HOUSTON 4, St. Louis 2
July 27, 2011
Busch 3
WP – F. Rodriguez (2-0, 2.45)
LP – Boggs (0-3, 3.10)
ST. LOUIS (SnS) – The slumping Houston Astros rode a fine starting performance by Bud Norris and some solid relief work to outlast the St. Louis Cardinals here Wednesday night, 4-2. The win broke a five–game losing streak for the Astros, and insures they’ll leave St. Louis taking at least one game in this series (the 4-game set wraps up tomorrow evening at 7:15 CDT.)
The Astros are now 5-17 in July, and are currently on pace to win just under 50 games for the season, which would be truly historic. They were able to forget that for a night, playing the division leading Cardinals tough for the entire game, before a lightning strike two-run ninth allowed them to grab the win. Clint Barmes started off the scoring with a two-run ding-dong in the top of the 2nd. The ball actually went several rows deep into the left field stands, which technically are not on the field of play, so the umpires felt confident calling it a home run. The Cardinals clawed back after that, scoring single runs in the 4th and 6th, the latter after which Norris was done. He pitched six tough innings in the heat and held the Cardinals, the top scoring team in the NL, to two runs. Meanwhile the Cards Chris Carpenter kept working his way out of jams. Somehow the Astros prevailed, even though they were severely handicapped by the absence of the stellar bat and stellar-er glove of ace right fielder Hunter PENCE!!!, who was taking a much deserved night off (sitting by the phone, waiting to hear if it would be Philly? Or Atlanta? . . . I don’t know if he cares which . . . I know we don’t.)
Rookie hitting machine Jose Altuve had three more knocks tonight, as did Jason Bourgeois, hitting in Pence’s spot (two of his three hits were of the infield variety). Michael Bourn, Chris Johnson, and Barmes all pitched in with two hits apiece. Fernando Rodriguez and Mark Melancon followed up Norris with scoreless relief work to nail down the win.
Tomorrow will get here soon enough, plenty of time to start a new losing streak and plumb new depths of futility. For tonight, we are winners, Astros fans! Let’s bask in it, in the manner we normally bask in things. Me, I’m putting on my canvas trunks and flip-flops and grabbing a fifth of Canadian Hunter and walking down the street to see if my neighbor is still up. If she is, I am going to . . . okay, I know, too much information. I’ll just say the night is still young, and I intend to celebrate this rare win in a manner befitting any proper Orangewhoopass, er, Spikes ‘n’ Stars resident. I will uphold our standards of decorum, fear not!
Give me an inch, girl
I’m in need of you
Don’t leave me in the cold
When I want to trust in you
Give me an inch, girl
Don’t turn me away
Life can be a worry
When it’s all work and no play