GAME 147 - September 11: Roy O Rocks as Hurricane Ike Approaches

Houston 6, Pittsburgh 0

Quote of the Day: "Somebody said there was a hurricane on the way so I was trying to be as quick as possible." (Oswalt on his 90-pitch complete game shutout)

Roy O is a wizard. I should just leave it at that and skip the rest of this game report, which will largely be an embroidery on that theme. Oswalt is simply fantastic. The Wizard Rules! Just a few months after the Chronicle bloggers were questioning whether Oswalt was injured, or washed up, he throws back-to-back complete game shutouts. This time it was a three-hitter - all of the hits singles, and all followed immediately by double plays. Net result: Oswalt faced the minimum 27 batters, shutting down the Pirates in only 90 pitches. He has now thrown 32 1/3 consecutive innings without giving up a run, a new Astros franchise record. (The old one was set by J. R. Richard in 1980.) And Oswalt's still got a few starts left in the season. Hmmm, if he were to throw 3 more complete game shutouts, 27 more innings, that would add up to 59 1/3 - one out more than Orel Hershiser's 59 scoreless innings exactly 20 years ago. Okay, let's not get greedy.

In the past month, the Wiz has thrown at least 7 innnings in every game, and has lowered his ERA by a full point - no mean feat this late in the season. He has pitched 8 innings in 2 of the 8 games, 8 1/3 innings in one, and 9 full innings in the most recent two - racking up a 7-1 record in the process. He is not pitching like a guy who's hurt or washed up at all.

Oswalt didn't depend on his teammates to get him runs - he was credited for 2 RBIs himself. The first one came in the third inning, with the score stuck at 0-0, Oswalt and Zach Duke both pitching tight games. Abercrombie had led off the inning with a bunt single, advancing to third on the overanxious pitcher's misthrow to first. After Ausmus grounded out, Oswalt laid down a perfect bunt for the squeeze play, scoring Abercrombie for the Astros' first run. Given the way Roy O pitched, that would have been enough for the win.

But the Astros had another big fifth inning to give the Wizard some insurance. This time it wasn't a grand slam to beef up the score - just lots of little stuff by nearly everyone in the lineup. Pence led off with a single (extending his hitting streak to 13 games), then advanced to third on an errant throw on Castillo's ground ball. Abercrombie singled, scoring Pence and moving Castillo to second. Ausmus singled to load the bases. Oswalt decided to join in the fun, singling to right to earn his second RBI. Erstad grounded out, scoring Abercrombie, and advancing Ausmus and Oswalt. Loretta's sac fly scored Ausmus. With 2 down, Tejada doubled to score Oswalt from third, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. Berkman was intentionally walked - although why anyone would want to pitch to the very hot Pence is not clear. Pence grounded out to end the inning. Five runs had scored on 4 singles, a double, a ground ball, a sac fly, and an error - definitely a team effort!

Meanwhile, in the Wild Card race, the Brewers fell again, in the first game of a 4-game series with the Phillies. That puts the Astros and the Phillies tied at 3 games behind Milwaukee. The Cubs beat the Cardinals, putting St Louis 1 1/2 games behind us. The Wild Card makes for strange bedfellows and alliances that change day by day, series by series. Right now I'm cheering for the Phillies because they're playing the Brewers - a bigger threat. And I'm cheering for the Cubs over the Cards. I'd rather concede the division title to the Cubs, as long as they beat the other teams who threaten Houston's chances for the Wild Card slot. The Astros face the Cubs next (but not sure when - see below), and then there's plenty of action between the Cubs and the Brewers. No matter how well Houston does over the next 2 weeks, the playoff spot is still dependent on other teams losing. But hey - I believe in miracles - and the Astros crazy last minute surge is nothing short.

The Astros surge isn't the only one in town, unfortunately. Hurricane Ike is coming up the Gulf, with an expected landfall at game time Friday night, with Houston a likely direct target. An anticipated 20 foot surge could put Galveston underwater - a possibility that resulted in a mandatory evacuation of Brandon Backe's home town. The storm is huge and strong - possibly a category 3 - and makes no exceptions for baseball teams who are trying to make the playoffs. So the Cubs are going to Chicago instead of coming to Houston for the weekend. If the storm blows through by Saturday night without catastrophe, they may fly in to play on Sunday. There's talk of a Sunday double header and a Monday makeup game, as neither team was scheduled that day. But it's pretty hard to predict with a big, potentially deadly storm about to hit. It's a reminder that there are some things that don't care how famous or rich or talented you are. I'm sure that all the Astros players are hoping the same thing I am -- that all my Houston family will be safe and sound over the next few days.