Astros win 8-3, take 2 of 3 in series with Marines
W: B. Peacock (1-1)
L: B. Beavan (0-1)
HR: HOU – R. Ankiel (2), C. Carter (3), M. Gonzalez (2) SEA – K. Shoppach (1), F. Gutierrez (3)
contributed by Sphinx Drummond
There is no proper way to watch the Astros in Austin and the radio feed is absent more than present. It makes it hard to be an Astro fan, you have to make quite an effort to follow this team in it’s own time zone, add two time zones and it takes twice as much effort (or maybe three times as much). One thing that eases the burden is winning. The Astros brought their lumber along for the second night in a row and pounded out 16 hits in route to an 8 – 3 victory over the Seattle sponge gums.
Chris Carter has finally started swinging his hitting stick with authority, hitting his second home in as many nights, adding two more hits and total of 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Carlos Pena has started hitting too, getting three hits on the night. Marwin Gonzales hit his second homer of the year, hell even Rick Ankiel got into the action with his second home run of the season–also just his second hit of the year. Brett Wallace didn’t play.
Brad Peacock held tough for 5 innings, giving up 3 runs in picking up his first win as an Astro. Kuechel, Cruz, and Veras were lockdown in relief, surrendering nothing. This team has looked good in the three games it has won. Real good. Right now the team is still looking pretty bad overall and is on pace to end up 54 and 108, but who knows, it’s a long season and the team is more likely to improve than regress as the season progresses. When you’re in the basement, the elevator only goes up.