Sampson vs Sheets was a mismatch from the start. The defense tried to keep it close, Lee got two assists in the first two innings. Berkman tried to keep it close, a homer and an RBI double provided 2 runs of support. But Sampson, even though he was getting the groundballs, couldn’t get them hit at anyone.
In the first with one on, and one out, Sampson got a groundball just to the left of 2nd. But the runner on first broke on the pitch so the only play was at first. Fielder walked. Then, 2 outs, on a 2-2 count, Corey Hart scooped a shoe top pitch for a single into left. The run scored from 2nd, Lee hit the cutoff man and they caught Fielder between 2nd and 3rd.
In the 2nd Hall doubled. The 8 hitter, Sheets, came up. But just as JD was saying “Sheets is not much of a hit (groundball double down the line)-ter, he scored the runner from 2nd. Cooper personally came out to the mound to counsel Sampson. Brown and JD were struck by this breach in protocol and wondered what Cooper had to say. I think he told Sampson that this was “unacceptable”. It may have worked because Kendall followed with a double off the wall that Lee barehanded, got in to Tejada who relayed to Towles to get Sheets who tried to score on the close play standing up. He really isn’t much of a baserunner.
Berkman got one back in the bottom of the inning, whacking an outside curve 2 rows up in right. Later in the inning, the moment JD had been waiting for, the “all linen matchup”, “Sheets vs Towles”. It almost works except Towles is pronounced “tolls” not “towels”. Made Brown laugh.
But in the top the 3rd, Mike Cameron answered with a homerun of his own. Berkman again countered in the bottom of the 3rd with a 2 out double that scored Matsui. The Astros were within striking distance of Sheets until the 4th. A double and a walk sent Cooper out to get Sampson, replacing him with Borkowski. Cameron immediately homered making the score 6-2.
But nobody on the Astros side was in the mood to quit and in the 5th, fought back against Sheets.
Ryan Braun was willing to help the Astros out. Cruz Jr lead off with a pinch hit single but got caught in between on Bourn’s bloop to center, and was called out on a close force play at 2nd. Matsui followed with a sinking liner to left that Braun misplayed into a run scoring double and Astros fans were gnashing their teeth over the lost run. But with two outs, Berkman popped a double that landed low and catchable on the Dr Pepper sign in front of the visitors dugout as Braun was backing up to play the bounce. 6-4.
Geary, Wright, and Brocail held the line to put the Astros in position in the 9th to try to steal one from Gagne. With one out pinch hitter Erstad shot a jump rope single by Gagne. The next pinch hitter Blum bounced one that went by Fielder and forced the 2b into the outfield grass, he beats the throw as Gagne looks on in disgust. As Gagne returns to the mound, shaking his head and mumbling, he walks Bourn. Matsui bounces one to first that scores one. 6-5, Tejada then walks to load the bases again.
Berkman comes up with the question of his wrist as a back story. In the top the 9th, with two outs, and one on, Prince Fielder popped a foul ball to the right side. Berkman and Matsui worked over to the stands. The ball was one row up so both players had a good chance to make the play. However, some dumb kid jumps up and sticks his glove between them taking the ball from Matsui.
On the next play Brocail tries to pick off Cameron. As Cameron is diving back and Berkman is trying to make the tag, he jams his hand. The trainers come out and take a look. They decide he’s OK and he stays in. If he hadn’t been OK, that dumb kid would have had a lot of enemies. If Matsui could have made the play on the foul there would have been no reason for Berkman to be out there for another play.
But, back to the 9th; with the bases loaded, 2 outs, Berkman starts 2-0, fouls off a few, works a 3-2 count, and gets the walk to tie the game. Lee grounded out to end the inning and there was free baseball.
Valverde continued the stellar relief work for two more innings. Byrdak was not so stellar, walking the bases loaded in the 12th but escaped when he got Hardy to pop out to left.
Bottom of the 12th, Pence redeemed what had previously been an 0-5 day with a walk off 2 run homer. They threw him a fastball in. 8-6 final.