Detroit 6
Houston 5
WP Wilson (1-0)
LP Sipp (2-1)
contributed by Mr. Happy
In many ways, this game was emblematic of the type of team the 2015 Astros are. Courtesy of pin-ball machine Scott Feldman (who pitched about as well as he could, bless his heart), the Astros dug themselves into a 5-0 deficit to David Price, who was cruising into the seventh frame with a shutout in the making. Things didn’t look good.
In years past, I’d have abandoned all hope and not even listened to the last three innings. But this team’s never-say-die philosophy keeps them in games. The Good Guys nicked three runs off of the stingy Mr. Price and drove him out of the ball game in the seventh inning. The Astros lead MLB in the number of runs scored from innings seven through nine. They added five to that total yesterday afternoon, tying the game up at 5 on rookie Preston Tucker’s ninth inning pinch home run off of shutdown closer Joakim Soria, who blew his first save opportunity in 14 chances.
Unfortunately, Tony Sipp got sloppy with an 0-2 pitch to the first hitter in the bottom of the eleventh inning, which Tigers rookie backstop James McCann belted over the wall in walkoff fashion to prevail 6-5 in 11 frames. Despite the loss, which dropped the Astros to 27-15, the club made its case with an exclamation point. The Astros come to play every day, and you better bring your A-game to the yard every day, or the Good Guys will clean your clock. I like that attitude.
Get ‘em tomorrow, boys. Until then, zitz ‘em and pound Budweiser.