Astroleena 6, Angel 3
contributed by NeilT
When I came through the door Honey told me she was in my office. “I couldn’t keep her out Brad. I would have had to call the cops, and I knew you didn’t want that.”
It had been years since I’d seen her, and she looked the worse for wear. She was still beautiful though, but harder around the mouth and eyes, more frayed around the edges.
“Astroleena.” I sat down behind the desk and started opening mail, bills mostly, and advertising. I stayed quiet, waiting for her.
You could tell she was nervous; there was none of the old assurance, none of that feeling that she was one trade away from respectability. “It’s been a hard few years Brad. I don’t know who else to turn to. I know you don’t owe me anything, but I was hoping something was still there.” She paused, reached across the desk and gently touched my hand. If I’d been smart I’d have thrown her out then and there.
I’m smart, but not about Astroleena.
“I’ve lost it, Brad. I’ve lost my ability to string together three wins. I think it may be in Anaheim. I was hoping you’d go look for me.”
***
I hate Anaheim, that damned Disney town. It’s dirty, and I’m not talking about trash. If you want to know what’s going down in Anaheim, there’s only one place to start, Boss Rat. He owns that city.
Boss Rat
I called Rat and he said he was looking for Astroleena, because she owed a friend of his some wins. He told me to meet him at the Magic Kingdom. I drove up Highway 1 from San Diego then stood in line to see the Rat.
“Cheese,” he offered, pushing a plate of bright yellow cheddar across a table to me. “I love cheese,” he said. “Since Annette died I can’t get enough. It’s grief.”
I asked him what he knew about the third win.
“You think that’s why I agreed to see you? She told you she was missing a third win? I’m out of baseball, it’s a rich man’s game, but she’s been taking wins from my friend Angel. You go talk to Angel.” He reached for another piece of cheese.
***
Los Angeles Angels Stadium of Anaheim isn’t far from the Magic Kingdom, but when I got there Astroleena was ahead of me, facing off against Angel. I knew immediately that she had set me up. She thought I’d take her side. She thought I’d pop Angel for her. She had never figured out that I might not be as bad as my reputation.
And I won’t be played for a patsy. I sat down in the stands and watched.
***
Keuchel went 7 innings, throwing 90 pitches, with 14 groundouts, 4 strikeouts, and no walks. He gave up two ER in the second. In the GameZone, people seriously asked why Keuchel was taken out after the 7th. I never thought I’d hear that.
Clemens ran into homer trouble with Erik Aybar in the 8th and got pulled for Blackley. Hamilton popped out to Dominguez to end the inning. Veras, our 4.50 ERA closer, got the save with Iannetta and Conger SOs and a ground out by Callaspo to Carter.
It was a good night at the plate. Castro started off the Astros scoring with a homer in the 4th. Carter and Dominguez each drove in an RBI in the 4th with Sac Flies. Carter hit a single in the 6th and walked in the 2d and the 7th. A Barnes single drove in Cedeno after Cedeno led off the inning with a single. Pena was on fire with a double and two singles in 5 ABs.
Pena stole second on a single in the 1st but was stranded. Altuve stole third in the 7th and then scored on a Pena single.
The Astros are 5-5 over their last 10 games. That’s real baseball. The Los Angeleeeez Angels of Anaheim are 7-3.
***
After the game she stood in front of me, beautiful as ever.
“You didn’t need me Astroleena.”
“Brad,” she said, gazing at me with those baby blues, “I need your help.”
“I can’t help you Astroleena. You’re trouble.”
“But I need you Brad. I think I know where I can get a 4th win. I think it’s in Anaheim. I was hoping you’d go look for me.”