Brewers 8, Astros 6
W: John Axford, L: Matt Lindstrom

Astros Recap
Game Zone

I was not afforded the opportunity to see this game. I had to work. I did read the Game Zone and was pleased that the team didn’t give up after the first inning. They were able to play their way back into the game but lost it in the 10th.

This team really does seem kind of special. They do not give up. It is nice to see a bunch of players that try on every play. It seems like they feel as though they let their team down when they give up a run or make an out. I did not feel that way about the team at the beginning of the season. This team has pride and a winning attitude with it. They probably aren’t the best team in the league, but you wouldn’t know it by watching them on the field.

I’d also like Mr. Happy to disparage a couple players on a regular basis, they seem to respond well to his “criticisms” at least Bourn and Bydrak have.

Astros 4, Cubs 0
W: Brett Myers, L: Randy Wells

Astros Recap
Game Zone

This game started out perfect. Myers pitched 4.2 innings of perfect baseball. Then he gave up a walk, then a single before closing out the inning to keep the Cubs scoreless. He ended the night with 7 innings of shut-out baseball. He did a great job of using the strike zome given to him by the home plate ump. There were some pretty good plays made in the field behind him.

The bullpen finished the game by tossing two scoreless innings.

Hunter Pence hit a solo homerun in his second at-bat, his first at-bat was a pretty good shot to center also.

Carlos Lee looked like he was ready to trade in his bat for a new one. Good swings but only outs to show for it.

Keppinger, Johnson and Quintero got the other 3 rbi’s on the night.

This was the 5th series the Astros have played against the Cubs and the 5th series they won. That is the way it should be.

I found this quote from Hunter Pence interesting.

“We’re having fun out there and we compete and believe in each other.”

I believe in them too.

Cards 2, Astros 5
W: Nelson Figueroa, L: Jeff Suppan
H: Fernando Abad, S: Brandon Lyon

Astros Recap
Game Zone

Pence’s 3-run homerun gave the Astros the lead over the Cardinals gave them a 3-game win streak has now put them in 3rd place in the NL Central.

3 Astros players got RBIs.

The Astros won all 3 games against the Cardinals by 3 runs.

3 Astros players (Bourn, Pence and Johnson) had at least 1 hit in each of the 3 games.

The Astros have won 3 of the 5 series against the Cardinals this season.

Can you believe Brett Wallace has been hit by 7 pitches already?

Fun times in Houston, Texas right now.

Thursday, August 19th, Astros 3, Mets 2 Game Zone

Friday, August 20th, Astros 0, Marlins 9 Game Zone

Saturday, August 21st, Astros 3, Marlins 6 Game Zone

Sunday, August 22nd, Astros 2, Marlins1 Game Zone

Monday, August 23rd, Astros 3, Phillies 2 Game Zone

Tuesday, August 24th, Astros 4, Phillies 2 Game Zone

Wednesday, August 25th, Astros 3, Phillies 2 Game Zone

The Astros started the week off good with a win over the Mets, but scuffled a bit against the Marlins. The fun has been the Phillies series. The Phillies are a good team, at least I think they are but they have had some problems with the new-look Astros. Brett Myers and J.A. Happ have done well against their former team. As have Michael “Sweet Baby” Bourn and Jason Michaels.

This team is fun to watch. They don’t know that they aren’t suppose to run hard on every play that seems like it will be an out. They don’t know that they have no chance to get an out against one of the better hitters in the league.

So, everyone should continue to watch them.

Mets 3, Astros 2
W: Elmer Dessens, L: Gustavo Chacin, S: Manny Acosta

Astros Recap
GameZone

Brett Myers kept his streak of going 6+ innings in each start going tonight. He pitched himself into trouble then out of it. The guy a tough competitor. I’m glad he’ll be an Astro for a couple more years.

The game was moving along at a pretty fast pace, since there was very little scoring. A 14 ining game that only lasted 4 hours and 18 minutes. I remember games with Tim Redding pitching that took as long.

There were only 5 runs on 22 hits combined on the night. Both pitching staffs did a pretty good job. The Astros were behind going into the bottom of the 9th but Mr. Geoff Blum hit his second homerun of the year to tie the game. An additional 5 innings were needed before another run would cross the plate.

Top of the 14th Chacin pitching for the Astros, the pesky Jose Reyes, led off with a walk, was moved over by a bunt from Angel Pagan, Mike Hessman walks, Reyes stole 3rd, Carlos Beltran intentionally walked, Ike Davis hits a sacrifice fly to right to score Reyes. Chacin then intentionally walks Jeff Francouer to load the bases again, and strikes out Tohlie (not Towlie) for the final out. All those Mets come to bat and luckily only score one run.

But that one run was more than enough, the Astros went 1-2-3 in the bottom to end the game.

The good guys really couldn’t get anything going against R. A. Dickey. Then again, it didn’t seem like they could get anything going against any Met pitcher. Bobby Parnell showed a bit of heat on his fastball. The radad showed 102 as his fastest, I’d like to say it was a home gun but they weren’t at home. Imagine how fast he can toss the ball at his home park.

I have to admit, I was out of town for about a week and did not pay any attention to the Astros while I was gone. I didn’t pay attention to anything since where I was staying had no television or internet. But who needs that when you have to just walk outside to a beach. Water clear all the way from your shoulder to your toes. I have to say, Puerto Rico is a nice place to find some great beaches.

And the Astros are now on a 3-game Wednesday losing streak. They need to cut that out. I prefer to write winning recaps. Good day to you all. And Go Astros!!!

Braves 8, Astros 2
W: Billy Wagner; L: Brandon Lyons

Astros Recap
Gamezone

I took off early to start a vacation to go to this game. So far, not a great start to the vacation but it can only go up, right? Well, we had some awesome seats thanks to a cool dude but the players were not really listening to us. Pence still has that hitch in his swing. Bourn did get a hit one of the times I asked him to do so. But overall, the game was good fun until the top of the 10th inning.

Michael Bourn got his hit, stole second, got caught in a pickoff/rundown and end up save at second only to steal third on the next pitch or so. Good times there. The Astros had their best scoring chances for the whole game in that inning.

Wandy seemed to be off-kilter with Castro behind the plate, not sure why but Castro seemed to be on a different page than Wandy. They worked it out though and Wandy pitched a solid game. So did that Hanson kid for the other team.

The 10th inning was just ugly. No other words really seem to be necessary. Walks, grandslams and 6 runs scoring for the bad guys. All this did was bring every assine Braves fan to the forefront. Now, I understand wanting to see your team in visiting ballparks, but do you really have to be dumbasses? Seriously? Stop that fucking tomahawk chop thing you do. It is just stupid. It’s not clever or original for your team.

Well, read the recap and the gamezone for mroe information about the game and I’ll see you when I get back from Puerto Rico. I heard the rum and beaches calling my name. I just hope the Astros have a good of time in their games as I will while I’m away. Adios, my friends, start drinking.