More first-timers than prom night

Posted on September 8, 2008 by MusicMan in Game Recaps

Pirates at Astros, 9/8/08
Astros 3, Pirates 2

W: Arias (1-0) L: Snell (6-11) S: Valverde (41)
HR: Saccomanno (1)

Alberto Arias had 21 innings of big-league experience entering tonight’s game, all in relief with Colorado. Naturally, he went 9 up, 9 down with 5 strikeouts on his first trip through the lineup. Some creative baserunning by Nyjer Morgan, no doubt distracted by the thought of “where the hell did I get this first name?”, resulted in a 3-2 putout on a thrown away pickoff in the fourth. That play allowed Arias to survive a scoreless fourth despite 2 hits and 2 walks.

Mark Saccomanno had zero major league at bats entering tonight’s game, but fortunately, mom and dad live in town so they could attend his major league debut. Hope they hadn’t hit the concession stand, because it lasted one pitch. Well, one pitch and a trip around the bases, as Saccomanno became the 25th player in MLB history to homer on the first pitch he ever faced.

Wesley the Kid made it close in the sixth, but the bullpen was able to rally and nail down a 3-2 victory to close the gab with the Brewers to 5 games.

Astros roll

Posted on September 7, 2008 by pravata in Game Recaps

Jack Cassel, Reggie Abercrombie, David Newhan, Jose Castillo, Mark Loretta. When a player goes down, other players step up. Yesterday it was Wigginton, today we heard that Backe would miss his next start because of an elbow twinge during his bullpen, and Wandy Rodriguez didn’t make it past the first because of a reoccurrence of the oblique injury. No matter, no one cares, they just went out and played.

Roy assess Wigginton’s injury

Posted on September 7, 2008 by pravata in News You Can Use

“He did pretty much the same thing I did a long time ago,” said Roy “When you pull your groin, you can’t run. You can’t really do anything. Hopefully we’ll see how he looks after two weeks, but it’s going to be a little while.”

Oswalt Notches Gem to Even Rockies Series with 2-0 Victory

Posted on September 6, 2008 by Arky Vaughan in Game Recaps

MLB Game Wrap | Footer Story | Wigginton’s Injury | GameZone | Comical

Roy Oswalt brought his A-game to Coors Field Saturday night, throwing his fifth career shutout and his first since 2005. Except for a leadoff single surrendered to Brad Hawpe in the fifth, Oswalt held the Rockies hitless, the first one-hitter of his career.

Hunter Pence supplied all the offense Oswalt required, drilling a two-out, two-run homer off Colorado starter Jeff Francis in the sixth. Francis otherwise pitched well, scattering seven hits and striking out five Astros in 6-1/3 innings.

Unfortunately, the victory was not without cost, as the Astros lost Ty Wigginton when he strained his groin trying to run out a grounder on the first plate appearance of the game. Wigginton, who has been perhaps Houston’s most consistent hitter this year and has excelled filling in for the injured Carlos Lee, is expected to miss at least a week. Wigginton is batting .294 with 22 home runs, a .363 OBP and a .552 slugging percentage this season. Spark plugs, anyone?

Oh Well, Better Luck Tomorrow

Posted on September 5, 2008 by BudGirl in Game Recaps

Astros 3, Rockies 5

W: Ubaldo Jimenez, L: Brian Moehler

Astros Recap
Yahoo Recap
Box Score

Do not believe I have witnessed a game go that fast in Colorado. This game took 2 hours and 37 minutes. Read More

Pitchers looking to 2009

Posted on September 5, 2008 by pravata in News You Can Use

Felipe Paulino was examined in (cue scary music) Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews, (fade out scary music) who confirmed the previous diagnosis of tendinitis in his shoulder.