Astros @ Rockies, 6/8/2010

Houston 4, Colorado 3 (BOX)

Lopez (W, 3-0),  Lyndstrom (S, 14), Belisle (L, 1-2)

Bernardo Fallas (Chron.com) recap / Owen Perkins (MLB.com) recap

Gamezone

Monday’s game was ugly.  Tuesday’s game had a similar stink to it, with the distict possibility that it would be worse…  Michael Bourn getting a night off with Jason Micheals playing center in his stead. A lineup that put Keppinger in the lead-off spot and Manzella in the two-hole, Feliz, Michaels, Cash and Moehler batting 6 through 9.  Moehler making his third start of the season (after getting shelled in his first start and pitching a decent game in his second), this time against the Rockies, who absolutely rake against Moehler.  None of this things inspired confidence – an impending feeling of doom if you like…

The first inning, in fact the first for batters for the Rockies, only heightened the stench in the air. 4 straight hits by the Rockies, with no outs, led to three runs. JD: “It could go from bad to worse to flat out ugly here in a hurry…” .  Oddly enough, it didn’t.  Moehler got a strikeout on the next batter and got Helton to ground out into a double play in the next at bat.  Inning over, HOU 0, COL 3.

The 2nd inning went 3-up, 3-down for both teams.  In the 3rd inning, Moehler induced the Rockies into their second double play of the night, and ended up stranded 2.  HOU 0, COL 3.

You can’t throw that weak-ass shit to JEFF KEPPINGER, bitch! led off the top of the 4th with a double, and subsequently scored on a long single by Manzella.  Berkman flied out to left, Lee singled to left and then Spaz grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the 4th.  HOU 1, COL 3.  Moehler pitched out of trouble in the bottom of the 4th, again leaving 2 Rockies stranded.  Through 4: HOU 1, COL 3.

Kevin Cash managed a single in the top of the 5th, but was left stranded at first.  Rockies had some traffic on the bases in the bottom of the inning, but the Astros end the inning by turning their 3rd double play of the night.  Through 5, HOU 1, COL 3.  The Astros went down in order in the top of the 6th (despite a scorcher hit by Manzella to third), but the ‘fun’ started in the bottom of the inning.  Olivo singled to start the bottom of the 6th.  With Helton up with no outs and 2 strikes, the Rockies put on the hit and run.  Helton whiffed and Olivo was thrown out by Cash for the strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play (the Astros 4th of the night).  The next batter, Mora, took a walk and then during Barmes’ at bat, good ole’ Balking Bob Davidson did what he does best -calling some weak-ass balk on Moehler. With 2 outs and a runner now in scoring position, the Astros intentionally walk Barmes to get to the pitcher, Francis.  Francis grounds out into a force at 3rd base to end the inning.  through 9, HOU 1, COL 3.

The Astros scored another run in the Top of the 7th with a double, and some heads-up base running by Lee on a shot by Spaz that was caught at the wall.  With Lee on 3rd base after tagging up on Spaz’ fly out, he was able to score on a broken bat roller by Feliz to the shortstop. Middle 7, HOU 2, COL 3.  Wilton Lopez took over the bottom of the 7th and set the Rockies down in order.  Through 7, HOU 2, COL 3.

Things got fun for the Astros in the top of the 8th.  Matty B. came in to pitch for Francis, and Michael Bourn came in to pinch-hit for Lopez.  Bourn started 1-2, but ended up lining a single to right (on the 7th pitch of the at bat).  With Keppinger up and the count 2-2, Bourn took off on a hit-and-run.  The ball was looped into center and Bourn had already passed 2nd base before he realized the ball would be caught, so he turned on the burners, touched 2nd and busted it back to 1st base to avoid being doubled off.  With Manzella at the plate, good ole’ Balking Bob Davidson called another horseshit balk, this time on Belisle, sending Bourn to second base.  Manzella then put down a sweet bunt single towards 3rd base.  1 out, runners at the corners.  Belisle was lifted at this point and replaced with Franklin Morales.  Berkman proceeded to ground into a force out at 2nd base, scoring Bourn. Tie ballgame.  With Lee in the box, Berkman hustled down to 2nd base for his 2nd steal of the year.  A soft fly single to left put the Astros up by a run (both charged to Matty B), and an ugly strikeoout by Spaz ended the inning.  Middle 8, HOU 4, COL 3.  Bourn stayed in to play center in the bottom of the 8th, and Michaels switched over to left.  Lyon came in to pitch.  Brad Hawpe, the leadoff batter for the inning, absolutely crushed the 2-1 pitch into left, but Michaels made a leaping catch at the top of the wall to rob him of a hit (double or home run, I couldn’t quite tell).  Lyon retired the next two in order to end the 8th.  Through 8, HOU 4, COL 3.

The Astros went down in order in the top of the 9th.  Lindtrom took the hill to close out the game.  Struck out Mora for the 1st out. Walked Stewart (on a couple of decent pitches), bringing up pinch-hitter Jason Giambi (yes he is still alive and playing baseball) with a runner on.  Giambi crushed the ball to left, but Michaels made the catch at the back of the track. 2 outs, runner on first base.  Gonzalez proceeding to ground into the 4-6 force to end the game. GOOD GUYS WIN 4 – 3!!!

All in all, a fun game to watch.  It started out fugly, but Moehler managed to get 18 straight outs without allowing a runner to score (after the first 3 runs had scored with no outs in the bottom of the 1st that is…).  It wasn’t particularly pretty, but Moehler did what he so often does, and that was to give an unspectacular but workmanlike performence on the mound.  6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER.  The pen held the Rukkakes scoreless for the final 3 innings as well.  Manzella began to show some life at the plate, and Lee actually looked good all around (good swing, heads-up base running, etc).  The Astros slowly chipped away at the 3-run deficit and took the lead on a well-played 8th inning (sorry Matty B, wish it had been someone else…).

And that there is your ballgame, folks. Rockies can’t sweep now, and the Astros still have a chance to win the series.  Good stuff, all.  And better news still, you’ll be happy to know that the legendary JackAstro will be back for his regularly scheduled Tuesday night recap next week, so no more having to read my uninspiring rubbish on Wednesday mornings anymore…

By the way, for those of you keeping score at home, with the win on Tuesday the Astros fall 6.5 back in the “Race for Rendon,” trailing the Orioles and Indians (and tied with the Diamondbacks) for the prize of the 2011 draft.

Y’all have fun now, ya hear!!!

Monday, June 8th, 2010

Astros 1
Rox 5

W: Hammel | L: Wandy

Astros.com
Gamezone

Switching between this test and Bud’s fugly mug to check on the draft, it was clear from the start that the air and the sheer expanse of Coors had the Astros a bit on their heels. The most trouble Wandy had was early, topped by a Barmes double off the wall in left (creatively played by Carlos) that led to the 2 runs scored in that frame. After 1 more given up in the 3rd, Wandy kicked back and held the Rox down through the 7th.

The bigger problem is the one this team has had all season, silent bats. Jason Hammel scattered six hits and 3 walks in over 7 scoreless innings but the Astros had their chances. Pence had a 2-out RBI opportunity in the 1st after a single and a walk but grounded weakly to 3rd. Back-to-back singles to lead off the 2nd was snuffed by Manzella’s 6-3 DP and a Wandy K. That’s as close as they came to getting on the board. Blum singled home the Astros lone run with 2-out in the 9th and me snoring on the couch.

3 more in Denver. Mark previewed it perfectly.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Natinals 4
Astros 6

W: Lindstrom | L: Matt “Mike” Capps
HR: Cash, Berkman, Lee

Astros.com
Gamezone

Despite the critical debate surrounding Moehler’s future on this 19-34 team, he pitched well for 5. Combined with HRs by Cash and Berkman, the Astros had a one-run lead after 8. On we go to the newly-exciting “save situation” for Matt Lindstrom.

Started out great with a K and a certain feeling of confidence. Then, a sharp liner to right that Twinkie leaped and snagged in a sweet, yet scary play. OK, 2 out. Then, a single up the middle by PH Morse. No worries, Willie Harris up. 2nd pitch, a low sinker, Harris golfed a high slicing pop to short left. Flapjack, still in the game for some reason (actually, a reason we’ll find out later), zeroed in on the ball as it headed towards the outcropping of seats along the LF line. Sensing no chance for a catch, he pulled up as the ball bounced past his bare-handed try at fielding it. Running on the pitch, Morse is halfway between 2nd and third by the time the ball hits the ground and easily cruises home as the tying run. Once Flapjack corralled the ball and got it in, Harris was safely at 3rd. In a foreshadowing of the hero/goat theme of this wacky-ass 9th, Cristian Guzman capped Lindstrom’s blown save with a high-pop single to shallow LCF that scored Harris, giving the gNats the lead.

So the Astros have one more shot, down by one with PH Sullivan, then the unchanged top of the order due up against gNats closer Capps. Sully grounded out, then Bourn doubled. Cue the wavy image flashback dissolve to the bottom of the 8th and the down-by-one desperation of gNats manager Riggleman. In a double-switch, he moved starting SS Guzman to RF to get the pitcher out of the due-up-in-the-9th 6th spot with Desmond in at SS. Got it? The line-up change worked but there is still the bottom of the inning to deal with. Flashback over, wavy dissolve back to Berkman batting with 1 out in the 9th. He rips what could be called either a topspin fly or a sinking liner to RF Guzman who seemed to have a beat but the ball sunk just past his glove as he came in on it. The ball bounced away and Bourn strolled home to tie the game.

It was scored an error, but he’s a SS in RF. Hero’s fall complete. Now for that goat. Flapjack sauntered up to the plate with one thing on his mind. KABONG! 2-run, walk-off no-doubter to the Crawfords. Goat’s redemption complete. Astros take 3 of 4 from the Natinals and seem, and I mean seem, to be getting a bit of a groove back with the bats. We’ll see.

3 coming up with the FuckTheCubs at Minute Maid. Check out the always bile-filled FTC Series Preview by Craig. It’ll get you in the right frame of mind…

Nationals 1, Astros 5
W: Wandy Rodriguez, L: John Lannan

Astros Recap

The last two games Jim Deshaies seems to be amusing himself with Baseball Bingo during the games. I decided to recap this game by finding some stats to fit into the number ranges on a regular bingo card.

B5 – Number of runs scored by the Astros.

I26 – Pence’s team leading RBIs (2 for the night). Carlos Lee is in second with 23.

N40 – Strike outs by Manzella (1 for the night). 44 strike outs thrown by Wandy (8 on the night).

G60 – Innings pitched by Wandy (5 for the night).

O64 – Successful Stolen Base Percentage against Quintero (Morgan stole a base) (36% Caugt Stealing, obviously leads the team, Cash is at 27%).

The Astros won this game, but no one really seems to care since ArmandoGalaragga pitched a perfect game, but there was an umpire error.

The Gamezone has its usual information and strosrays preview is simply outstanding .

The Astros go for the series win today at 1:05 pm. Also, just a note that the Cubs are packing their bags to come to Houston for the weekend.

June 1, 2010. Natinals at Astros

Natinals 7, Astros 8  (BOX)

W. Lopez (W, 2-0),  Capps (L, 0-2). Lindstrom (BS, 2)

McTaggart Recap

How shall I lose thee? Let me count the ways. With a boot, and a gaffe, and some walks, but it wasn’t to be.  The Good Guys tried their asses off to pull out a “L” from tonight’s game, but just couldn’t make it happen in the end, try and try as they may.  Despite the fluid nature of the Astros stellar, to shit, to shit, to shit, to stellar performances tonight, it was a win and a sorely needed one at that.

Brett Myers came through in a big way tonight

Giving a beleaguered bullpen a strong 7-inning start (7.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR).

Count Berkman in as a convert to the Brett Myers fan club:

“I was prepared not the like the guy just from playing against him, and I’ve got to tell you he’s one of my favorite teammates in terms of his competitiveness.  He has a perfect attitude for what you’re looking for in a pitcher. If he loses 2-1 win, he’s always blaming himself and takes responsibility. He’s a competitor and not scared to throw the ball over the plate. I just think he’s a great addition to this team.  That’s the kind of guy you can win with.  He’s a warrior. The day he pitches he’s focused, he’s intense and I think the team feeds on that. I think the team takes the personality of the that day’s starter, and he does a great job of bringing that intensity to the ballclub.”

As did the offense

Sweet Baby Bourn: 1-4, 2 BB, 3 R

Jeff Keppinger, bitches: 3-5. 1 R

Puma: 3-5, 1 BB, 1 R, 5 RBI

Pence!!!: 2-3, 2 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR

The defense, not so much

A booted ball by Blum and a poor throw to the plate by Berkman in the top of the 5th led to 3 unearned runs.

Nor the bullpen

Lyon allowed a run to score in the top of the 8th and loaded the bases before getting back-to-back strikeouts to end the thread (Astros lead 6-5). Line: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO.

Lindstrom allowed the tying and go-ahead run to score in the top of the 9th for his second blown save of the season (Natinals lead 7-5). Line: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO.

That is until Wilton Lopez

came in and cleaned up Lindstrom’s bases loaded mess. Line: 0.2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO.

And Berkman atoned for an earlier sin

2 out in the bottom of the 9th, Berkman plated 2 with a walk-off base hit.

As did third base umpire Bill Hohn

Yeah, this guy, who ruled that Berkman checked his swing on what otherwise would have been strike 3 and the ballgame (and yes, it looked as if Hohn did Berkman a very big favor).

Sure, parts of the game were ugly.  Yet it was a win, and a sweet one at that…

Things I learned in the Gamezone tonight

Brett Myers is a fucking gamer, but he doesn’t even look Korean. He lowered his ERA to 3.04 on the season.  Better than Lincecum. Lincecum looks more Korean than Myers.  But ultimately, What can you say about Myers?  He’s a battler.  He hits them with everything he has.

Bizarre Panamanian rituals: Carlos gets under more balls than a midget hooker.

Yet another brilliant marketing strategy by Pam.

You do NOT walk a man to get to Jeff Keppinger, bitch! (unless Feliz trying to score from third on the play).