GAME 111: Wandy's Record Breaker

Astros 2, Brewers 0

Winning 11 games in a season doesn't sound like that big a deal, but for Wandy Rodriguez it's a new personal record - and he reached it with almost a third of the season left to go. Back on the mound after a minor injury, he threw 7 shutout innings to push his ERA down to 2.51 and his record to 11-6. It was sometimes messy, but Wandy managed to wiggle his way out of trouble in every inning - including the 5 Brewers he left stranded in the first two innings alone!

Wandy owes his biggest gracias to Geoff Blum - both for the 2-run homer that accounted for all of the offensive action in today's game, and for a terrific defensive play at third that kept the Brewers from scoring in the second inning.

His second gracias goes to our closer, who ended the eighth safely after Fulcino allowed a pair of baserunners, then pitched a wild ninth for the save. I think that my heartrate was higher when Valverde put the first two batters of the ninth on base than when I was on the exercise bike at the gym this morning. Wandy's third gracias can go to home plate up Larry Vanover, who was struck with a sudden case of generosity, calling somewhat marginal third strikes on the last two Milwaukee batters to end the game.

The closest the Astros came to another run was Wandy's own infield hit in his last at bat. With 2 outs, Michaels attempted to score from second, while the Brewers were busy trying to throw Wandy out at first. But Fielder alertly threw home to stifle the rally. Give Wandy - a very light-hitting pitcher - credit for not being an easy out. He was a total pain to the Brewers today.

So after losing 4 series in a row, Houston pulled off a win today to close out the home stand with some fun. Now off for some sun - to Miami for 4 games against the Marlins.

Update on who will be the Astros' fifth starter: Hampton's MRI showed a torn lateral meniscus in the knee, which apparently sounds worse than it is. He's day to day, and may be able to take the start on Thursday. I'm not sure whether that's actually good for the Astros.