Sometimes you gotta spike a Cubbie

Astros 4, Them 3

W: Wesley Wright (1-0) L: John Lieber (0-1) S: Jose “Papa Grande” Valverde (1)

Game 1 of the weekend series ends as a win for the Astros. Chris Sampson started the game going 6 2/3rds inning, giving up 2 runs on two hits, one strike out and no walks. Gave up just enough to make sure he didn’t get the win.

Again, the bullpen looked good. Going 2 1/3 innings giving up 1 run. Wesley Wright did a good job and Doug Brocail tried to make it interesting. A homerun by Mary DeRosa off of Jose Valverde probably created a bit of a rush to Astros fans. The bullpen can play this way all season and good things will be in store for the Astros.

Now, onto the offense. Not a tremendous amount, but enough to make the idiot fans (Why would anyone have a Cub gnome?) in Chicago cry. Michael Bourn only reached base once today and Hunter gave him every chance to steal a base. NOT!! I guess Hunter Pence may not be liking the attention Bourn is getting. (oooh, let me create some drama)

Lance Berkman was key again today. Reached base twice with a hit and an error by DeRosa. The error allowed Berkman to score on the “triple” hit by Miguel Tejada in the 8th. Glad to see Berkman playing so well.

Tejada was scored a triple, but anyone who sees the replay may disagree with the scorer. Alfonso Soriano is an interesting player. Must be some kind of new superstition for him the way he was wearing his eye glare stuff. He looked like a stupid clown. I’m glad he is one of them and not an Astro. Whiners and Slackers suck.

JR Towles got his first homerun of the year. But that wasn’t his best moment of the day. His HBP Handstand scored a perfect 10. His form and dismount were perfect.

The defense made some good plays. Tejada had some good plays at short and Berkman doing a rather fine job as well. But Prince Bourn is making his mark on this team in a quick and beautiful way. His diving steal of a double from Soriano was absolutely beautiful. The man is sure playing some wonderful centerfield. Oh, how it was missed last year. While we may miss Brad Lidge in the bullpen, we definitely aren’t going to be missing Pence in centerfield.

I must add they have some of the best names on a major league roster. Pie, Fukedome, Theriot, Pignatiello and Johnson. When’s the last time you remember seeing anything as spectacular as those names?

Overall, it this game made me want to drive around Houston honking my car horn in celebration. Well, not really but it does make me happier than I was when the game started. Tomorrow, the Astros get to try and beat them again when Roy Oswalt does his magic against Jason Marquis. The Baseball Gods willing the Astros will be playing .500 ball at the end of that game.

Michael Bourn stolen bases: 3