Ezequiel Astacio is very coachable. Garner keeps saying that if he keeps the ball down he has a chance. He followed that advice to the letter for 5 innings. Brad spent the first five inning digging sliders. In the 6th, Zekel elevated a little and started getting hit. Garner had him on a very short leash, 5.1 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 5 strikeouts and a walk closed the book on Ezequiel. He had a very good night, highlighted by striking out the side in the 2nd.
The bullpen took over after that. Gallo, Springer, 1.1 no hit innings, Wheeler, an inning 2 Ks, Burns gave up a towering homerun to Miller, and Lidge closed it out for the save.
The big inning for the Astros was the 7th, which I refer to as the ?Childrens? Crusade?. 2 outs into the inning, down 1 to 0 and well on their way to their 15th shutout, the camera caught two kids in the stands already with inside out rally caps on. Never too early with this team, maybe they started something. Burke crashed a single past a diving Hall, Ausmus walked, and then Vizzy, pinch hitting, coaxed a slow roller up the middle for an RBI single.
Burke made it home and Ausmus hustled into third. The Brewers then lifted Doug Davis for Kane Davis, who appears doomed to walk the Earth, around the bases. He promptly uncorks a wild pitch scoring Ausmus. There was no throw but Ausmus displayed a sliding style that practically broke his leg. Kane then walks Taveras after almost beaning him in the head.
Then Biggio squibs one to the left of the pitcher. Kwai Chang waves at Overbay to go to the bag, signaling he?d handle it. Biggio, dodging past, but still in the base path, raised his arms. As Davis threw, the ball hit Bidge in his trusty elbow pad. If he did that on purpose, Bidge is the best base runner ever. Viz was able to score on the error, making it 3-1.
Lane adds a 2 run homer in the 8th, continuing his monster homestand. Burns come in for the 9th, is brilliant striking out Hall; but then hits Helms and gives up a homerun to Damian to make it way too interesting. The Pope comes in and nails this one down.
Tough matchup tomorrow, 6:05, Rodriguez vs. Sheets.
