It’s a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
Houston Astros 5, Florida Marlins 0
Molony’s Report, Astros.com
Box Score
AP Report
At the beginning of the televised broadcast of the Florida Marlin/Houston Astros game, there was a very picturesque shot of Minute Maid Park in all it’s splendor basked in the sunlight of what can only be termed a beautiful day in Houston, Texas. Of course, this was to be technically a night game between the two clubs, but let’s not quibble. The opening shot gave rise to a tagline in the broadcast graphics that read “Chamber of Commerce Day”, meaning if the Houston CC ever needed a day to point out the wonderful weather in Houston, this would be it. Of course, knowing Houston baseball fans as I do, this was the one or two days of the season that the roof is opened and no one complains about being too hot or too cold or too whatever! Freaks.
The reality is that for the Houston Astros die hard fan amongst the many attending the game (and watching via television), the only beautiful day is one where the local nine win a game in such as way as to make it all worthwhile. The sun shines brighter, the birds sing better, the women look hotter and the beer taste great (and is less filling). It had not been that way much all season long for the blood n mud men, which is of course less than two weeks old now. But tonight Brandon Backe, he of the “Don’t get in my face, I don’t care who you are!” attitude and big game reputation, took the hill and for a second before the game started, there was an air that he was going to carry the team to a much deserved win.
And he did.
No one would dare call what Backe did tonight a thing of beauty or dominance, but beauty can be in the eye of the beholder sometimes and this was beautiful in the sense that Houston needed a stopper tonight and they got it. It was no coincidence that manager Cecil Cooper paired Backe with his old battery mate from playoff success of old, Brad Ausmus, to help the young man focus and harness the talent right there with the adrenline and desire to take one back from the Fish. Backe completed five effective innings without allowing a single run to cross the plate. He allowed plenty of hits and walks alright, but when it counted the Fish just couldn’t phase the hurler from his task. And even when it seemed like they were about to break through, Backe’s defense rose to the occasion and provided the support to shut them down. Primarily from yet again stellar play by Miguel Tejada, who is quickly becoming the Web Gem du jour for the Houston Astros. One particular play highlights exactly how determined the defense was to help Backe out on this night. On this play, Tejada reached a hard hit ball up the middle, flipped it barehanded to Mark Loretta who caught the ball barehanded and threw it to Berkman at first all in one motion to complete a very difficult double play and shut down a rally. The very first play of the game was an outstanding running catch by Cheito Cruz, playing for the left handed hitting MIchael Bourn because of the young lefty pitcher set to start for the Fish. Ah yes, pitching and defense front and center, especially up the middle defense. Backe was the beneficiary alright and he is a big game pitcher, but his general demeanor to want to win is very much a welcome attitude in a team struggling to find itself.
Now work on that 200 IP season thingy Brandon and you’ll be that #2 starter everyone is looking for.
Of course you still have to score runs in order to win a game, at the very least one more than the other team. In the first inning, said one run was provided by the big three middle guys who parlayed three singles into a Lance Berkman “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” run scoring slide at home. Take a seat there near the oxygen tank El Vendo, you look like you need it. The other four runs came in the next frame as back to back doubles by Cruz and Ausmus plated one run, a single by Loretta scoring another and then a Berkman blast (hitting right handed no less) took care of the scoring for the inning and for the night. No worries, it was about watching good pitching supported by great defense for the rest of the night and a shut out win for the good guys. All very appropriately coming in Hunter Pence’s Bobblehead Night! Oh wait… how is that appropriate? Nevermind, a win is a win and it was indeed a beautiful day!