PADRES 6, ASTROS 3
June 4, 2011
Petco Field
WP – Harang (6-2)
LP – Rodriguez (0-3)
SAN DIEGO (SnS) – The game was close most of the way, but never at any time did it seem realistic to think that the Astros might actually come back and win the thing. Aneury Rodriguez somehow made it through six innings relatively intact (5 hits, 3 runs). He seemed to be skirting the edge of disaster most of the time he was out there. Of course, the bullpen came on after that and failed to keep things close – specifically Enerio Del Rosario, who relieved Rodriguez in the 7th, looking at a 3-1 deficit, and allowed three more Padres to cross the plate, putting the game out of reach.
For a minute there in the ninth, though, the Astros looked like they might be ready to blow up their second elite NL closer in a week. The final at bat tonight began much as it did last Tuesday in Chicago, when the Houston team suddenly, shockingly took apart Carlos Marmol, and came back from two runs down in the ninth to beat the FTCubs.
Only this time it was against the Padres, who deployed their overpaid closer, Heath Bell. After the Astros opened the inning with a walk (Sanchez) and single (Downs) off of some nondescript Padres reliever, a mighty rumbling was heard to come from the Padres bullpen area. Suddenly the lights dimmed, fog machines whirred into action, and some ominous music bellowed through the stadium. After all this, one could be forgiven for being a little underwhelmed when what emerged from the fog was an aging, barely ambulatory, Body-by-Mr.-Creosote relief pitcher, waddling across the outfield grass in the general direction of the mound. Heath Bell is so fucking corpulent, he can only manage to run a few yards at a time, before he has to break down to a panting walk. Yet this slob rates $7 million a year to come out two or three times a week – only in “save” situations, mind you – and throw 8-10 fastballs with one hand while holding up his pants with the other.
After all the histrionics, Bell got Michaels to pop out. Then Bourn ripped a double to left center, scoring Sanchez and sending Downs to third. Unfortunately, Barmes struck out and then PENCE!!!, the Astros last hope and hottest hitter, flew out to short right, and another one had got away.
The Astros will try to nut up tomorrow, when they send out phenom Jordan Lyles for his second MLB start. If it is anything like the first one, the team will have a solid chance at a series split.
The game will not be televised, so your choices are Do-Ray over the air, or the Padres truly awful broadcast team on XM. Happy trails.