Mets 8, Astros 3
W: Colon (15-13)
L: Tropeano (1-3)
Contributed by Reuben
Well, at least the dinged-up old sedan (a Pontiac, or maybe a Dodge, is what I’m picturing) known as the 2014 Astros made it to Route 70 before they completely ran out of gas. They tried to get it all the way to I-72, via Old rt.71, but the fumes finally quit making acceleration possible, and it’s hard to coast uphill, and frankly, it wasn’t looking good anyway, considering the engine had been smoking for the last 12 miles. It’s all relative, though: remember that old jalopy with the maroon passenger-side door and the black hood? Remember how a semi slammed into it, over by State Route 51, and ended up dragging its mangled wreckage along for about 15 miles?
I don’t have it in me to turn this into a profound look back at the season. I mean, I probably don’t have the writing talent in any case, but I don’t have it in me to even attempt it. I’m too tired, and sore, and have too many other things on my mind. It’s worth wondering whether anyone would care at this point anyhow.
Altuve made it, though. Despite some last-minute drama about whether he would sit out, hoping that Victor Martinez didn’t go 4-for-5 or whatever, Jose in fact played the entire game and got his 47th double, his 224th and 225th Hits, his 59th RBI, and his Batting Title. That’s all that really mattered today (although, Thank God, Jon Singleton broke his 0-for-25 slump), and it’s a pretty damn cool thing too. Cheers to 24-year-old Jose Altuve, a great, one-of-a-kind player.
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Futility Watch: The Astros lost 9 out of their final 12 games to finish 70-92, a 19-game improvement over the prior year’s Win total. The late slump cost them a few spots in the overall standings, and they finish tied with the Twins for the 4th-worst record in baseball. Only the D’backs, Rockies, and Rangers had poorer Win totals. The silver lining there is that the Astros have “earned” the 5th pick in the 2015 Draft, which means (barring some bizarre meddling by Bud Selig, which can’t be ruled out, in the Aiken saga) that they will become (presumably) the 1st team in history to hold 2 out of the top 5 picks. So there you go.
Good luck in the Void, everyone.