Astros 4, Cubs 2
W: Sampson (3-3) | L: Dempster (5-2) | S: Valverde (13)
Chris Sampson pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and Hunter Pence hit a grand slam as the Astros returned to their winning ways Tuesday night at MMP, defeating the Cubs 4-2.
Sampson set the tone with his first pitch. One night after Carlos Lee was knocked down twice by close pitches, Sampson fired a fastball three feet over Alfonzo Soriano’s head, then got down to business using pinpoint control and a ton of ground balls, pitching into the 7th inning before tiring.
Pence provided the offense on this night. After the Astros fell behind 2-0 in the 4th, Miguel Tejada started off with a ringing double to left center. After a walk to Lance Berkman, Lee hit a high fly to right center. As Anaheim Jimmy Edmonds camped under it, Tejada broke for third and dove headfirst as the ball hit him in the leg, allowing Berkman to take second. Geoff Blum walked to load the bases as Cubs starter Ryan Dempster looked a little shaky. Up strolled Thunderpants. After missing his first two pitches, Dempster had a visit from his catcher. His next pitch, a waist high outside fastball, was smacked by Pence into the first row of seats in right field for the Astros first grand slam of 2008, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Doug Brocail and Jose Valverde finished up. Brocail struck out Soriano in a key situation in the 7th with men aboard just after Sampson departed. Pence also had a single and a double over the head of Edmonds up on Tal’s Hill.
Craig Biggio sure looks strange in street clothes. He was sitting in the stands with his wife Patty and his group of players he is set to coach next year at St. Thomas High School.