Astros 6
Pirates 4

W: Moehler (5-4) | L: Burnett (0-1) | S: Valverde (23) 

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The Good Guys averted the series sweep last night, touching up John Van Benschoten (fake name, obviously) for 4 runs in the first, then pulling away from the Bucs late to seal it.

Who is “John Van Benschoten”, and what is he hiding?

Geoff Blum put the hurt on early, clearing The Caballo and Twinkie off the basepaths with a 3-run smokey to right, while Officer Brad sent the fourth run across in the person of Private Pyle, capping a string of 3 straight singles. All of the traffic and runs came with two down in the inning.

The Pyroots chipped away through the middle of the game, picking up 1 in the second, 2 in the third, and the tying run in the fifth. Moehler battled through and held it at 4 each after six innings, and was rewarded with a lead in the top of the seventh.

Bourn bunted his way on to lead off, despite the fact the he was not batting leadoff again for some reason. Bradley moved him up, and Loretta came in to hit for Moehler. When he hit a dribbler in front of the plate, the catcher opted to head to third with the throw, but Bourn is made of lightning and subatomic particles and the such, and had already been waiting at the bag for several days.

Actual view from Bourn’s helmet cam

Gunther’s grounder to the left plated Bourn with the go-ahead run, while Loretta moved up a bag to second. Kazuo took a short break from just not being very good to hit his second double of the game, scoring Lo for the insurance run. Sampson followed with two perfect innings in relief, and El Ponche Grande closed it out for his 23rd save of the campaign.

Matsui, responding to recent criticisms

Today is a travel day ahead of the last series before the ASG, so start soaking in the political chit-chat and other distractions. Just let the day take you where it will, and be safe out there.