Astros starter Roy Oswalt (15-11) allowed seven runs and nine hits in four-plus innings, his shortest outing this season and the first time in 21 starts that he failed to go at least six, as the good guys got behind early and lost to the Trolley Dodgers (yawn) 8-3 at Chavez Ravine.
One night after watching teammate Andy Pettitte strike out the side in the first inning on 12 pitches, Oswalt failed to record an out until his 27th pitch, and did not retire any of his first seven batters. The Dodgers (yawn) capitalized with five hits and three walks — two with the bases loaded — into a five-run first inning.
“It’s probably the worst game I ever threw, that I could remember,” Oswalt said. “It was a bad game all the way around — walking people, not throwing the ball where I wanted to, getting behind guys — it was one of those days. I was like a high school kid out there.”
“That was a surprise. We haven’t seen that from Oswalt,” Garner said. “He struggled with his command and just didn’t look comfortable in that first inning. This is very much uncharacteristic of the way he’s pitched.”
“He’s had a couple of games when he actually looked a little bit human — but sometimes we have to pick him up, too,” Garner said. “Sometimes, you have to outscore the other team.”
Rookie Chris Burke provided one of the few highlights of the game as he stroked a 3-run homer in the 6th for all of the Astros runs.
The Astros still hope to take the Series as the rubber game is set for Sunday at 3:10 CST, Roger Clemens (11-6, 1.56) matched up with Jeff Weaver (12-8, 4.41).