Astros 8
Marlins 2
WP: R. Oswalt (11-6)
LP: D. Willis (7-11)
AP MLBAfter a late night sittin round the cracker barrell in Hooterville the Astros traveled down to Florida in the wee hours to face the hometown nine. That’s not the Marlins, that’s the fans in the stands.
Made dizzy by the carousel of runs in the last 4 games the Astros were looking for a solid start from Roy. And they got it. He had the fastball, he had both curveballs, and he had some help from his fielders. He could have easily gone more than 6 but for the rain delay.
It didn’t look promising in the first though. A roller through the infield, a bloop over 3rd, and a hbp loaded the bases with 2 outs. Hermida then missed a grand slam by two steps in front of the right field fence.
But later, in the 4th, Hermida found his range and an empty seat in right center to put the Marlins ahead one to nothing.
Meanwhile the Astros’ batters were swinging early at the wild and potentially accommodating Willis. By the 7th, he had thrown 72 pitches.
In the 7th, Carlos Lee singled. The redoubtable Mr. Wigginton battled the count to 2-2 and cracked a double down the 3b line. That put runners 2nd and 3rd, no outs. And the rain started to come down. Jason Lane, visibly bothered by the distraction, tried to step in between the raindrops. He worked the count to 3-2 but K’d looking at a wicked fastball in. The rain was now a deluge. Bruntlett stepped in and lined the first pitch fastball into center. The ball bounced, touched off the centerfielders glove and by the time the rain delay was called, 2 runs had scored and Bruntlett had claimed 2nd.
Half hour rain delay, and we got bonus coverage, Texas at Toronto and Josh Lewin. If you’re ever told you have a half an hour to live, tune into Lewin, he’ll make it seem like a freaking eternity.
When the action recommenced, the Marlins swapped out Willis for the flame throwing Lindstrom. The indefatigable, but possibly bleary eyed Brad Ausmus tried hitting 98 mph fastballs up around his eyes. Palmeiro pinch hit for Roy and lined the first fastball for a solid single to right. That made the score 3-1.
The Astros brought in Borkowski who gave up 3 singles in a row, scoring one, and followed that by striking out two in a row, Uggla and Cabrera, to keep the score 3-2.
Then the two offensive heros of this game took over. Burke started the 8th with a one out double. Couple of walks loaded the bases and Lane worked an RBI walk. Bruntlett added two more with a double off the scoreboard in left.
Burke finished the nights’ scoring with a 2 run homer in the 9th.
