Thursday, August 13, 2009

Astros 2
Marlins 9

W: West | L: Hampton

astros.com
AP via Yahoo!
Game Zone

I had a bad feeling about this game as I powered up the Samsung in the bottom of the 1st. The HD image appeared just as Jorge Cantu’s 2-run shot bounced around the empty seats in left and it seemed my fears were founded. Another 2-out single and I wondered what the over/under was on Coop pulling Hampton.

Fast forward to the bottom of the 5th with the Astros trailing by just one. Since the 1st, Hampton had knuckled down and kept the Fish scoreless while his RBI single in the top of the inning cut their deficit in half. First batter, #8 hitter Ronny Paulino, Hampton grooved a first-pitch fastball and Paulino sent that fucker way out in center, out where they don’t even sit for Dolphin games. Still, Hampton got out of the 5th with no more damage and looked to be fine.

Again??!!

Imagine my surprise, just as I was finished marveling at this wonderfully bad local commercial, Chris Sampson showed up on my screen, WARMING UP ON THE MOUND, AGAIN!!! Apparently, Hampton suffered a shoulder strain at some point in the game. The details of the 6th are moot. Sampson faced the entire Marlins line-up, retiring only 2 by the time Coop woke up and put Bazardo in to get the last out. 6 runs. 9-1 Marlins. Sampson was sent to Round Rock immediately following the game.

The Astros are now 7.5 back in the Central and 8 back in the wildcard with teams-o-plenty above them. And now, it’s on to Wrigley North for 3 with the Brewfarts.

Personal Message

A shout out to my college friend Terry who’s a coach with McAllister Park Little League in San Antonio. The Texas West team beat Texas East (Bridge City) last night to become the first team from San Antonio to make it to Williamsport. Congratulations, McAllister Park! Go get ’em!

Wednesday, Auguest 12, 2009

Astros 14
Fish 6

W: Norris (3-0) | L: Nolasco (8-8)

Astros.com Recap

You know what happens when I can’t get started on a recap until after lunch, and have no desire to type out the minutiae of 20 runs crossing the plate? That’s right, MFers… lazy-ass photoshopping!

Beaker broke out the whoopin' stick, driving in 6 on a pair of 3-run smokies.

Twinkie returned from his sabbatical at the Furry convention, driving in 2 on a couple of doubles, and reaching safely 4 times.

Flapjack got in on the beatdown, driving in 3 on 3 hits.

And Hawk was back in action, sealing it with a perfect 9th.

The end.

Brewers 0, Astros 2
W: Wandy Rodriguez, L: Yovani Gallardo, S: Jose Valverde

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap

I have to admit, today was a sweet Sunday. The Astros won and I spent the day at the beach. I can only share what looks to be the highlights due to the reactions in the Game Zone.

Astros Highlights:

Wandy Rodriguez went 7 innings of shut out baseball. He gave up 5 hits and 3 walks. Good day Mr. Rodriguez.

Michael Bourn went 1 for 3, with a walk. He made a great defensive play. I seriously love the way this kid plays.

Geoff Blum got the runs on the board with his 2-run home run in the 4th inning.

Game Analysis:

The Astros won the series against the Brewers. I would not get to excited if I were you though. The Saturday game they lost was a total beat down. Unfortunately, Bazardo got beat to shit in the game. I’ll leave the discussion of whether he was used inappropriately up to others. But with Cooper managing the team, it would not surprise me that he was used worse than a woman in a wham-bam thank you ma’am kind of way.

Bench Tidbits:

I am looking for recommendations for any eateries in Surfside. We went to the beach there today and have no idea if there are any good eateries there.

George Strait serenaded me Saturday evening. I don’t care how old that man is, he is still AWESOME. It is almost silly how many of his songs bring back memories for me. I also enjoyed Blake Shelton. He did a good job and looks nice too.

Special thanks to Limey for making sure the boy that knocked my drink out my hand replaced it. That was a very gentlemanly thing to do. That was a fun night. I’m glad Andy threw himself a birthday party. Also, apologies to Beauty Queen for not getting back to you to confirm that I would be attending.

Astros head to Florida for some games this week. Let’s hope the weather is good, the Astros bats are hot, and their pitching worthy of us. Well, they probably need pitching better than what would be worthy of us. Check out Craig’s Series Preview for more in-depth information regarding the series.

Five days after posting one of his better performances of the season, Mike Hampton lasted just two innings before exiting with a right knee sprain as Milwaukee blew out the Astros 12-5 at Minute Maid Park.

Hampton labored through 13 batters and 48 pitches and was in hot water early and often. Allowing the first two batters to reach in each of the first and second innings, Hampton had a chance to escape both frames unscathed but surrendered a two-out single to Casey McGehee in the first and a two-out single to Ryan Braun in the second to spot the Brewers a 3-0 lead.

Meanwhile, the Astros touched Milwaukee starter Manny Parra with a two-out single and walk in the first but failed to convert on the scoring opportunity. Houston pushed across a nicely constructed run in the second, with Ivan Rodriguez leading off with a double, Jason Michaels advancing him with a grounder to first and Chris Coste driving Pudge home with a grounder to second.

Milwaukee broke open the game in the third, when Yorman Bazardo, just called up from Round Rock, replaced Hampton. The Brewers went double, walk, walk, double before Bazardo threw the ball away on a sacrifice bunt attempt and issued another walk, having given up four runs with no outs recorded. Bazardo then struck out two batters but allowed another RBI single before retiring the side with the Astros in an 8-1 hole.

After Bazardo’s implosion in the third, Wesley Wright, Tim Byrdak and Alberto Arias posted six innings of so-so relief, scattering six hits, three walks and four runs, including a two-RBI, two-out blast by Prince Fielder off Byrdak in the seventh.

The Astros chipped away with a run in the fifth, two runs in the sixth and a run in the seventh on Carlos Lee’s 300th career home run, but they also allowed Milwaukee to dodge bullets by stranding nine runners. Particularly painful was Lee grounding into a double play with the bases loaded to end the fifth, Jeff Keppinger striking out with runners on first and second to end the sixth and Darin Erstad popping out to shortstop with runners on first and second in the eighth. The Astros were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The loss dropped the Astros to one game behind the Brewers for fourth place in the Central Division. Lee’s milestone marks the first time a club has had three players reach 300 career home runs in the same season. Rodriguez and Lance Berkman achieved the mark on May 17 and June 13, respectively.