Thursday, May 8, 2008
Nats 8
Astros 3
W: Lannan | L: Backe
The pesky gNats had just scored two off of a fast-tiring Brandon Backe to go up 4-1 in the 6th before the side was retired and Backe’s night was done. For some reason, I still felt like the Astros were going to win. They certainly have shown throughout this 5-gamer that they’re never out of it.
Cue the 8th inning.
The Nationals scored 3 more in that frame, including 1 on a wild pitch/passed ball (depending on your point of view), to put this one way out of reach, despite a bottom-8 effort that had the hint of a comeback. Final was 8-3 Nats to end the Astros five-game winning streak and a chance to sweep the homestand.
Backe battled. He always does but he got tagged for a run in the first off a Nick “70’s-stache” Johnson double and another in the 3rd on a solo dinger by Willie Harris??!! Until the 6th, though, dude was cruising with just 3 hits, 2 BBs and 9Ks. Coop thinks running him too hard on the bases in the bottom of the 5th may have led to his 6th inning demise. 2 singles, a walk and another single plated 2 before the first out. Backe then retired 3 in a row but was done.
The bats could never get it going consistently against Lefty Lannan. The baserunners were there, 7 hits and a walk through 6 innings but they could never capitalize beyond a 4th-inning, hustling RBI single by Pence that scored Tejada after 2 straight hits off of Lannan. That effort fizzled and the offense remained scoreless until the 8th inning mini-rally that never was.
Villarreal had a shaky outing in the 8th after seemingly righting his ship over his last few appearances. Towles had a dreadful night, looking way overmatched at the plate. El Vendo stayed hot with 2 hits and 2 more thefts for Bourn has him at 15 for the season.
Off to the left coast for 3 vs. the Dojers. Moehler v. Lowe tomorrow @ 9:40 CDT??!!. Stock up on the Red Bull.