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General Discussion => Archive => News Archive 2006 => Topic started by: pravata on May 31, 2006, 12:39:50 am
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The Astros scored first, which is usually a good sign. Taveras poked his bat at a slider away and dropped in a double to right. The state of the Astros offense can be illustrated by the sac bunt attempt from Biggio. It failed, but Berkman smoked a single to center to jump on the 1-0 lead in the 1st.
In the second the Jakes got 2 doubles, the second by Molina on a cutter away on a 3-2 count. Molina went with the pitch and popped it over Wilson who was playing in. The score was tied. However, Pettitte was all steely eyed and did not have extended conversations with his glove this game. He got a lot of groundouts and, if anything, seemed to become more focused after giving up back to back homers in the 4th.
The rookie Reyes recovered from the first inning run and mowed down the Astros, keeping the score 3-1. Lots of mumbling and requests to the home plate ump Rob Drake for after game dinner suggestions from the Astros hitters. But in the 7th, Reyes began to visibly tire. His pitches were up and he was dropping his arm. After Burke lashed a double right over Rolen and Ausmus singled sharply through the hole, Reyes was lifted for Hancock.
Now, with 1 out and runners on 1st and 3rd, the Astros went to work, in a maneuver I?m calling ?The Opossum Awakes?. Lamb, hitting for Everett, lines an rbi single to right, the next ph, Palmeiro singles up the middle. Taguchi playing center comes up throwing to third. His throw was to the right of the bag, Rolen was playing to the left of the bag and Hancock had forgotten to back up 3rd. The ball gets by Rolen and goes into the dugout. 2 runs score and Palmeiro ends up on 3rd. With 2 outs, Biggio belts a 3-2 pitch 4 rows up into left. The inning ended with the Astros up 6-3.
JD suggested that this offense, apparently discovered Sunday in Pittsburgh, be called the ?Ambush?; and that the Astros strategy was to lull the opposition into a false sense of security. The only problem is that often the security is not false and for the most part the Astros have remained in their hiding place, well covered in leaves.
Springer worked the bottom of the 7th, his pitches were crisp and his fastball had movement, 3 up 3 down.
Wheeler got the tough 8th inning. With one out, Pujols singled, Rolen doubled and there was one out, runners 2nd and 3rd. Encarnacion hit a shot to Ensberg, not playing in, Pujols broke on contact and Mo threw home. Ausmus, playing about a foot behind home, took the throw and reached in to make the tag for the out. Both Ensberg and Pujols taking a chance on the play. Wheeler ended the inning striking out Taguchi to the chants of ?We love Gootch?. Gootch did not tip his hat to the sold out crowd.
Lidge got the save in the 9th against the bottom of the order. Throwing almost all fastballs he got Molina to ground out hard off of Ensberg, Miles to fly out, and then struck out Bigbie on 2 surprise sliders.
Tomorrow at 12 Buchholz v. Suppan