Astros 4, Reds 5
W: Daniel Ray Herrera, L: Samuel Gervacio, S: Francisco Cordero

Astros Recap
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Game Zone

Astros lost this game.

Astros Highlights:
Kazuo Matsui went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs.

LaTroy Hawkins pitched a scoreless inning.

Reds Highlights:
Paul Janish went 3 for 4.

Bench Tidbits:

I saw this video on TyinTampa’s facebook page and think it is totally worth sharing. You will be glad you watched it.

I still had a great evening. Went to dinner with a bunch of girlfriends. Was a lot of fun tonight.

Check out Taras’ last series preview for information regarding the rest of the series.

Astros at Reds, 9/14/09
Reds 3, Astros 1

Box score… I’ve got it here somewhere… ah, to hell with it!

The Astros wasted:

But at least the Astros didn’t waste the biggest opportunity of the night.

Pirates 1, Astros 9
W: Bud Norris, L: Charlie Morton

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Game Zone

This was a fun game to watch. The Astros offense showed up (again, they were there yesterday also) and there was some good pitching.

Astros Highlights:

Bud Norris notched his 5th win by tossing 6 innings of 6 hit one run baseball. The one run was a homerun by Andy LaRoche.

Offensively, Kazuo Matsui hd a nice night. He went 3 for 4 scoring 2 runs and getting 2 RBIs. Maybe he’s going to end his season on a good note.

Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee contributed homeruns.

The Astros Bullpen, yes, they are part of my highlights. They pitched 3 innings of one hit baseball. Nice, real nice job.

Pirates Highlights:

Andy LaRoche hit a homerun.

Bench Tidbits:

Towards the end of the game, a discussion between my friend and I began about the team. She is of the opinion that the whole organization needs to be gone, from Ed Wade to Jason Michaels, including most of the front office. We agreed on some things, but not everything. She does not blame Cooper as much as I do, but she does blame Wade more than I do. It was a very good conversation to have at a baseball game.

This was the first game I’ve seen a fan taken out on a stretcher due to a foul ball. Delwyn Young hit a screamer into the stands. I hope the lady that got hit is okay. That ball bounced off of her fast and hard.

I was disappointed in the Astros as a whole tonight though in one regard tonight. There was a nice tribute to the Heroes that serve us and there were no Astros that came to pay tribute. I’m not sure why, but I hope it was a good reason. We did notice Ed Wade walk out of the dugout when the team seemed to filter into the dugout. So, maybe there was some kind of team meeting. I just really wish they had been there to pay tribute.

Check out JaneDoe’s series preview for more information regarding the series.

Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009

Braves 9
Astros 7

W: Lowe | L: Oswalt | S: Gonzalez comma M

astros.com
AP via Yahoo!
Game Zone

Roy Oswalt gave what he had last night and it was just enough to help his team mates – many of them tasting the big-league cup of joe for the first time – experience what it takes to scratch and claw and fight from behind to get a win. They almost did.

“He was inspirational,” said Wilton Lopez, one of the young pitchers freshly up to the big club. “He set things up nicely for us to show what we’re really made of. I just wish we could have won.”

Roy wasted no time. His second pitch was blasted into the right-center bullpen. Not feeling he’d done enough, he hung a slider to the 2nd batter for a double. As a gift to his friend Chipper Jones, he tossed a change up thigh-high and a 2-run hole was dug. Next batter, single. Next, sac fly. 3-0.

Chris Johnson, getting his first start as a major leaguer, was impressed. “I saw a guy who battled out there. The concentration, the effort, it’s no wonder he’s had such success for so long.”

After the Astros got one back, Roy didn’t let up for the 2nd as he got the first 2 Braves to single. Then, after striking out Chipper for fun, he unloaded a double for McCann and singles to Anderson and LaRoche to leave things at 6-1. His work done, Roy K’d the last 2 batters to end the 2nd.

“I love watching him pitch,” said Billy Sadler, who’s been up before with the Giants. “He’s a real pro and he’ll do what it takes to win, or to not.”

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Astros 2
Braves 1

W: Valverde (4-2) | L: Soriano (1-5)

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GameZone

Just as the age and decline talk began, Twinkie and Tejada cued up the Hulkster’s intro music and initiated Operation Furious Clutch Comeback Montage Sequence. Feel free to leave that playing in the background.

Eny and Tommy Hanson got their horns locked in an old-fashioned NL pitchers’ duel for the bulk of this one, before The Most Interesting Pitcher in the World left to ice a tired shoulder with crisp, refreshing Dos Equis after seven strong. The Fucking Braves scratched out their lone run on three total hits, using a walk, groundout and single in the second to nick Wandy. The Good Guys eked out five hits in eight innings against Hanson – who is a fucking witch – but Wandy was the only player to get as far as third base (NTTAWWT). While there, he passed the time by winning a staring contest against a statue, and wrestling a bear with his hands cuffed to his belt.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth, the ‘Stros faced off against Soriano, with Kaz getting the rally started with a one-out single to right. Fat Elvis stepped in and smacked a double to left, almost before JD could wax prophetic about him hitting a walk-off jack. Close enough. Miggy followed with a bounder up the middle that caused significant tailpipe-puckering, due to its resemblance to a sure double play comebacker. Somehow, the ball managed to elude every glove in the infield by inches as it bounced its way directly over 2B and into center for the win, scoring Kaz and Berkman easily.

Big props in this one go to the gang of kids who cared enough to a) be there at all, in full team regalia no less, b) engage rally caps and c) celebrate the win like it was the NL pennant. I am inspired by their passion and utter naivety, and hereby pledge to dispense with my cynicism until at least the 3rd inning of today’s game. Thanks, gents.

Braves 2, Astros 1
W: Javier Vazquez, L: Felipe Paulino, S: Rafael Soriano

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap

This game didn’t take any time at all to be played. 2 hours and 33 minutes. That usually means a good pitched game, at least to me it does. And I think it was.

Astros Highlights:

Felipe Paulino, went 6 innings of 2 run baseball. Both runs were solo homeruns, but he pitched great otherwise.

Hunter Pence went 2 for 4, with an RBI.

Braves Highlights:

Javier Vazquez tossed 7 innings of 3 hit no run baseball. He walked 4 but struck out 9. Not a bad night for him either.

Game Analysis:

I have none. So, check out the Game Zone for that.

Bench Tidbits:

Well, I feel as though I should explain why I have no game analysis for anyone. It is because I was busy baking. I baked a chocolate italian creme cake and a lemon cake with lemon filling. I have to make the icing and the ice the cakes tonight. Going to be a late night since I am also going to the Astros game.

Check out GreatBagwellsBeard’s Series Preview for information about the rest of the series.

I’m meeting a friend at the BUS at 6:30 if anyone wants to meet for a beverage before the game.