Royals 2, Astros 1

W: Zach Greinke, L: Russ Ortiz, S: Joakin Soria

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap

Astros Highlights:

Russ Ortiz pitched 7, seven, sept, siete, sieben innings of 2 run baseball. Russ did a great job. I was surprised when he came out to bat in the bottom of the 5th inning. I thought for sure Cecil Cooper would have pulled him. Glad he didn’t.

Miguel Tejada is still hitting the ball. He went 3 for 4 on the night. If the Astros were going to take Andy’s advice, he’s a great one to start trading.

Alberto Arias, Tim Byrdak, and LaTroy Hawkins pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief. The bullen pen did a good job.

And Michael Bourn got a single on the night.

Royals Highlights:

Zach Greinke pitched 8 innings of 1 run baseball. His first win since May 26. Sometimes the Astros have a way of making the other guys come out of slumps. He probably would have gone 9 innings, but was pinched hit for in the top of the 9th.

Billy Butler went 2 for 4 on the night. One of his hits was for a homerun.

Game Analysis:

I have to admit, this game was kind of boring. Not sure why, could have just been my section or us. The homerun by Butler was loud. The Astros had their chances and didn’t capitalize. Maybe it was an Ortiz start that makes one not excited. Still I can’t say the Astros sucked on the night, but they definitely weren’t great. Go get’em today Roy.

Bench Tidbits:

At a game where Lance Berkman was honored for hitting 300 homeruns, the promotional give away was this. Seriously, this was the lamest give away ever. It did provide some entertainment during the game, but it is hard to describe what we were doing with it. Plus, the only appearance Lance made was before the game when he got a bat and hopefully correct lineup card from the Astros and a pinch hit in the 9th.

Check out stroysray absolutely awesome series preview.

There was some stuff posted in the GameZone.

Seems like a good College World Series is going on right now. People were more interested in that score than the game last night. Good luck to both schools. I’m rooting more for Texas since I’m from Texas, I just hope Longhorn fans don’t act like jackasses if they win.

Astros 4, Twins 1 (June 21, 2009)

WP: Rodriguez (6-6), Save: Valverde (5), LP: Perkins (2-4). Box Score
McTaggart (Well-supported Rodriguez stifles Twins)
Minneapolis Star Tribune (Injuries, illnesses taking toll on Twins)

The Good Guys got things going early in this one. In the top of the first, Bourn bunted for a hit and stole second. Keppinger singled to center, scoring Bourn. Tejada hit a ground-rule double to right, moving Kepp to third. Lee grounded out to second, scoring Kepp and moving Miggy to third. A double by Pence later in the inning scored Miggy. (Bourn scored on a sac fly by MIggy in the seventh, but that was just icing).

That was all April/May Home Wandy would need (that, and a little self-realization: “”When I threw the first five, I said, ‘Hey, I can pitch.”). Other than a mistake to Cuddyer in the bottom of the second, Wandy pitched a gem. His line on the night: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 Ks. Sampson and Valverde finished off the eight and ninth without allowing a hit, sealing the series win.

A Little Wandy Love

*”Wandy pitched an outstanding game and set the tone with quick outs and not very many pitches. Coming out of the bullpen, it makes us focus and make sure we want to pick up where he left off, for sure. I wanted to make sure he got his ‘W.’ ” – Sampson

*”Whenever your pitcher is on like that, it’s fun.” – Bourn

*”[Rodriguez] just threw the ball well. He pitched really well. He had good stuff, good location. Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the pitcher, and you’ve got to do that today.” – Gardenhire

Tidbits

Cooper did nothing again, but was not thrown out for it this time.

Q was a late scratch from the game with back spasms, forcing Coop’s second choice to set up behind the dish.

Keppinger got to swing away today (instead of having to sacrifice bunt to move over the world’s fastest man) and went 3-5 with a run and an RBI.

Bourn went 2-5 with 2 runs (but gets a pass for being a Hitler youth – where’s the feigned outrage on this one Pinwheel?).

Pence went 3-4 with an RBI.

Mauer’s 12-game hitting streak was snapped, and the poor sucker is now only batting .407.

If you can’t hit it, wear it.

Fathers Day Shout-outs

Congrats to BUWebguy on his first Father’s Day and on the Astros’ newest fan (along with Mrs. BUWebguy). Sic ‘Em!

Congrats as well to rpntex on the new gas-powered trimmer (among other things) as well. Keep up the good work!

Astros 2, Twins 5

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap

Astros Highlights:

Well, Oswalt finally pitched a complete game. 8 innings of a complete game anyway. He gave up 5 runs on 10 hits, 4 K’s and 4 BB’s. Nice that he pitched a complete game, I really wish he could have gotten a win. I thought he did a good job.

Michael Bourn, was 0-1 with 2 walks. He got caught stealing in the 1st, not really. But what you gonna do? He also hit a sacrifice fly to score Kaz Matsui.

Lance Berkman went 0-2 with 2 walks. He was safe on his stolen base attempt.

Darrin Erstad went 2 for 2 on the night. Maybe he is getting his stroke a little bit. I hope so, he seems like a good guy.

Twins Highlights:

They hit 4 doubles, 2 by Delmon Young.

Kevin Slowey got his 10th win of the season. He had 6 K’s in his 6 innings of work. He also only allowed one run. Did just enough to let his bullpen finish it for a win.

Joe Nathan recorded his 16th save of the season and 216 of his career.

Game Analysis:

I have nothing new. The lights in the Metrodome suck. That place looks like it sucks. I bet even the Twins are ready for a new stadium. Anyone know if it has a retractable roof? If it doesn’t, it should.

I don’t understand why Miguel Tejada is batting third. Yeah, I know he’s got a good average and all, but really Cooper, why?

I am thinking that since Cooper didn’t use the bullpen tonight (not that I think he should have) he is going to use them like a kid with a couple bucks in a candy store in the next two games.

I do think the Twins look like a pretty good team. I would feel better about the Astros if they could win 2 of 3 from the Twins. If they don’t, I wouldn’t be upset if they ended up being sellers this year. Our “trash” could be someone’s treasure.

Bench Highlights:

Check out the GameZone for some kind of discussion.

Taras Bulba did the series preview. And I agree, I hate interleague play. Why do you have to change the National League because your pitchers can’t run. Freaking pansies. I bet their jock straps have ruffles on them.

I decided to share a story regarding my dad in honor of Father’s day. (I hope it is not one that I’ve shared before, if it is enjoy it again.) One I think that seems to be pretty special and sports related is this one. I was a freshman in high school I was running in a cross country district meet. After I finished 2nd (yes, I was able to run a bit back then, regionals was different) and my dad was there at the end of the finish line. I didn’t know he was going to be there, but like most of my life, he’s been there. He’s a great man. I am blessed. I hope all you dads are there for your little girls and boys. As you know, we don’t forget the things that may seem little.

Thursday, June 18th 2009

Astros 5
Rangers 3

W: Arias (1-0) | L: Jennings (2-2) | S: Valverde (3)

astros.com
AP via Yahoo!
Game Zone

I hate fucking interleague baseball. There’s no way I could sum up the reasons better than Andyzipp, but I wanted to make sure everyone knew I was on board with my disgust. This idea really can’t be that popular, can it? Since it fucks the balance of the season anyway, why don’t they just have it in the only place that cares about it, New York?

The ‘Silver Boot’ (I even hate indulging in the goofiness of it) was already safely in the Rangers’ trophy case when they met tonight on Thermal Field at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. So really, what else was there to play for? Well, for the Astros, I suspect that six straight punkings by the other team in Texas would leave a somewhat bad taste in one’s mouth heading into a tough series at the Twins.

Anticipation was high (as was the HR over/under) for Brandon Backe’s first start back from a long DL stint and he didn’t disappoint, depending on your perspective. He didn’t really look good, but then he kept the Astros in it for the 4 innings he labored. Solo dongs in the 1st and 2nd set an ominous tone but Brandon settled somewhat and turned it over to Wright at 3-0 Rangers after doing all he could to keep the wheels on in the 4th.

Defensively, the Astros combined for sloppiness AND stellar plays. Kepp’s stab and throw DP in the 3rd was awesome. Q’s throw to 3rd in the 4th was not. Guther snagged a blistering fly ball headed to the wall and was able to gun it to 1st in time for huge DP in the 5th.

The Good Guys scratched one out in the 5th on a 2-out double by Estad followed by a single by Q. They got closer in the 6th with a run on a Kepp walk, Miggy single and then a sneaky single into right by Lee. A Berkman walk loaded them up with no outs for PENCE!!! No dice, K. Kaz up next and Taylor Teagarden had a whiff of his own, letting a pitch sail right past his glove to the backstop, scoring Miggy. That’s all they could do for that threat but it was a whole new ballgame.

Wright did an excellent job holding back the Rangers for 2.2, he had a huge K of Davis, the last batter he faced, with a runner on 2nd and 1 out. Arias then came in and K’d Teagarden for his only work.

Top 8, Beaker senses there’s some actual drama to be had from this god-forsaken match up and takes matters into his own hands. The hometown boy delivered a textbook Arlington fly ball to deep center that landed on the grassy knoll. Go, Arlington Boy, GO! That ended up being all the Astros needed on this night, despite the insurance run on a SWEET triple by Bourn later in the inning.

Papa Grande’s first save opportunity since returning from the DL was interesting. A leadoff single, but then a ground out FC, a steal of 2nd, then a K. Next batter, PH AndrUw Jones laced a liner into RF. PENCE!!! says, “I ain’t done dazzlin’!” and dives for the catch and the win!

Fucking good thing this interleague shit is over. What? Eh? Oh.

Astros at Rangers,
6/17/09
Rangers 5, Astros 4
W: Wilson (4-3),
L: Fulchino (2-2)
HR: (takes deep breath…) Lee, Pence, Cruz, and Saltalamacchia
Box Score
McTaggart’s recap

The Houston Astros decided to play Little League baseball in a Little League park last night. I don’t say this too, often, but I agree with Coop:

“Just no offensive execution when we needed it,” Cooper said. “That’s really unacceptable. We’ve been playing pretty good baseball, but that’s unacceptable. We kicked the ball around and threw it around, and that’s unacceptable. I don’t care how well we’ve been playing. That game is not a game we should be playing like that.

What went wrong?

• Jason Michaels – I signing I really liked, but who has had just a miserable season – lost a ball in the sun in the first for a pop-fly double to Kinsler;
• Pudge then threw the ball away as Kinsler stole third, allowing the tying run;
• Miggy was able to ground into 2 DP’s, one because he slipped getting out of the box;
• The Rangers took the lead on an Omar Vizquel single, another E2 and a nice hustle play by Vizquel to make third, and a sac fly;
• Michaels looking nothing like a MLB hitter when fanning on 3 pitches with 2nd and 3rd and one out;
• Bourn failing to bunt a leadoff runner over in the 9th, then being gunned down on an absolutely perfect throw by Saltalamacchia;
• Keppinger’s ole bullshit leading off the bottom of the 10th, leading to the winning run;
• Michaels and Bourn nearly colliding on a routine pop up barely past the SS with the OF and IF pulled in in the 10th.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

Well, Bourn continues to look like a leadoff man, manufacturing the first run all by his lonesome. The Astros are apparently done Searching for Bobby Fischer, and he loves hitting in Arlington. But then again, who doesn’t? Ortiz, regardless of the 4 R allowed, actually pitched very well and deserved a better fate. And yes, congratulations to Pudge for squatting more often than any other player, ever. Also, congrats to Vizquel, who set the record for hits by a Venezuelan player, passing the great Luis Aparicio.

Other observations:

• Whatever name it goes by, that stadium is a joke. All 4 home runs were of the “get it up into the jet stream, let it just clear the fence” variety.
• Fox decided to swap PBP guys for an inning. I think Lewin tried to show how much he had researched the Astros, talking up David Murphy and Matt Purke as local boys (and correctly placing Klein High in Spring, no less) and comparing Nelson Cruz to Richard Hidalgo, but honestly, my ears were bleeding too much to make sense of it.
• Kabong is hurtin’ for certain. He took approximately 2 hours to round the bases on his HR, and was noticeably limping.
• The Rangers somehow make red, white, and blue look hideous. I have neer before seen this accomplished. Exhibit A: the blue catcher’s gear against the red unis.

Rangers get the sweep, again, as Brandon Backe “pitches” for the Astros in the closer.