Reds at Astros, 4/20/09
Reds 4, Astros 3
W: Arroyo (3-0), L: Geary (0-2), S: Cordero (5)
HR: Berkman (3), Lee (2)
(Request to programmers: please set macro for “the Astros lost a heartbreaker as the bullpen and offense were unable to support a surprisingly effective starting pitching performance.” Thanks – MM.)
Hampton came out with struggling with command a bit, and was unable to put hitters away; Taveras and Votto both singled with two strikes, moved up on a grounder to second, and Encarnacion plated both with another two-strike hit. The flip side is that each hit featured the type of take-the-pitch-the-other-way, adjust-for-two-strikes approach that is sorely lacking from the home team. Following those struggles, though, Hampy settled down and mowed his way through the next five innings.
As far as Astros “hitting” goes, a run was scratched out on singles by Pence and Blum in the second. Berkman and Lee then won the “it’s about time” award by absolutely unloading on Arroyo for back-to-back homeruns, giving the Astros a 3-2 lead in the sixth. Following Lee’s trot, Pence slashed a single into CF. Unfortunately, the Franchise did not realize that he had hit a routine single into CF and blew right past first, resulting in the look on his face at left.
Sorry about that… I meant, the following look on his face:
If you did not see the result… picture Biggio’s 3,000th hit. Pence was out by much, much more than that at second.
On to the seventh, where Hampton allowed a leadoff single. Hampton provided the bookend to his 2-strike struggles by allowing Arroyo to bunt the runner over on an 0-2 pitch, and gave way to Geary and Byrdak. If you don’t know what happened next, you haven’t been watching real closely this season. At least Bourn and Miggy combined for a nice 8-6-2 at the plate to stop it from becoming 5-3.
Bottom 8 featured the Astros with runners on 1st and 3rd for Berkman with only one out, but no runs. Lance popped to 2b, Lee walked, and Pence, in his most impressive AB, actually battled to a 3-2 count before taking called strike 3. Baby steps, people. We’re taking baby steps.
Final score: Reds 4, Astros 3. But in better news, Baseball Prospectus declared the Astros a 3-1 series winner based upon their better run differential over the 4 games.