Astros @ Rockies, 6/8/2010
Houston 4, Colorado 3 (BOX)
Lopez (W, 3-0), Lyndstrom (S, 14), Belisle (L, 1-2)
Bernardo Fallas (Chron.com) recap / Owen Perkins (MLB.com) recap
Monday’s game was ugly. Tuesday’s game had a similar stink to it, with the distict possibility that it would be worse… Michael Bourn getting a night off with Jason Micheals playing center in his stead. A lineup that put Keppinger in the lead-off spot and Manzella in the two-hole, Feliz, Michaels, Cash and Moehler batting 6 through 9. Moehler making his third start of the season (after getting shelled in his first start and pitching a decent game in his second), this time against the Rockies, who absolutely rake against Moehler. None of this things inspired confidence – an impending feeling of doom if you like…
The first inning, in fact the first for batters for the Rockies, only heightened the stench in the air. 4 straight hits by the Rockies, with no outs, led to three runs. JD: “It could go from bad to worse to flat out ugly here in a hurry…” . Oddly enough, it didn’t. Moehler got a strikeout on the next batter and got Helton to ground out into a double play in the next at bat. Inning over, HOU 0, COL 3.
The 2nd inning went 3-up, 3-down for both teams. In the 3rd inning, Moehler induced the Rockies into their second double play of the night, and ended up stranded 2. HOU 0, COL 3.
You can’t throw that weak-ass shit to JEFF KEPPINGER, bitch! led off the top of the 4th with a double, and subsequently scored on a long single by Manzella. Berkman flied out to left, Lee singled to left and then Spaz grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the 4th. HOU 1, COL 3. Moehler pitched out of trouble in the bottom of the 4th, again leaving 2 Rockies stranded. Through 4: HOU 1, COL 3.
Kevin Cash managed a single in the top of the 5th, but was left stranded at first. Rockies had some traffic on the bases in the bottom of the inning, but the Astros end the inning by turning their 3rd double play of the night. Through 5, HOU 1, COL 3. The Astros went down in order in the top of the 6th (despite a scorcher hit by Manzella to third), but the ‘fun’ started in the bottom of the inning. Olivo singled to start the bottom of the 6th. With Helton up with no outs and 2 strikes, the Rockies put on the hit and run. Helton whiffed and Olivo was thrown out by Cash for the strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play (the Astros 4th of the night). The next batter, Mora, took a walk and then during Barmes’ at bat, good ole’ Balking Bob Davidson did what he does best -calling some weak-ass balk on Moehler. With 2 outs and a runner now in scoring position, the Astros intentionally walk Barmes to get to the pitcher, Francis. Francis grounds out into a force at 3rd base to end the inning. through 9, HOU 1, COL 3.
The Astros scored another run in the Top of the 7th with a double, and some heads-up base running by Lee on a shot by Spaz that was caught at the wall. With Lee on 3rd base after tagging up on Spaz’ fly out, he was able to score on a broken bat roller by Feliz to the shortstop. Middle 7, HOU 2, COL 3. Wilton Lopez took over the bottom of the 7th and set the Rockies down in order. Through 7, HOU 2, COL 3.
Things got fun for the Astros in the top of the 8th. Matty B. came in to pitch for Francis, and Michael Bourn came in to pinch-hit for Lopez. Bourn started 1-2, but ended up lining a single to right (on the 7th pitch of the at bat). With Keppinger up and the count 2-2, Bourn took off on a hit-and-run. The ball was looped into center and Bourn had already passed 2nd base before he realized the ball would be caught, so he turned on the burners, touched 2nd and busted it back to 1st base to avoid being doubled off. With Manzella at the plate, good ole’ Balking Bob Davidson called another horseshit balk, this time on Belisle, sending Bourn to second base. Manzella then put down a sweet bunt single towards 3rd base. 1 out, runners at the corners. Belisle was lifted at this point and replaced with Franklin Morales. Berkman proceeded to ground into a force out at 2nd base, scoring Bourn. Tie ballgame. With Lee in the box, Berkman hustled down to 2nd base for his 2nd steal of the year. A soft fly single to left put the Astros up by a run (both charged to Matty B), and an ugly strikeoout by Spaz ended the inning. Middle 8, HOU 4, COL 3. Bourn stayed in to play center in the bottom of the 8th, and Michaels switched over to left. Lyon came in to pitch. Brad Hawpe, the leadoff batter for the inning, absolutely crushed the 2-1 pitch into left, but Michaels made a leaping catch at the top of the wall to rob him of a hit (double or home run, I couldn’t quite tell). Lyon retired the next two in order to end the 8th. Through 8, HOU 4, COL 3.
The Astros went down in order in the top of the 9th. Lindtrom took the hill to close out the game. Struck out Mora for the 1st out. Walked Stewart (on a couple of decent pitches), bringing up pinch-hitter Jason Giambi (yes he is still alive and playing baseball) with a runner on. Giambi crushed the ball to left, but Michaels made the catch at the back of the track. 2 outs, runner on first base. Gonzalez proceeding to ground into the 4-6 force to end the game. GOOD GUYS WIN 4 – 3!!!
All in all, a fun game to watch. It started out fugly, but Moehler managed to get 18 straight outs without allowing a runner to score (after the first 3 runs had scored with no outs in the bottom of the 1st that is…). It wasn’t particularly pretty, but Moehler did what he so often does, and that was to give an unspectacular but workmanlike performence on the mound. 6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER. The pen held the Rukkakes scoreless for the final 3 innings as well. Manzella began to show some life at the plate, and Lee actually looked good all around (good swing, heads-up base running, etc). The Astros slowly chipped away at the 3-run deficit and took the lead on a well-played 8th inning (sorry Matty B, wish it had been someone else…).
And that there is your ballgame, folks. Rockies can’t sweep now, and the Astros still have a chance to win the series. Good stuff, all. And better news still, you’ll be happy to know that the legendary JackAstro will be back for his regularly scheduled Tuesday night recap next week, so no more having to read my uninspiring rubbish on Wednesday mornings anymore…
By the way, for those of you keeping score at home, with the win on Tuesday the Astros fall 6.5 back in the “Race for Rendon,” trailing the Orioles and Indians (and tied with the Diamondbacks) for the prize of the 2011 draft.
Y’all have fun now, ya hear!!!