Astros 6, Brewers 5 (10 innings)
By Mr. (very) Happy
This game started off on a high note as the Astros scored twice in the first inning off of Marco Estrada, who was not very sharp tonight, tossing four frames and surrendering seven hits and four earnies. Tyler Greene made the most of his batting debut with the Astros, clubbing a game lead off double in the first inning, scoring on one of three hits for three RBIs for Steve Pearce on the night, and Greene had a key solo home run off of Agent Livan Hernandez in the fifth inning. Unfortunately, the Brewers knotted the game at two with two unearned runs in the second inning, taking advantage of a very shaky overall third base effort from Brett Wallace, who, in my opinion, simply can’t play down there. Third base is a place where you can either do it or you can’t. In my opinion, Wallace is in the latter category like the rest of us. In tonight’s GameZone, a denizen even expressed a yearning for days gone by with CJ at the hot corner.
In the bottom of the third, the Astros again took advantage of Estrada, plating two runs on three hits, including a triple from Pearce, who took full advantage of some wretched outfield play from Milwaukee in that inning. However, the Brewers again tied the game at four in the top of the fifth inning on a clutch two out double by Aoki. However, the Astros answered in the bottom of that frame on the Greene solo shot to put the Good Guys back up 5-4. Keuchel pitched very well tonight, striking out six in six innings and not walking a single hitter, thereby finishing in the “over” on my prediction of innings likely pitched (3.1), under on long balls surrendered (zippo) and way under on the free passes (nil). In fact, Keuchel also finished with some flair in his last inning, the sixth, starting an inning ending 1-4-3 twin killing.
The bully tonight was nothing short of fantastic, allowing one run on six hits in four innings with eight (count ’em eight!) strikeouts, including catching the Peen looking twice. The bully foursome (Fick, Wright, Storey and Lopez) held the lead until the top of the ninth, when Wilton Lopez, who, in my opinion, needs to throw a few more off-speed pitches to take away the rampant cheating on his fast stuff that was going on tonight, surrendered the tying run to send the game into extras, which hasn’t been the Astros’ strongsuit so far this season. In fact, the Astros hadn’t scored a single run in extra innings this season.
However, that would change in the tenth. The Astros loaded the sacks with nobody out for Scott Moore, who singled to left, taking full advantage of the Peen having been brought in as a sixth infielder (including the pitcher), scoring Altuve, who had three hits in five trips and scored three runs, with the game winner. This made a vulture winner out of Wilton Lopez, who now has won on two consecutive nights. The Astros have now won their first home series since sweeping the FTC way back in May.
Should the ballclub once again don the 90’s unis tomorrow and go for the broom against the Brewers? Absofuckinglutely!!! Don’t change a fucking thing!!! Don’t even wash those unis!!! The club is now once again within striking distance of .333 ball at 38-77. I realize that isn’t much solace, but look on the bright side: it could be a helluva lot worse.