Friars 8, Good Guys 6
WP Frieri (1-1) LP Melancon (1-1)
HR 2 by their guys
On a day where the pet canines made up a significant part of the attendance, the Astros refused to win yet another series and for the third time in this young season, blew a lead held after the seventh inning. Brett Myers set the tone by struggling with his command early but limited the damage and had a lead when he left after six innings.
Abad came in and committed two errors on the same play, leading to another run. Melancon was called on to stop the bleeding but became a victim of chance and overuse as he was unable to get the ball over the plate consistently. He got one out in the eighth before four runs scored on three hits and a walk and the game was lost.
A gallant comeback in the ninth by the Astros was turned aside when Heath Bell struck out Matt Downs with the bases loaded.
This was a fairly ugly game but suspenseful, as it was clear the Astros pitchers were teetering on the edge of meltdown the whole way. Helped by an incredibly anemic Padres offense, Myers was able to get 5 Ks, most of them courtesy of an offspeed cutter. It was Melancon’s inability to throw strikes coupled with brutal fielding and mental errors that gave this one away when it had been in hand.
The Astros invade NYC (well, Flushing) and hope to slip a couple of M-80s in their plumbing, beginning Tuesday night. Follow it in the GZ.