Contributed” by Reuben
Padres 8, Astros 2
W: Ohlendorf (3-0)
L: Lyles (2-6)
I should’ve gone to bed earlier. Astros were looking OK early on in this one. Marwin Gonzalez continued on with the full head of steam that he shot out of the OKC cannon with, singling in the 1st, dropping a nice bunt hit in the 3rd, stealing 2nd and scoring on a JD Martinez single. Jordan Schafer actually managed a beautiful drag-bunt base hit in the 2nd and scored after stealing a bag himself (the down-shot [is that a word? Opposite of upshot?] to that is it will surely reinforce Schreefer’s misguided notion that he’s a good bunter, resulting in many, many more 1st-pitch fake-bunt called strikes). Things didn’t go completely to shit until later, while I was sitting in bed with the game on my laptop, trying to stay up a little longer.
The 4th inning was wobbly for young Mr. Lyles, and then at least one wheel slipped all the way off the axle in the 5th. Four straight hits led to two Padre runs, and a 4-2 deficit, which as we all know is a deep hole for our boys. By this time I was already nodding off but the damage was done. Hopes of a late-game Astro rally were dashed when I woke up in the middle of the night and checked the score. Looks like it got worse.
At this time I’d like to raise a mug of tea in salute to those hearty Game Zone denizens who stayed with this game until the bitter end. You were better (and less sleepy) than I. A sampling of the late-game comments:
“I’m glad I don’t have the recap on this one.”
“Good time to dust off some Jean-Paul Sartre-style existentialism.”
“What poor sucker does?”
“I just looked, and it’s Reuben. I haven’t seen that east coaster in here tonight.”
“He is drinking, and muttering darkly to himself. Getting himself ready.” (note: I’m sure I was muttering to myself in my sleep, and I had been drinking earlier)
…This was followed by a brilliant, not-to-be-missed Howl reinterpretation by Dark Star. Check it out.
What else happened?
-Marwin went 3-for-4 overall including a nice pop-fly double. That kid is Midas right now.
-JD Martinez had two hits and his 50th RBI. Yeah, he’s still stuck in the .230’s but it’s something.
-50 years ago on the same date, the Colt .45s also lost 8-2 (2nd game of a double-header). Bob Aspromonte hit his 9th HR.
-We had some tasty homemade pizza for dinner, topped with zucchini from our inaugural vegetable garden. Full-grown zucchini coming out of a plant in your own yard are beautiful, beautiful things.
-Tune in at 2:35 Central time to watch Wandy try to get Road Win #11. The (Astro-watching) world seems to think he’ll be traded at any moment. I don’t think it’ll be his last start as an Astro. I think he’ll probably go right before the deadline, after the scramble for the Dempsters and Greinkes and Hamelses is done and teams realize Wandy would actually look pretty good in their rotation. But I do plan to enjoy him while he’s still here (here, on my laptop, not here in upstate NY. That would be odd).