GAME 158 - September 25: At the Precipice

Houston 8, Cincinnati 6

Quote of the Day: "Some guys have some longer resumes, but over eight years that we've played together, Roy's the best pitcher I've ever caught... Quite frankly, he probably doesn't even need a catcher. He could probably pitch with a pitch-back. He makes me look good." (Ausmus, after catching his last game for Roy O)

As I shut down my computer on Friday for the Sabbath, I know intellectually that by the time I turned it back on Saturday night, the Astros players will very likely chatting about their October vacation plans. But for one more day at least, the Astros held off elimination with another Oswalt beauty. To survive to the playoffs, they will now need to win every game of the season, and both the Mets and the Brewers will need to lose every game of the season. Since the Mets and Brewers are not playing each other, it's mathematically possible for Houston to go to the playoffs. But even I, the most pigheadedly optimistic Astros Fan in Exile, have to admit that the chance of that are pretty slim.

Despite the future, it was great to see Oswalt pitch another game that counts. Pitching on short rest against a team that has only beat him once ever, the Wiz came through again with win number 23 against the Reds. He gave up only one run - a first inning solo homer - on 2 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. To help ensure his win, Oswalt also pitched in offensively, with a pair of hits and an RBI. With a 6-1 lead, Cooper replaced him after six innings. In a nice move, though, Oswalt went out to the mound in the top of the seventh. It was not to give the fans the chance to cheer him, he said after the game - it was so that he could shake Ausmus' hand out on the field as he left the game. With Ausmus' plans to leave the Astros for good at the end of the season (at least as a player), this could be Oswalt's last chance to salute his long-time catcher during a game. Sweet moment.

Down 1-0, the Astros took the lead in the second inning and never gave it up. Pence led off with a single. After Wiggington flied out, Ausmus grounded into a fielders choice, with Pence out at second. That should have set up for Oswalt to make the third out to end the inning. But Oswalt hadn't read the script. Ausmus advanced on a passed ball, ending up on third when Oswalt singled to right. Matsui walked to load the bases. His disappointing batting average aside, Bourn came through with a two-out base-clearing double.

The Astros plated more two-out runs in the third. Blum was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Wiggington singled, and Ausmus followed with an infield single to load the bases. Oswalt again ignored the pitcher stereotype, and singled again to right, scoring Blum. Wiggington scored when Matsui walked again. This time Bourn was less lucky: He struck out, leaving the bases loaded. But the Astros had a nice 5-1 lead for Oswalt. Matsui's fifth inning RBI single made it 6-1, which should have been plenty of padding with Oswalt on the mound.

However, Cooper didn't want to let Oswalt overdo it on short rest, in case a miracle occurs and he needs to pitch again on Monday in the makeup game against the Cubs. Wright, Geary, and Byrdak combined to eat up two hitless innings. In the seventh, back-to-back doubles by Abercrombie and Matsui and a single by Bourn added another pair of runs to the Astros lead. That seemed gratuitous at the time, with an 8-1 lead, but it turned out to make the difference in Oswalt's chance for the win.

In the ninth inning, Arias and Nieve made a muddle of things. Arias gave up a double and three singles, allowing two runs to score. Nieve came in with a pair of runners on base, and gave up a 3-run homer. With the score now 8-6, a save situation, Cooper brought in his big gun. Valverde finished off the game with no further damage, striking out two - the last one on three pitches. It was his 43rd save of the season.

The meltdown in the ninth occured just after the results of the Mets game went up on the scoreboard: The Mets had pulled off a walkoff win in the bottom of the ninth. And to make things worse, the Brewers also won in the bottom of the ninth - with a walkoff grandslam. This leaves Houston in pretty a desperate situation going into the weekend - needing to sweep the Braves and then beat the Cubs in a real home game Monday, while both the Mets and Brewers are swept in their respective weekend games. Frankly, I wouldn't blame the Cubs if they just dropped one game of the series against Milwaukee just to avoid having to play on Monday. It wouldn't hurt their standings a bit, and would save them running around just before the playoffs. But who needs a conspiracy - the Astros need a miracle!