Astros 4, Giants 3 (11 innings)
W Melancon (7-4)
L: Ramirez (2-3)
At least for today, they are. 6-6 over their last twelve, splitting a long series with the defending World Champions, this might be a sign that the youngsters injected into the moribund Astro lineup are breathing life into the club. Sure, it’s a small sample, but the OPS of the new guys is significantly better than many of the players they replaced:
Downs .879
Martinez .882
Bogusevic .896
Paredes .741
Schafer .776
Altuve .679
Norris had perhaps his best stuff of the year, a 95/96 mph fastball with control, a good change and a snappy slider. Cain was just as good, and both pitchers were facing some of the weakest offense in the league. Through six, both were in command of the quickly paced game.
In the seventh, Norris got squeezed a little and gave up an excuse-me but timely long single to Huff that drove in the tying run. A sac fly later gave up the lead to the Giants. In the top of the eighth, Schafer had a terrific at-bat, fighting off pitches and taking close ones before singling in the tying run with two out.
In the tenth, Michaels, pinchhitting because he hits lefthanders, doubled off of Affeldt and drove in Paredes. The lead didn’t hold though, as Melancon was touched for a run in the bottom of the tenth.
Altuve doubled with one out in the top of the eleventh, and Downs brought him home with a clutch single to center. With the tying run on second in the bottom of the inning, Carpenter nailed down the save by striking out Rowand and getting Fontenot to ground out.
Schafer, Downs, Altuve, Lee and Michaels all came through with big plays, great at-bats, hustling play in the field and on the bases. This was a very enjoyable win for the Good Guys and you can get more detail on some of the crazy plays in the GameZone.
At home tomorrow, the Astros host the Pirates.