Braves 2, Astros 1
W: Javier Vazquez, L: Felipe Paulino, S: Rafael Soriano

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap

This game didn’t take any time at all to be played. 2 hours and 33 minutes. That usually means a good pitched game, at least to me it does. And I think it was.

Astros Highlights:

Felipe Paulino, went 6 innings of 2 run baseball. Both runs were solo homeruns, but he pitched great otherwise.

Hunter Pence went 2 for 4, with an RBI.

Braves Highlights:

Javier Vazquez tossed 7 innings of 3 hit no run baseball. He walked 4 but struck out 9. Not a bad night for him either.

Game Analysis:

I have none. So, check out the Game Zone for that.

Bench Tidbits:

Well, I feel as though I should explain why I have no game analysis for anyone. It is because I was busy baking. I baked a chocolate italian creme cake and a lemon cake with lemon filling. I have to make the icing and the ice the cakes tonight. Going to be a late night since I am also going to the Astros game.

Check out GreatBagwellsBeard’s Series Preview for information about the rest of the series.

I’m meeting a friend at the BUS at 6:30 if anyone wants to meet for a beverage before the game.

Astros 1, Cubs 4
W: Randy Wells, L: Brian Moehler

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
GameZone

The Astros lost this game by a combined effort of lack of situational offense and some bad defense. Brian Moehler did an okay job pitching. Nothing new for this season really.

Astros Highlights:

Michael Bourn went 3 for 4 on the night. Got stranded twice.

Geoff Blum went 2 for 4 on the night.

Bench Tidbits:

I have to admit this game is not causing me much thought beyond the fact that there are more important things in life. Yes, baseball can be a great escape, a way to relax and a number of other things; but when it all comes down at the end of the day does not matter that much for most of us.

I have a former friend going through a divorce and learning of all the things she did during her marriage is making me ill. I’ll come out and say that cheating on your spouse is wrong. I don’t think anyone can convince me differently. It only makes things worse when you have to deal with the marriage after the fact.

I have no happy thoughts in my mind right now, especially not after talking to the soon-to-be-ex-husband.

I sincerely hope all of you married or in relationships respect the vows you have made. I am not naive enough to think everything can be overcome but do believe you owe it to yourself, spouse and family to be honest and respectful.

So, hopefully the Astros win today and I reconcile the fact that some people are just not good people.

Astros 7, D-backs 14
W: Max Scherzer, L: Yorman Bazardo

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap

The Astros pitchers were bad on the night. The team scored 6 runs and the game wasn’t even close. It was not close after the 3rd inning.

Bench Tidbits:

This game was one of those games where if you are at the game your conversations can be some of the best you ever have.

I’ve been at blow out games where a friend and I have discussed her dysfunctional relationship with her parents. How she wants to raise her child Catholic but not practice the same religion. There are discussions of what two guys would be the bread to your meat (yes, Bradley was always a slice of bread in that fantasy).

Today was no different. If you read the GameZone at all, you’ll understand. It really started early, before the blowout happened.

Bench mentioned how his plans to see LUMA at Miller Outdoor Theater got cancelled due to thunderstorms in Houston. His revised plans included having his friends come over for baked ziti, rum, wine, more rum and wine and beer. I do not believe he opened the champagne. I think he was planning to save it for the Astros’ rally.

Bench also shared his fond knowledge of St. Louis. The fact that he does not know their historical landmarks and his unwillingness to look them up.

Bench is under obligation to cook for myself and BatGirl. We are looking forward to something special. Can’t wait. Sweet Baby Bench.

Next to be brought up in the non-baseball topics was Jose Cruz III. His recipe for spaghetti is one that left me in awe. He unfortunately did not offer to cook it for BatGirl and I. He’s not quite the favorite that Bench is with us.

OregonStrosFan and subnuclear stopped in for a bit, but they lasted as long as Jacksonian, Ron Brand, jmontessori and Salty Parker.

Lastly the conversation with BatGirl was the most entertaining, for me. We discussed a few people on the board. Such as strosrays’ Annette. Do you realize that there aren’t very many Annette’s that are famous? We only came up with Funicello, Bening, and O’Toole (who really isn’t that famous but is an actress from Houston).

Then we moved onto waxing and how you should take ibuprofen before going to lessen the pain. You also should try to schedule those appointments when you are not experiencing PMS since your skin is more sensitive.

Also discussed was that today was National Cherry Turnover Day. I did my best to stop BatGirl from whoring herself out for a turnover. Did you know that Arby sells a cherry turnover? Well, I do now thanks to BatGirl.

Joel McHale and Chelsea Handler are funny. That was just a quick little side discussion, but they are funny.

Wilton Lopez reminds me of Wilton baking pans. It’s the Wilton brand. They are really nice pans for baking. If anyone ever wants to give me one, feel free. I will probably bake you something as a thank you.

The only puffy dough boy product I purchase is frozen biscuits. They are really good. I’ve only tried to make biscuits once. It was so long ago that I don’t think they turned out well. Otherwise I’d probably still be making them.

I also can help cure anyone with a hungerection. If you want to know what that means, you have to ask BatGirl, she’s working on trademarking the word.

Sweet Baby Bourn plays with fire in his belly. I love that kid. You all already knew that though.

Neither BatGirl nor I have any known food allergies, so anyone planning to cook for us should feel safe with anything they plan to include in the menu. Oh, and BatGirl is mixing the drinks Stolly Bolly for everyone.

Cooter Brown is a new term for shitfaced drunk. I’ve been there, it’s been a couple months since I’ve been that way (May after a softball tournament). The definition of cooter brown is that’s when your memory of the previous night is more fuzzy than clear. How many of you haven’t been there?

One of the last item discussed was insane families. Whether they are yours, your spouse’s or a friends. Either way the insanity is apparently spread throughout. In other words the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

BatGirl knows the guy that does the music at the stadium formally known as BOB. Apparently when Bazardo left the game he played part of Bohemia Rhaphsody.

we will not let him go
let me go!
we will not let him go
let me go!
oh mama mia, mama mia
mama mia let me go

I want to say a special thank you to Bench and BatGirl for making this a game worth watching and recapping (since I couldn’t find anyone willing to recap it).

Go get’em tomorrow boys.,

And a special shout out to the San Antonio McAllister Little League team that plays Ceula Vista, CA (still not willing to check that spelling) tomorrow (Saturday) at 3 pm on ABC. Go Texas!!!! Kick that Cali ass.

Astros 0, Cardinals 1
W: Adam Wainwright, L: Wandy Rodriguez

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Game Zone
Series Preview

Well, this was a fast game. Both pitchers did a great job of keeping baserunners to a minimum of 3 each. Unfortunately for Wandy he had 2 of his 3 in the 1st inning, which is when the winning run was scored.

Astros Highlights:

Wandy Rodriguez tossed 7 innings of 3 hit 1 run baseball. He really did a great job on the night. If he hadn’t gone up against Wainwright who was a smidgen better he probably would have gotten the win. Nothing for him (or Cooper) to be upset about.

Michael “Sweet Baby” Bourn was the offensive juggernaut on the night for the Astros. He had 2 of the 3 hits by Astros. The Astros 2, 3, and 4 hitters (Pence, Berkman, and Lee) were unable to score him after the leadoff double in the first.

Cardinal Highlights:

Adam Wainwright, he seems to be having a pretty good year. Good for him.

Game Analysis:

I just didn’t have a good feeling at the beginning of this game. I just didn’t think the Astros were going to be able to win. I thought there would be more runs scored (by both teams). But that thought was wrong. There were some good defensive plays by both teams. Hopefully Roy Oswalt can get the win he thinks he deserves tonight.

Bench Tidbits:

The San Antonio (McAllister) Little League team beat the Chuela Vista (I’m too lazy to look up the correct spelling) California team 6-3. That team has a city of 1.3 million plus people pretty excited. I was there visiting family last weekend and everyone seems to be talking about them. They are as popular as the Spurs and Cowboys, that’s saying a lot for them. I hope they do really well in the tournament.

Watching the Little League games definitely brings a smile to my face to see those kids playing and having what appears to be a good time. Most of them are smiling. I love seeing kids happy.

Now, on a more personal note since I know you all wonder about BudGirl’s exciting life, I will share this with you. We (my office) have a guy retiring at the end of the month. As the Executive Assistant to the VP, I get to do all the party planning. While I enjoy planning get togethers and whatnot, it can get stressful. Last minute, he might not retire, to I’m going to invite 80 people will stress me out. I ended up waking at 4:30 this morning. I’m tired. Yet, I still have a luncheon to organize and all the work on my desk to do that didn’t get done while I was planning the parties. I’m not really whining, I enjoy it. Most people compliment me on the affairs, so it is nice and usually appreciated.

I am also planning to go to the beach on Saturday, I haven’t been since August 9th. Withdrawls have set in.

That’s all I got. Have a great day people.

Contributed by Bench.

After rewarding Saturday night’s faithful families, things turned sour more quickly than Charlie the Unicorn’s Trip to Candy Mountain.

Angel squeezed Bud like a zit in the first inning, and despite some “this only needs x-y-z to happen and it might be a great comeback” moments, the deficit proved ultimately insurmountable. The U.S. women won the Solheim Cup and Gervacio pitched pretty well.

Game Zone
Astros Recap

Check out Taras Bulba’s Series Preview for information on the next series.

Diamondbacks 0, Astros 1
W: Roy Oswalt, L: Yusmeiro Petit, S: Jose Valverde

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Game Zone

This was a fun game to attend. 2 hours and 20 minutes was all the time it took for Roy Oswalt, LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde to win this game. They only gave up 4 hits on the night with NO WALKS. Yes, you read that right, NO FREAKING WALKS!!! How outstanding is that? When was the last time that happened?

Astros Highlights:

Roy Oswalt went 7 innings giving up 3 hits, NO WALKS, and no runs. He only threw 95 pitches before being lifted for pinch hitter Darin Erstad (who did get a hit in his at-bat).

Michael Bourn (I have to include him in any highlights because I love this kid.) went 1 for 3 on the night with a walk and stolen base. Was stranded both times he was on base.

Jeff Keppinger got the only RBI in the game when he doubled Hunter Pence home. He did have an error in the field. He was not alone in the error column, Miguel Tejada had one also.

Diamondback Highlights:

They struck out 6 times.

Their pitcher Jon Rauch is 6’11” tall, 290 pounds. That’s one big boy.

Game Analysis:

This seriously was one of the best games I’ve been to in a while. Would have liked to see the Astros score some runners when they have bases loaded with one out, but the pitching held up on this night.

Bench Tidbits:

The fireworks were awesome tonight. I could have done without the Michael Jackson music but still very enjoyable.

I purchased a chicken tender basket for the last time tonight. Just not worth $8.50.

I signed up to be a designated driver, that way I got my free small soft drink. This is the one thing I do at every game now. EVERY game I attend. I feel it is Drayton’s and Aramark’s way of giving something back to me for any shitty food I might purchase.

Early day for me tomorrow, going to San Antonio to visit the folks.

Check out GreatBagwellsBeard’s pinch writing series preview. Way to step it up, without any time to warm up.

Have a great weekend and Go ‘Stros.