Astros 11, Cubs 6
W: Jeff Fulchino, L: Angel Guzman
Well, this game started out great Michael Bourn leads off with a first pitch single, Jeff Keppinger follows with a single. Then Miguel Tejada hits into what could have been a 3 run homerun but Fukedome snags his hit at the wall only scoring Bourn.
Onto the bottom of the second the Astros go. Roy Oswalt seemed to be doing good, then Ivan Rodriguez goes to the mound and that’s when the “oh shits” and other kind of comments from Astros fans start. Roy leaves the game with a lower back strain. Great news.
So, Wesley Wright comes in to finish off Milton Bradley and the second inning. Wesley continues to pitch 2 other innings giving up 3 runs, which I’m going to cut him some slack since right after or right before the end of the game he goes to the hospital with possible appendicitis. (ETA: Ends up being dehydration.)
So, in comes Jeff Fulchino to save the day. He pitches 3 innings, but also gives up 3 runs. Good news is he did not turn over the lead.
Tim Byrdak came into pitch a scoreless 8th frame and Jose Valverde closed it out.
Astros Highlights:
Jeff Keppinger is hot, hot, hot. He went 4 for 5, 3 runs, 3 RBIs, and no injuries. Awesome day at the “friendly confines.”
Miguel Tejada wasn’t shabby either, he went 2 for 4 with 5 RBIs. One of those hits landed in the fencing so the fans couldn’t throw the ball back. Sometimes I am so proud of the Astros.
Michael Bourn went 3 for 5 and a walk on the night scoring 3 runs. He had a pretty good catch out there in centerfield also. Seriously, who doesn’t like watching this kid play?
Astros Lowlights:
10 walks given up by the Astros. The Cubs had more walks than hits.
All the injuries.
Game Analysis:
I am very proud of the way the Astros played on this night. The Astros used 5 men on the night while the Cubs used 6 to lose. Hopefully a game like this can help a team keep chugging along, but I have to wonder if Music Man is still willing to wait until Thursday to decide if the Astros should be buyers or sellers.
I also think the ending to Monday night’s game didn’t sit well with the Astros and they came to take names last night, and they did. Hopefully they continue to take names since they have 2 more in Chicago and then go to St. Louis for the weekend.
Bench Tidbits:
The GameZone had something happening in there.
Read GreatBagwell’sBeard’s Series Preview for information on the rest of the series. Or some of it, you might want to check out this for the rest.