Cardinals 6, Astros 4
Box Score
Footer’s report
AP recap
Gamezone
You knew the Astros were going to give up runs tonight. Knowing Chris Sampson was feeling a bit under the weather due to the flu he’s been fighting and because he’s the Astros number five starter you expected him to give up some runs.
And he did, 2 runs in the first and then one every other inning until he was pulled in the fifth for Brian Moehler. And yet, the Astro pitchers weren’t done for the night. They continued the pattern of giving up a run every other inning.
The run in the 7th was not totally unexpected. Princess Albert was going to get a homerun sooner or later. The one he got in the 9th is the one I didn’t understand. Why give him anything remotely close to the plate to swing? Put him on base and take your chance with Rick Ankiel and Troy Glaus.
Vina and Eckstein might be gone but it seems as though Skippin’ “Willie” Schumaker seems to be taking the role.
The Astros offense made Braeden Looper look better than he is. If I am counting right the Astros hit five balls to the princess and three to the pitchers. That is some pretty crappy hitting.
But throughout the whole game I still was waiting for the offense to spring some hits together. And in the 7th I thought for sure it was going to happen. The Astros had just scored two in the 6th, it was their time to take the lead. Two outs and JR Towles walks, then Perez reaches on an error. The pressure on Michael Bourn seems insurmountable, and yet he hits a double to score Towles. Here is where the hope is tangible in the stands. Fans are standing, cheering. The Canadians sitting in front of me are excited. LaRussa changes pitchers, looking good for the Astros. A base hit could score two and the Astros would take the lead. You can almost taste it. The feeling is great. You have Hunter Pence at the plate, with Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee to follow. Chances rarely get better than this. Then Pence, wonderkid from last season, hits a fly ball to right field, inning over.
The hope is lost. People leave in droves, which really doesn’t surprise me. And yet, there are still two innings to go. Six outs is a lot of opportunity to come from behind and win the series. The Astros are only down one run. They can do it. The hope starts building again with a three up three down inning in the top of the eighth. Bottom of the eighth, Berkman, Lee and Tejada get to bat. This is what most of us stay at the games expecting, wanting, needing.
Well, all we got was two groundouts to the princess and a groundout to Glaus. And yet, some of us are still expecting the big rally in the ninth. We don’t leave. How can we leave early? These are the 2008 Astros. They can do anything. We know they can.
Top of the ninth, Oscar Villerreal pitching. According to the gamezone he tossed one a bit too close to perfect over the plate and the princess tried to give someone another souvenir (yet the jackass threw it back on the field). Two run lead now when the top of the inning is over.
Bottom of the ninth. Things are not looking good. Blum 3-1, Darrin Erstad “sanshin”s for the second out. And then the Ausmus wanna-be, JR Towles gets hit by a Jason Isringhausen pitch. He steals second. The Astros again just need to string a couple hits together and things can end right. Alas, Tomas Perez doesn’t have it a second time.
There is no right ending for this game. The Cardinals win.
Some highlights from being at the game.
Many people in Houston have small bladders. That is the only reason I can think for the numerous trips to the restrooms these people make. Drayton McLane is making a shitload of money on the concessions. People can’t sit in their seats for more than two innings, they must be buying something. Good for him, bad for those of us that want to watch the game.
She said yes.
When did last call start during the bottom of the sixth inning? Seemed really early.
Angie (I think that is the chick’s name that does the “games” in between innings) sounds like she takes a breath of helium before talking.
I really liked Tejada’s play on Glaus in the ninth.
I’m still digging Bourn. I have a lot of expectations for him; and I think he’ll live up to them.
Anyone know what sanshin means???? I do.
Overall, it was a nice birthday gift, the ticket to the game tonight. The Canadiens in front of me were funny. I’m never upset to have seen a game, but I always expect the Astros to win and feel as though my heart breaks a little when they don’t.
Maybe this Cardinal team is better than expected. I hope not because I really don’t like the Cardinals at all. I hate their fans, their manager, and their players.