A late arriving crowd, which will possibly show up by sometime Wednesday, had fewer no shows than the Astros offense.
In the first, Carlos Delgado, with 2 outs and 2 strikes, lunged at a diving curveball and caught it with one hand. He hit it barely out of reach of a leaping Jason Lane, and the ball ended up in the hands of a blond, curly haired, two-year old girl. She threw it back immediately.
Brandon Backe was more than a little squirrely, mumbly and jumpy. He couldn?t locate the plate and left after 5, giving up 4 runs and 2 homers. The 4 relievers that followed gave up two more homers, improbably to Willis, 1st of the season, and Conine 3rd, and 4 more runs.
Lane homered off the left field bricks, and Ausmus struck the ball well going 3-4. Willis threw a complete game for his 21st win. His only real jam was in the 5th. The score was 4-0, Lane lead off with a homer, Everett walked, Ausmus singled; then with one out, Scott, pinch hitting, struck out. Taveras hit a long fly to center.
Nobody panic. Wandy v. Beckett, at 7:00.
