Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Astros 6
Rukkakes 4
W: Byrdak (1-1) | L: Marquis (7-4) | S: Sampson (3)
HR: Pence (6), Stewart (8)
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The Good Guys rallied late last night pulling out a solid 6-4 victory, their fifth in the last six after that fugly six game losing jag. Houston jumped on top in the first, plating three on a series of five singles and a ground out.
The game cruised smoothly along after that until the fifth, when Moehler got himself in a bit of trouble. After singles by Hawpe and Smith, Ian Stewart stepped in with one out and absolutely crushed a meatball into the right field upper tank, knotting the game at 3-3.
In the bottom half of the frame, Gunther lead off with a shot off the wall in left center that was thisclose to getting out. He settled instead for an easy stand-up triple, and the lead looked assured with Flapjack stepping in for his customary automatic sac fly. Instead, he grounded it back up the middle, and Marquis knocked it down with his pitching hand (perhaps not a great idea), held the runner, and got the out. Twinkie was pitched around and intentionally walked after he didn’t bite, and Pudge obliged the Rockies with the courtesy GIDP they were looking for. Cue sad trombone.
In the sixth, Fowler lead off with a double, and Barmes reached on a bunt single towards the third base side that no one bothered to field, as Moehler instead shuffled around the infield like a senile geriatric at Luby’s. Key lime pie or banana custard? TOO MANY OPTIONS! Helton’s facemuff powered a sac fly to left that El Kabong should have flipped back into the infield, but he tried instead to throw it to gleach, allowing Barmes to take second while Fowler jogged home. The ‘Stros put Hawpe on intentionally, but everyone moved up on a wild pitch, as a third wheel came off, and sparks streamed from the rims. Then just like that, everything came back together. Atkins grounded to third, and Blum went home with it, with Pudge tagging Barmes out as he tried to scramble back to third. Smith flew out to left, and the side was retired, amazingly with only a one-run lead to show for all that calamity.
Byrdak set Colorado down in order in the seventh, and Thunderpants tied it back up with a blast over the tracks leading off the bottom half. The Caballo and Fat Elvis followed with singles, and Pudge battled through an AB that ended with a liner right to 3B. Blum came up one down, runners first and second, and grounded into what looked to be a double play. However Peralta is not a 1B, and he was all flailing limbs and fail when trying to dig the return throw, which got past him and caromed off of Blum, getting too far away for anyone to throw out Flapjack’s fat ass at home. The Good Guys took a 5-4 lead, doing it with style and grace.
Sampson got through the eighth with a double and IBB, and Bourn got something going in the ‘Stros half with a one-out single up the middle. After swiping second on a Tejada ponche, he took third on a passed ball. Pence plated Bourn with a two-out single, his fourth hit and third RBI on the night. I’m not sure which of the 2,000 people attending were in the Hunter’s Lodge, but I’m sure they were just tickled about the whole thing. Sampson took the insurance run into the ninth, and closed it out with a little traffic but no scoring. This apparently marked the first two-inning save in something like four years, which seems like a typo. Nice job, regardless. The Good Guys go for the four-game sweep tonight, with Home Wandy taking the hill v. Jason Hammel. Go get ’em.
MANAGER! WHO IS THAT SITTING ON THE BENCH OVER THERE?
The starting pitcher sir?
No, sir.