Roger Clemens opened the homestand by putting the Astros in a 4-0 hole in the first inning on walks and a grand slam, and the good guys failed when they needed to execute simple fundamentals, losing 4-3 and with it almost all hope of the wild card.
Clemens struggled with his command in the first, adjusting to a short stride caused by his recent leg injury. He had a chance to retire the side but walked Chase Utley on borderline calls near the strikezone with two outs. Ryan Howard came to the dish and Utley promptly stole second base on the first pitch. Astros manager Phil Garner decided to put Howard on and pitch to David Dellucci. Clemens walked him also, loading the bases for Pat Burrell, who lined a full-count Clemens offering into the Crawfords for the only Philly runs.
“I prepared myself as well as I should have, but the ball was running a lot on me,” Clemens said. “Tonight, it was me against me. It’s very disheartening, regardless of how my body feels.”
The Astros rallied in the 4th inning on a Morgan Ensberg liner into the Crawfords and a two-run blast by Luke Scott over the Astros bullpen. Despite several opportunities in the next five innings, the Astros failed to push another run across, echoing a season long trend by failing to execute in crucial at-bats.
“We’re having a tough, tough time,” Garner said. “They tried every way in the world to give it to us and we couldn’t punch across a run.”
Day game today at 12:45, rookie Jason Hirsh vs. Cole Hamels. Game time was changed to gloss MVP hopeful Howard on the FOX mothership, complete with pompus candyass Josh Lewin.