Monday, May 23, 2011

Dojers 3
Astros 4

W: Fulchino | L: Jansen

Limey’s preview
Game Zone

Who doesn’t love these kinds of games? Quality pitching from both sides. Tied at 1 late until the last gasps from your starter yields 2 and expectations are low for a late-inning surge, but the team comes through on their last chance. We may not get to see many like these this season – hell, wins period – but they sure are fun to watch.

For the most part, I only got to see the fun stuff at the end. I won’t bore you with things you’re likely not to care about but there was a hockey game going on tonight, too. The Dojers scored first on a solo dinger by Matt Kemp in the 2nd but the Astros answered in the 3rd when a 4-for-4 Bill Hall doubled off of starter Kershaw, then scored on a single by Q.

Norris held it together until with 2 outs the 7th, he gave up a ground-rule double to right. After intentionally walking Mitchell, he grooved an 0-2 FB to Ethier who smoked it past the mound to CF. Bourn uncharacteristically left the ball behind on his charge and had to race back to get it as the 2 runners on base crossed the plate.

FF to the bottom of the 9th, still 3-1 and Jansen on the bump. CJ K’d then newly-minted-badass Bill Hall singled. PH Downs also K’d mightily and it was not looking good for a comeback. PH Angel Sanchez did a fine job of working Jansen hard on a 11-pitch walk to bring up Bourn with 2 on. Both runners moved up on indifference, which ended up fucking the Dojers when Bourn slapped a screamer down the RF line that tied the game and left him standing on 2nd.

Jansen was seriously rattled at this point but Mattingly left him in and he promptly plunked Barmes. Up strolled Pence in another situation to be a hero and boy did he come through. A broken-bat single over the left side of the infield had Bourn gunning for home. The throw from LF was on target and on time, but for a sweet half-slide by Bourn that went wide toward the backstop but he got his hand down and slapped the plate before a tag could be laid. He did his best Willie “Mays” Hayes super-clap before chest-bumping Hall while the rest of the crew bounded out and started jumping around like a bunch of Kansas City faggots.

So was I…so was I.

Astros 3, Jays 2

W: Rodriguez (3-3)
L: Drabek (3-3)
SV: Melancon (3)
HR: Pence!!! (6)

I didn’t get to see this one since the Rangers took over my cable system today. Hopefully that is only temporary.

Evidently the Good Guys showed up and played a fine one, taking a series from the Jays in Tranna by winning today, 3-2. Wandy went six, only allowing two solo homers. Wilton Lopez got a clutch double play in the seventh before walking Juan Rivera in the eighth with one out and throwing three high pitches to the next batter. Skipper Mills yanked the short chain and went to Melancon with a 2-1 count. The new closer struck out Arencibia and Davis to get to the ninth whereupon it got hairy indeed.

With two outs an infield single and a ringing double to right brought Bautista to the plate. Thankfully, challenge wasn’t on the menu and the HR leader was walked to load the bases full of evil portent.

Fuck that shit though, as mighty Melancon induced a groundout to end the game and preserve the win for Road Wandy.

Trade Bait Hunter Pence was an offensive star, tomahawking a two-run homer in the fifth to put the Good Guys ahead to stay.

Some abbreviated but still good stuff in the GZ. Now on to the City of Angels for some good corned beef hash at Canter’s and banana cream pie at the Apple Pan in between resurrecting what used to be a Blood Feud.

Monday, May 16. 2011

Astros 2
Braves 3

W: Hanson | L: Abad | S: Kimbrel

HR: Downs

In my sometimes twisted imagination, I visualize Jim Crane slapping his forehead and asking, “what the hell did I buy?”

For the first game after the official announcement of the sale of the Astros, the Braves welcomed them in to their cavernous park filled with seats but no people. Fresh off a home series loss to the fucking Mets and Brett Myers on the hill, perhaps the idea of the new regime would help spark the team. Perhaps not.

I can’t figure out if Myers pitched well or was just lucky. He did actually pitch well but had to survive bases-loaded situations in each of the first 2 innings and was lucky to come out of them without giving up a run.

Hanson, on the other hand, had the Astros wishing for some luck as his changing speeds and pinpoint (Braves-style) location left them staring agape or swinging wildly.

Despite giving up only 3 hits and fanning 10 through 7, the line-drive solo HR by Downs in the 5th had Hanson behind just as Myers was hitting a groove. The groove didn’t last long though, as the early innings of heavy work seemed to catch up to him in the 6th. 2 singles to start the frame turned into 2 runs when all was said and done and the thin Astros lead was gone.

The boys got one back to tie it again in the 7th after Lee reached on an error and Mighty Matt Downs plated him with a double to the gap in LCF. But as we all are keenly aware of, handing a game to this bullpen is like handing your car keys to your teenage son.

“Dad, I had a little accident. Nothing horrible but I need a ride home.”

Anyway, Abad coughed up the go-ahead run rather quickly in the bottom of the 7th and the Braves bullpen, including their newest redneck closer made the lead stick.

One more on this “excuse me” 2-gamer tomorrow afternoon at 12:05 CDT.

W Capuano (3-4)
L: Rodriguez (0-2)
HR: Barmes and who gives a hell

The Good Guys started out in control, threatening to win a series at home against the hated steM. Leading 2-0 in the fifth, Aneury Rodriguez was throwing a no-hitter and had only walked one. A muffed popup to the mound, muffed out of confusion and poor play, proved to be the first thread in Rodriguez’ undoing. “I lost my concentration. That’s what happened. I lost my concentration, because I tried to do too much,” was the familiar refrain.

Also losing their concentration in the inning were Towles and Bill Hall. With runners on the corners and two out, Towles threw to second in hopes of erasing Jose Reyes on his Little League-like attempted steal. The poor throw was fielded by Hall and Jason Pridie scored from third standing up to make it 4-2. Highly rebarrassin’.

Brad Mills was unable to provide an answer and the chain-whipping continued with a three-run homer in the sixth to make it 7-2.

The Astros doubled New York’s hits – ten to five – but had nothing with runners in scoring position, going 2 for 13. On to Atlanta, where no doubt more hilarity awaits.