Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth,  Brad Lidge was once again entrusted with the game on the line. He plunked the leadoff hitter and botched a bunt comebacker to allow the winning run on second with no outs. The next batter also bunted to Lidge, but with an awkward throw was able to get the lead runner at third. After a strikeout,  Phil Garner replaced Lidge with  Dan Wheeler to face the Brewers only lefthanded batter, rookie Prince Fielder. First pitch swinging, Fielder roped a hard-hit single to right, where  Lance Berkman attempted to scoop the ball. He failed to pick it up cleanly and the winning run scored easily. No error on the play, but he had a good shot at the runner if he had not muffed it. Game over. Read More

The Astros came to Minute Maid Park today trying to salvage a game from the Cubs in a three game home series already lost, but were shutout by a rookie lefthander making his major league debut in this quickly spiraling out of control season. The embarrasing home sweep, their 5th straight loss a home, was mainly due to the anemic offense, as the Astros have not scored in the last 21 innings. Read More

Andy Pettitte pitched seven solid innings and struck out ten to  earn  the victory Friday night at Minute Maid Park in game one of the weekend series.

Pettitte, obviously tired of hearing about  Roy Oswalt’s homer two nights ago, hit his first career shot in the 4th inning to tie the game at 2-2. He also had a single in the game, raising the bar with the ongoing competition with Oswalt over who is the bast hitting pitcher not named Brandon Backe. Read More

The Astros broke out the whooppin’ stick for game two of the three game series at Minute Maid Park, slaming six home runs on the way to a 14-1 thrashing over the cellar dwelling Pirates of Pittsburgh. Read More

This game was all about baserunners, as the two teams had a combined 46 hits and walks. The Astros had 14 hits and 11 walks while the Diamondbacks added 16 and 5, respectively. The great JD pointed out that home plate umpire Jerry Crawford’s strike zone was ‘tight’ as many, many, MANY borderline pitches were called balls. Crawford remained consistant until the final pitch. Read More

Brandon Backe had the best start of his injury plagued season as he led the Astros to a much needed road victory in San Diego. Backe went 7 2/3 innings allowing only one run, and the hitters pounded the Padre pitchers for 10 hits and 7 runs as the Astros assured a series win with the victory Wednesday night. Read More