Missed Opportunities

Posted on April 11, 2009 by BudGirl in Game Recaps

Astros 3, Cardinals 5

WP:Joel Pineiro (1-0) S: Kyle McClellan (1)
LP: Mike Hampton (0-1)

Simple game review. Pitching for the Astros. Mike Hampton went 5 innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks for the Astros. Astros relievers were Geoff Geary, Doug Brocail and Tim Byrdak, each getting an inning of work with Brocail giving up 1 run on one hit with 3 walks. Word in the TalkZone is he has an injured shoulder.

Pitching for the Cardinals. Joel Pineiro went 6.2 innings of work giving up 2 runs on 8 hits with 1 walk. Cardinal relievers were Josh Kinney, Jason Motte and Kyle McClellan who gave up 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks.

Batting for the Astros. Carlos Lee had 3 hits and Geoff Blum had 2 hits on the night with them each scoring a run. The other run was score by Hunter Pence singled in the 6th then scored off of Lance Berkman’s double.

Batting for the Cardinals. Skip Schumaker went 3 for 5 on the night and a run scored. Ryan Ludwick went 2 for 3 on the night plating one run. Albert Pujols was hitless on the night, but scored after walking to get on base, more on that later. Chris Duncan had the other hit.

Not-so-simple game review. The Astros pitchers gave up 8 walks on the night while Cardinal pitching gave up 3. 6 Cardinal hits versus 11 for the Astros. Those walks will kill a team.

Carlos Lee had a great game at the plate. He may be finding his groove. That will be great for the Astros. Michael Bourn was hitting outs into left field, while outs were still hit to left, so I think that is a positive. Jeff Keppinger is making Astros fans not worry who the PTBNL is. (Fans should note, this was only the 4th game of the season.)

The Astros, or specifically, Hunter Pence had his opportunities to change the game. He struck out with runners in scoring position in the 7th and then grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the game. Not all blame for the loss gets lumped onto Hunter Pence (i’m talking about you Mike Hampton.) but he had horrible at-bats when he could have changed the game by getting on base. His getting on base brings Lance Berkman to the plate, that changes a game.

It’s Mike Hampton’s turn now. Yadier Molina hit a grounder to Hampton in the 3rd inning, Mike Hampton looks at Albert Pujols, gently tosses/lobs the ball to Lance Berkman for the out at first. Albert Pujols ends up scoring on the play. Good defense helps win a game too.

Bench Tidbits:
Seems like the same things all over again. The Astros were not patient at the plate. It sometimes feels like most of the team is going up there for the big hit. The ball doesn’t have to leave the park everytime you swing, just put it into play and run like the wind. The hits will find holes and the traffic that gets generated will eventually find a way home.

The GameZone was a hopping place Friday night.

To know more about the rest of the series, check out Mark Raup’s Series Preview here.

This picture reminded me of the one of Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell after Darryl Kile passed away. May his friends and family find peace.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend.

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Better, much better.

Posted on April 8, 2009 by BudGirl in Game Recaps

Cubs 2, Astros 3

W: Doug Brocail, L: Neal Cotts
Box Score

Yahoo Recap
Astros Recap

wandy Wandy Rodriguez had a good night. He gave up one run on four hits, with four strike outs and three walks in six innings. The run came in the third inning when Ryan Theriot hit a double and then was single in by Derrick Lee.

Ryan Dempster had a pretty good night also. He went 5 innings giving up two runs on six hits with three walks. Miguel Tejada broke up the no-hitter Dempster had going into the fourth inning. Hunter Pence led off the fifth inning by hitting a homerun to tie the game. In the sixth inning, Geoff Blum singles, moved over by Hunter Pence’s single and scores on Michael Bourn’s single. Amazing what happens when you string some singles together.

Pitching changes started in the seventh. Chris Sampson came in to relieve Wandy Rodriguez, pitched a scoreless and hitless inning. Angel Guzman came in to pitch for Ryan Dempster and pitched a scoreless inning of work.

The pitching changes for the eighth inning brought LaTroy Hawkins to the mound for the Astros. LaTroy Hawkins gave up two hits and one run. That run was Alfonso Soriano hitting a homerun to deep left. Aaron Heilman came in for the Cubs and pitched a scoreless inning.

Tie game going into the ninth. Jose Valverde came into the game for the Astros and tossed a scoreless inning. Aaron Heilman still pitching for the Cubs gave up a hit to Geoff Blum and then was relieved by Neal Cotts. He had some traffic on the bases but no one was able to cross home plate.

Still tied going into the tenth inning. Tim Byrdak relieved Jose Valverde and pitched a scoreless inning. Kevin Gregg relieved Neal Cotts inheriting Ivan Rodriguez on second. Jason Michaels hit a deep fly to move Ivan Rodriguez to third. Miguel Tejada got an intentional walk to load the bases for Jeff Keppinger who proceeded to get his first hit as an Astro and the winning RBI. He might be a keeper folks.

Bench Tidbits:

Carlos Lee has been hitless in the two-games this season. I have a feeling when he finally gets that hit it is going to go a long way.

Ivan Rodriguez got his first hit as an Astro and scored a run, he also had three strikeouts.

Be sure to check out Craig’s series preview.

And for some in-game reactions, here’s the GameZone.

There’s no crying in baseball!

Posted on September 27, 2008 by BudGirl in Game Recaps

Braves 4, Astros 5
W: Jose Valverde, L: Julian Tavarez

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Box Score

The end is here for the Astros playoff run. Love means never having to say you’re sorry, and the Astros players have nothing to say sorry about. They gave us fans a great season.Read More

Oh Well, Better Luck Tomorrow

Posted on September 5, 2008 by BudGirl in Game Recaps

Astros 3, Rockies 5

W: Ubaldo Jimenez, L: Brian Moehler

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Box Score

Do not believe I have witnessed a game go that fast in Colorado. This game took 2 hours and 37 minutes. Read More

WOHR

Posted on August 30, 2008 by BudGirl in Game Recaps

Cardinals 2, Astros 3

W: Doug Brocail, L: Russ Springer

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Box Score

SnS Ladies Night at Minute Maid Park tonight. We were not alone, there were a lot of Jakes fans. As usual, some were behaved, most were not. Read More

Hocus Pocus, Abracadabra

Posted on August 19, 2008 by BudGirl in Game Recaps

Astros 5, Brewers 2
W: Brian Moehler, L: Ben Sheets

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Box Score

Thanks to the abundance of runners left on base by Milwaukee early in the game, Brian Moehler was able to last 5.1 innings to get the win, while Ben Sheets has one bad inning where the Astros didn’t leave many men on base.
Read More

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