Phillies at Astros, 7/2/07
Score: Astros 7, Phillies 5
W: Williams (4-10) L: Moyer (7-6) S: Miller (1)
Homeruns: Burrell (9), Victorino (10), Lee (16), Pence (9)
Biggio watch: 1,001 extra base hits, the 26th player in MLB history to go over 1,000; 3,007 hits, now tied with Al Kaline for 25th
Read not-the-Alyson’s Report Here: DuBose
Or the AP recap here: ESPN
First things first: Shane Victorino is phucking insane. The man launched himself into the stands – “with no regard for human life!” – on a foul ball attempt. If you missed it, you really need to see the clip.
OK, now for the game.
I think we’d all do ourselves a great service by tuning in at the 3rd inning or later for Woody’s starts. Just tune in late, get a pheel phor what kind of hill the Astros have to climb, and keep your blood pressure down.
On this night, not so bad. A leadoff bunt single, phollowed by a hit-and-run single, had things looking pretty ugly. However, an infield grounder and your classic 9-2-5-4 sac fly / double play cleaned up the inning with only one run. Pat Burrell then dephied the scouting report by denting the phaçade on a first pitch from Woody in the second.
Past that point, Woody retired 18 of his last 21 hitters, the only real blemish being a solo jack from the aphorementioned Phlying Victorino.
Phortunately, the Philly pitching is everything it’s cracked up to be. As noted both on the broadcast and in NYCU, the strike zone last night was tight but consistent. This does not work in favor of a pus-thrower like Jamie Moyer*.
* – editorial note: Phuck you, Moyer. I don’t cotton to guys who kill deals to Houston to “stay in Seattle” and then sign with the Phillies.
Biggio led off with a double down the line, Caballo picked up his mates with a two-out single. Berkman brought home PENCE!!! in the third with a solid, right-handed double to the bullpen fence in left. PENCE!!! bestowed free chicken on the crowd with a fifth inning, two-run shot off the phowl pole in left. The Philly “relievers” managed to walk in a pair in the seventh, and Kabong did his thing with a solo job in the eighth.
7-3 lead going to the ninth? Not enough for the tag team of Wheeler and Pence. Wheels loaded the bases, double-walk-HBP (with a pop fly mixed in). Ruiz then sends one to the hill, and Pence lets the thing hit off his glove. (Coming this offseason: over-the-shoulder catching drills.) Two runs score. Second and third. One out. Two run lead. Two righties coming up.
Naturally, this is where you bring in reverT. Your situational lefty. A man against whom right-handed hitters have a line of .364/.467/.515.
Why? Hell, why not. Garner clearly doesn’t trust anyone else right now.
I opened my eyes when I heard the crowd roar. Astros win, 7-5.
Read Mihoba’s soliloquy of play by play in the GameZone .
Discuss Paul G’s triumphant return to the TalkZone.