Astros win slug-fest with Orioles 11-7

WP: Keuchel (3-2)
LP: Garcia (2-3)

Attendance: 15,526

contributed by Sphinx Drummond

The Astros hit six home runs on Wednesday, raising their won-loss record for Wednesdays to an awesome 7 wins against 3 losses. Last week I considered the possibility that the Norse god Wodan represented the Asgardian community as one of the baseball gods. I thought that because the Astros play so well on Wednesdays or Wodan’s day, that he must favor them some how. After reading a discussion over in the talk zone about jinxing no-hitters, I realize now that the Astros playing well on Wednesdays has nothing to do with any baseball god or gods. I have no explanation for the Astros’ Wednesday performances. I guess it’s just magic.

Jason Castro, Carlos Pena and J. D. Martinez each belted two-run homers, and Jose Altuve, Matt Dominguez and Marwin Gonzalez knocked solo shots, for a total of six on the night. The Astros came one home run shy of a single-game franchise record for home runs.

Dallas Keuchel pitched well enough to earn his third win of the season. Clemens and Blackley did their best to allow the Orioles back in the game. Hector Ambriz, after allowing a run scoring single, cleaned up Blackley’s mess by coaxing a double play ball to end the eighth inning. And Jose Veras closed out the 9th in a non-save situation.

This season has more four game series than I remember in the past. I guess there’s a reason for that. Thursday the Astros try to take another series in a businessman’s special that has Bud Norris going against Miguel Gonzalez

Orioles 4, Astros 1

Contributed by Reuben

I don’t know if they were “hammered into submission,” but the Astros did lose Tuesday night, ending their 6-game winning streak. I listened to an inning or two, but my focus this night was not really on the game.

Two years ago, on this date – 6/4/11 – the Astros and Wandy Rodriguez were beaten by the Padres, giving them a 23-36 record. (Incidentally, none of the Astros who appeared in the game are on the 25-man roster today.) I definitely didn’t watch that game. My wife and I were busy having our wedding.

One year ago, on June 4, my wife and I were driving to dinner to celebrate our one-year anniversary. When we got there, my dad had texted me, as I hoped he would. “Astros select SS Carlos Correa;” the MLB draft had started during our 25-minute drive. One year later, Correa, who has cooled off a bit in the past week, is nonetheless hitting .275/.383/.401 with 33 RBI in 43 games, not bad for an 18 year-old in A-ball.

Ten years ago, on June 4, the Astros also hosted the Orioles. In that game, Brian Roberts played 2B and hit leadoff for the Orioles. Geoff Blum played 3B and hit 2nd for the Astros. Ten years later, they are both getting paychecks from the same teams. The Astros won, 6-4, as Jose Vizcaino homered and Wade Miller outdueled Pat Hentgen before turning the ball over to Brad Lidge and Billy Wagner.

Yesterday, we went on a hike to celebrate our two-year anniversary. We’ve been on several hikes here in the Catskills, but I’d have to say none of them can beat the view from the top of this one. One of those times that really shakes you out of the daily routine a bit and makes you reflect on things and feel good about living. Not that this photo does it justice, but here it is:

And, since this is ostensibly a write-up about the Astros game, here’s a couple cool photos I found from that as well:

Astros 5, Angels 4

W: Lyles (3-1)
L: Wilson (4-4)

You look at the MLB article on the game, and the headline is ‘Astros win fifth straight behind power, pitching.’

Ok. I gueeeesss, in the grains of sand that represent the totality of baseball games played, yyyyyyeah, there was some power and pitching going on, but let’s not kid ourselves. This one was a grain like an almost-infinite number of other grains, especially when you consider that Houston again tried to give the game away, and failed to hit in clutch situations, and struck out a dozen times, etc. etc. etc.

Houston is playing the role of the loose and aggressive losers who don’t stand a chance and have nothing to lose. The Angels, on the other hand, have the weight of millions of dollars in expectations pressing down on them with every pitch. It’s not like these professionals haven’t dealt with stress in their pasts, but right now the convergence is that the Astros are the beneficiaries of the numbing buzz that has gotten into the heads of the Angels. Good for us, and bad for them.

Wilson started out well for the Halos, giving up only two hits through five. Of course, both were solo home runs, but you didn’t think Lyles would keep Anaheim down, did you? And even if he did, that bullpen? That’s like taking the top off of the quart bottle of Gulf Lite and dumping it on the already-lit coals.

Sure enough, Houston matched Anaheim’s scoring, Martinez driving in Barnes and Trumbo homering in the sixth. Blackley and Peacock (sounds like an English soap company) played to the Angels’ confusement until the bottom of the ninth, when Conger homered to bring the Halos within one. Ambriz came in and nailed down the save and that was that – let the rich guys beat themselves is the mantra I wish would work more often.

Astros 2 Halos 0

contributed by Mr. Happy

I listened to part of last night’s game at Fifth Third Field, the home of the Toledo Mudhens, who entertained the Louisville Bats last night, courtesy of my At Bat app on my trusty Samsung Android phone. The Tigers, who are the parent club for the Mudhens, have nothing but journeymen AAAA players here right now as far as I can tell. Phil Nevin manages the Mudhens, and Leon “Bull” Durham is the hitting coach. University of Toledo icon A.J. Sager is the pitching coach. They have some good looking gear. However, I resisted the urge to take one of those jerseys home last night, but I strongly suspect that it is only a matter of time.

Norris apparently had command problems early, but he wasn’t missing over the plate like Matt Cain did in yesterday’s horrific third inning against the Terdinals. I am convinced that Cain has started tipping his pitches out of the stretch because his stretch numbers are awful this season and are vastly different from his historical line with runners on base. Those wascally Terdinals (and some other clubs) are on to something about Cain when they have him in the stretch. Cain threw five perfect innings yesterday in addition to the forgettable seven run third inning. Cain has 14 innings this season where he’s allowed four or more runs. That’s about one Oswalt inning per outing.

Last night, Norris gave us six shutout innings, giving way to a bully that somehow did the job again, throwing 100 pitches, 60 for strikes. Cisnero, who gave us two solid shutout innings last night, has pitched to a 2.88 ERA this season.

Some of you have been rather hard on closer Jose Veras. However, the facts are that Veras has converted ten of 13 chances, which, while that’s not great, could be worse. I like his arm. He’s got two plus pitches.

The Astros got all of the runs they needed in the seventh inning courtesy of Chris Carter’s 11th home run, which was a two run shot.

I always look forward to NeilT’s Friday night game recaps. I learned about Astroleena and am convinced that she’s a messenger from the BBG’s.

The Good Guys make the drive for five in a row against the Halos on Sunday. Young Jordan Lyles toes the slab against crafty portsider C.J. Wilson. Come join us in the Game Zone. You might learn what a footy is, as well as other important things.