Astros 6, Rangers 1
W: Wandy Rodriguez (2-3) | L: John Koronka (0-1)
Pigpen tally 2,970 (2-5)
After failing to earn a victory in his first six starts of the season, Wandy Rodriguez won his second start in a row, keeping the American League dwellers of Texas baffled with a sharp curveball to the tune of seven strikeouts in his six full innings of work.
In the beginning
The 3rd inning brought the first threat for Wandy. After two outs, a single and a stolen base put a runner in scoring position for Ranger SS Michael Young, known for his four consecutive 200 hits seasons. Young hit a deep drive to right that tailed near the corner, but Jason Lane leaped and intercepted it just short of the wall to retire the side.
Craig Biggio led off the bottom half of the 3rd with a rare bunt single, catching the just-called-up-rookie-thirdbaseman playing deep. Mark Loretta, subbing at SS for a game, sacrificed Bidge to second. After a strikeout and a HBP, rookie Hunter Pence stroked a solid RBI single between short and the second base bag to draw first blood.
The middle innings
Wandy mowed down the heart of the Rangers order in the 4th, striking out the side in an impressive inning. He was still fired up in the botton half of the inning, lining a single to left with two outs. Biggio then hit a shot to left, but it was several feet short of the wall.
Obviously drained from his 4th inning show, Wandy walked a pair in the 5th, but struck out the pitcher and coaxed a fly from Kinsler, who was 2-2, to end that threat. The Astros went down meekly in the bottom half, 1-2-3.
Young greeted Wandy in the 6th by clanging the ball off the bullpen fence for a leadoff double. A grounder to third produced the first out, and a deep fly to right the second, with Young going to third. A single to center tied the game. Brad Ausmus threw out the first of three runners trying to steal for the final out.
Pence led off the home half of the 6th with another ground single up the middle, followed by a ringing single to left by slump-ridden Morgan Ensberg. Jason Lane followed with a bunt single to load the bases and chase Ranger starter John Koronka. Righty reliever Scott Feldman entered hoping for more left over magic from last night, but allowed the go ahead run on a 6-4-3 from Ausmus. Skipper Phil Garner decided to pinch hit for Wandy using Mike Lamb, who promptly walked on four pitches to bring up Biggio. A solid RBI single to right followed to increase to lead to 3-1. Loretta then hit a shot in the hole that SS Young fielded and threw to third to force Lamb. But 3B ump Tim Timmons saw it a bit different, calling Lamb safe, a blatant display of blindness that brought incredible looks of disgust from the Rangers, with very good reason. Hell, we’ll take it. Bases loaded, two down, and a fresh lefty on the mound, Lance Berkman short-hopped Sammy the Clown in right for a two-run single. Another solid RBI single to right by Carlos Lee increased the lead to 6-1.
And the end
Brad Lidge continued his recent good work with two more solid innings, and Chad Qualls nailed down the win with a scoreless 9th to put this game in the books.
The Good Guys could take the series with another victory tomorrow as Woody Williams faces Brandon McCarthy at 1:05.