, giving up 6 runs in the first two innings. Amazingly, he wasn't the losing pitcher - thanks to home runs by Wigginton, Blum, and Lee, the Astros more than made up the deficit. By the seventh inning, they had taken a 7-6 lead. But it didn't last long. Sampson started out the inning with a single, double, and sac fly to tie it up. He intentionally walked the next batter. Wright came in to pitch to one batter, who struck out. With two on and two out, Cooper brought in Brocail, expecting him to do his usual thing and get them out of trouble. Instead he gave up a 3-run homer. The fun wasn't over. A walk, stolen base, and a single added up to another run. The 5-run seventh inning put the Astros down for good. They didn't come back.

Wednesday it was Backe's turn to get beat up. Things were looking okay through the top of the third, when the Astros took a 4-1 lead on Berkman's RBI single and Lee's 3-run homer. But in the bottom of the inning, Backe had a meltdown. He gave up a 2-out grand slam to give the Cubs the lead. He allowed a double, and then walked the next batter to get to the pitcher, Jason Marquis, who hit an RBI double. Soriano was next to bat: He hit a 3-run home run. Total damage for the inning: 7 runs in, Cubs lead 8-4.

But the fun wasn't over yet. With Geary out injured, Cooper wanted to keep Backe in the game. He was responsible for another 2 runs in the fourth, before mercifully handing over the ball to the bullpen. Byrdak pitched longer than Backe, throwing 3 2/3 innings, giving up no runs on 2 hits, no walks, and 4 strikeouts. Hawkins struck out the side in the eighth. Unfortunately, the Astros' offense did nothing to reduce the deficit.

One rain-drenched, lightning-shortened win, and two blowout losses in Chicago. Not a very nice follow-up to the sweep last weekend.