Seeking to expand on the great plays of the previous two games, El Kabong did his part, knocking a three run homer in the first, but not before knocking out the home plate umpire on the follow through of a swing in his first at bat.
But in a four game series the team has to win three to gain any ground, alas, after 4 days and some great efforts, the Astros can only tread water.
They took a 6-4 lead through the 5th, with Chris Sampson looking every bit what you expect from a 5th starter.
But then the wheels came off in the 6th. Like an 18 wheeler full of chickens bouncing down the down the road, hits a ditch, wheels shoot out in every direction, chickens flying out of the back, crates making a high arc and splinteriing against the road, unhinged wheels careening down the blacktop, bits of metal and smoking chicken feathers sparking and flying in their wake. A monumentally spectacular example of wheel coming off.
Cooper brought in Fernado Nieve for the 6th , he couldn’t record an out, then Wesley Wright only provided a speed bump for the Philly offense, then Dave Borkowski and by the end of the 7th the Astros were down 15-6.
Meanwhile the Phillies bullpen held the Astros to nada the rest of the way.