After getting rocked by the Giants last week, Taylor Buchholz helped the Astros hand the Rangers a little payback. After getting shutout on Saturday, Houston and Buchholz returned the favor on Sunday with a 5-0 shutout. Buchholz went the distance in the win, completing the first shutout of his career. The Astros won the series 2-1 and improved to 24-20 on the year.
Taylor scattered only five hits throughout the game. A runner only reached third base once, due in part to a wild pitch in the previous at-bat that allowed Rod Barajas to take second base. Overall, Buchholz struck out six batters, didn't give up any walks, and tossed 102 pitches.
Preston Wilson hit an RBI single to center in the bottom of the 1st, scoring Craig Biggio as the first run. Morgan Ensberg launched his 14th homer, a two-run bomb, of the season in the 6th inning, and Jason Lane followed in the 8th with his 9th homer of the year, also a two-run job. Ensberg's homer ties him for 3rd-most in the league and puts him past Lance Berkman for the team lead.
Willy Taveras sat out of Sunday's lineup, and Brad Ausmus went 0x4 with two strikeouts in the #2 spot. Eric Bruntlett played in center and went 1x4.
The Astros head to DC on Monday for a four-game series against the Nationals. Wandy Rodriguez and Zach Day are the starters. First pitch is 6:05pm CDT.
