Thursday, July 9, 2009
Natinals 4
Astros 9
W: Not Ortiz | L: Lannan
HR: El Vendo
Astros.com
AP via Yahoo!
Game Zo…..eh?…oh.
I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to talk about Astros baseball after the 9 minute shitfest of an opening act tonight. The Good Guys themselves had all of about a half an hour to shake off the stink, go out and try to avoid the sweep of shame, a road AND home loss in the same evening.
I wanna smack you! ----- Right here, buddy!
Russ Ortiz toed it tonight and spent most of his 3 innings struggling and Coop had seen enough after he’d given up 4 on 6 hits and 2 BBs and a HBP. The media volleying began shortly after the game (I’d link the Chron but just don’t have the stomach for it) and discussion followed in the TZ. I scratched my head initially but I see both sides. He could have let him go one more to get to his spot in the order and see if he could right things, but I can’t blame Coop for pulling Ortiz because he clearly wasn’t getting anything past the Nats. Coop may manage from the seat of his pants but whatever is swimming in that cerebral soup, he wants to win and he really did tonight.
Astros bats kept it close with 1 each in the 1st and 3rd but it wasn’t until the 6th that the real wood started flying. A lead-off double by Pudge was followed by a Blum single and an outstanding 2-run triple to right center by Kepp that tied things up and chased Lannan. After a Michael’s PH K, June “Star Award” winner Michael Bourn came through again with an oddly-played shot off of the left field scoreboard. Adam Dunn let it sail over his head while looking back towards the infield. By the time Dunn had caught up to the carom, Bourn had raced around second and slid into 3rd just ahead of the throw. Kepp scored the go-ahead run with still only one out. Next batter, Miggy dropped one in front of Dunn to bring Bourn home and cushion the lead at 2.
More blasting caps in the 8th brought down the mighty Nats bullpen. A PH single by Kaz (why haven’t we parted ways with him? Slacker!) and a Tejada HBP set up Twinkie’s majestic blast into the first row of the Crawfords. 9-4.
Lest we forget, the Astros bullpen stood tall under the weight of Coop’s massive whim tonight. Fulchino, Arias, Byrdak, Sampson and Valverde covered 6 innings without a run.
The gNat attack continues tonight with Olsen facing Oswalt at 7:05 CDT.