Jakes at Astros, 4/7/08
Astros 5, Co-ards 3
W: Valverde (2-0), L: McClellan (0-1)
HR: (Deep breath…) Berkman (2), Lee (3), Towles (2), Tejada (2)
AP/ESPN
Footer
Gamezone
Breakdown of Pence’s breakdowns in the TalkZone
Probably not a stretch to say that this was the best game that Wandy Rodriguez has pitched. 7 1/3 innings, no runs, three hits, and perhaps most telling, no walks to go with 6 strikeouts. He was working the fastball-curve combo beautifully, and the Cardinals never really threatened off of him.
Wandy departed after allowing a one-out roller wherein Loretta’s throw pulled Berkman from the bag. Brocail entered the game (to the chagrin of many), but induced yet another 6u-3 DP (to the relief of all).
Yeah, MM, but what about the long balls?
They showed up in the seventh. Berkman and the cricket in his neck managed to unload off Wellmeyer, who had been impressive in his own right; Kabong followed with a mammoth shot over the light stanchion for the second back-to-back, jack, of the year. Towles tagged on a seemingly innocent liner to the Crawfords in the 8th for a 3-0 lead.
Enter Papa Grande. Exit lead.
Yes, the Cards rallied for 3 off of Valverde, scoring the tying run on a play that for all the world looked gift wrapped for the Astros. Trailing 3-1 with 2 out, Ludwick cracked a liner into the RCP gap, but the ball caromed off the bullpen fence right into Bourn’s waiting hands. Bourn hit Tejada cleanly, and Miggy took maybe a hint of a hesitiation before gunning the relay to Towles. Unfortunately, Glaus was arriving just after the throw, in time to knock the ball loose from a waiting Towles.
So off to B9 we go! Flapjack led things off with a single, and Miggy was able to find a McClellan offering to drive into the RF seats.
Other highlights: Bourn with 2 singles and 2 SB off of Molina the Greater.
Other lowlights: Molina picking Berkman off of 1b with 2 out in the 8th… and Bourn on 2b.
Go crazy, folks! Astros are 1-0 at home, and send Chacon to the hill tomorrow night for the 7:05 start.