By 7:30 the score was 6-zip. 2 homeruns in 2 innings chased Taylor Buchholz from the game. Rookie Matt Albers took over and, featuring mostly well placed fastballs, kept the Reds down for 5 innings in an appearance reminiscent of other Astro debuts this season, such as Dave Borkowski.
Willy Taveras scratched back a run with a pinch hit RBI single in 2nd. After that, Elizardo Ramirez matched Albers? zeros. He struck out 7 in a row from the end of the 3rd through the 5th. But, he tired, and in the 8th the Opossum Offense poked its' pink nose out of the brush and tried crossing the road against the new Reds' relievers.
Majewski came on and Biggio greeted him with a double, just missed a homer high against the Crawford wall. Then followed a single by Burke, and Bray came on to turn around Berkman. He bounced an RBI single off the shortstop Clayton?s glove. However, Berkman re-torqued his clutch on the way to first and had to leave. No word on his condition during the game.
The inning continued with a single by Scott that scored Burke. Then with 2 outs, 2 on, score 6-3, Eric Munson hit a towering fly that just tracked foul, narrowly missing a cow. He eventually singled home a run but that was one of the woulda, coulda, shoulda, moments of this game. The other one was in the 7th, runners 2nd, 3rd, one out, Everett fired a line drive right at the third baseman?s glove. The 8th ended with the score 6-4 and the opossums? glassy eyes staring up from the gloomy blacktop at the oncoming headlights.
With the offense scratching and clawing to tie the game, Lidge came on in the 9th. He gave up 2 runs after quickly recording 2 outs. Luke Scott gets an assist on this one with his horrible route to a fly ball that set Ryan Freel up with a triple.
Should you be interested, there is another game tomorrow at 7:05.
