Astros 4, D-backs 3
W: Cosart, L: Collmenter, S: Qualls

recap
gamezone

Boy howdy, I’m glad Porter was not a manger of the NL Astros. I don’t know if I could have handled all the moves he would have made during a season. Like what he did last night. I understand not wanting to lose the opportunity to have Sipp pitch to others in the inning but it was a risky that move that almost cost the game. Marwin Gonzales ended up in the outfield and did not make a good read on a ball hit to him, having him in the outfield was not something I would necessarily want on a regular basis.

And who knew National League games could last so damn long. Seriously, this game took 3 hours and 12 minutes, but it sure as hell felt a lot longer. I hate the western part of the country being behind us in time. I get tired earlier now that I’m older.

Cosart was pitching a pretty good game, but then hit a wall, started thinking, worrying or something and lost it towards the end of his outing. Ultimately, he was charged with 3 runs in 6 innings, but something changed out there for him. He has been pitching better since that one April start that was horrid, but he still has some work to do. Springer didn’t play because his knee hurt. Singleton should have had a RBI but there was so poor base running occurring in front of him.

Regardless the Astros won, which is always a good thing.

If you want to know about Tuesday’s game, check out M Raup’s Series Preview.

Astros 9, Royals 2
W:Feldman, L:Ventura

Gamezone
Post Game Reactions
MLB Recap

I have to admit every time I heard Ashby and Blum mention Ventura I automatically thought of Robin Ventura, it is not the same Ventura. Anyways, this game was all about Springer and no one else. No one else helped win this game for the Astros besides Springer, at least you would believe that if you believed the talking heads on the broadcast. I am excited the kid had a great night and encouraged that he is starting to do really well. But, let’s be reasonable, don’t most baseball players have streaks – both good and bad ones? Let’s hope this good one lasts for a while and remember that he is only human when he goes through a bad one again – all the greats had their moments. I wish I could find the video of his post-game interview. He must have talked to Biggio, he gave credit to everyone on the team for setting up the opportunity for RBIs, good pitching, etc. He did not really take any credit for himself. Seems like a nice young man. I wish I could get one of my nieces to date him, that would be awesome!

The Astros pitching did a pretty good job on the night only giving up 2 runs. The bullpen did a nice job – but they still make me nervous when brought in to pitch. The other hitters got 12 hits on the night. Overall, it was a great game by the Astros and hopefully there are more to follow.

Go Coogs!

submitted by Neil T

I came home last night and went to sleep at 6, and just woke up at 12. I think the same thing must have happened in Seattle. Anyway, I thought this would be an excellent chance to review the Astros-Salt Scab’s history, particularly since not much happened in the game.

We all know why Bud Selig moved the Astros to the American League. He caved to the demands of all fandom to let the greatest natural rivals in baseball, the Astros and the Mariners, face each other across a division.

Dodgers-Giants, nothing. Yankees-Red Sox, who cares? Cubs-Cubs? ‘Nuff said. Astros-Mariners? That’s the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Just recall for a moment their early World Series history.

1903. The first modern Series. The Boston Americans of the American League faced off against the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League. For once the Seattle media got it right: “If it’s not the Astros and the Mariners, why bother?” As Honus Wagoner said: “We was too bum last year. We was the joke in that Boston-Pittsburgh Series. What does it profit a team to hammer along and take a few wins when everybody knows the wrong teams are playing? I am ashamed we was even there.”

Boston took the series, 5-3 (it was a nine game series). The Astros would have whipped the Mariners’ butts in 5.

The first World Series generally recognized as “great”—recognizing that no World Series could be great without the Mariners facing the Astros—was the 1912 Series between Boston and the New York Giants. This was the series when Fred Snodgrass dropped a catchable fly ball to allow two Red Sox runs in a 3-2 Sox win. The Sox went on to take the 8-game Series 4-3-1. Interestingly, it was scheduled as an 8-game series, but one game was declared a tie when they ran out of daylight in extra innings. That wouldn’t have happened at MMPUS. Christy Mathewson pitched for the Giants, and Smoky Joe Wood for the Sox.

Mathewson, always the gentleman, let it be known that while he gave it his best, this should have been an Astros-Mariners series. Which team would have taken the Series? I have to give this one to the Mariners. In 1912 they were as good as they ever were.

1919. This quote from Eddie Ciccotte says it all. “Ah hell, of course we threw the Series. Why wouldn’t we? It wasn’t like nobody cared about the Black Sox and the Reds. All we heard night and day was Astros-Mariners.” The Mariners were the better team that year, but they had no compass. They took the gamblers’ money and the Astros took the Series.

1924, the Senators and the Giants, with four games decided by one run. This was Walter Johnson’s series. In game 7, with the Series tied and the Senators behind 3-1 in the eighth, a routine ground ball took a bad hop and allowed two runs to score. The 36-year old Big Train held on in relief through extra innings until another ground ball bounce gave the Senators the Series.

“I just wish I’d done it for the Astros against the Mariners,” the Big Train was quoted, “they’ve got a train and I am a Train. This should have been the Astros, with me taking that final win under that locomotive’s wail.”

History. It’s what makes this historic rivalry so historic. Next time we’ll talk about the 30s and the 40s.

***
But tonight the Astros lost 6-1, which was the ‘Stros 4th loss on a rough West Coast swing. Brad Peacock, who had just put his 30-win season on track, was out with a sore forearm. Rudy Owens, a AAA lefthander who sports either a 1.13 or a 10.05 ERA was brought in from OKC for the start. Interestingly, Rudy Owens has never been mentioned in the Bus Ride. Not once. He’s pitched 140.1 innings for OKC in May.

Jose Altuve had 3 hits with one double off of King Felix, and now leads the major leagues with 66 hits. Who’d’ve thunk? He had the single RBI, driving in Marwin Gonzalez playing 3rd. Dominguez DHd, which is the worst verb ever. King Felix had 10 K, and 4 LOB.

The Bilious Salt-Scummed Barnacle Lickers had 11 hits, 2bb, and 2Ks. Owens pitched 5.2 innings giving up 5 ER. Downs—who the hell is Downs? Has he been in the bullpen all season and I just haven’t noticed?—went 1.1 with 1 ER on 2 hits. Qualls pitched the final frame with one K.

Seaturds 3 Astros 1

Mr. Happy</strong>