Maybe surprising him IS the only way to go. After Andy Pettitte was nixed from Saturday's starting spot due to a minor sprained ankle, Tim Redding filled in and pitched four scoreless innings. The Astros went on to win 7-3 and have themselves a fledgling two-game winning streak.
While Redding kept the Wahoos at bay through four, Kevin Millwood did the same with the Astro lineup for three innings. Houston got on the board first with two runs in the 5th, highlighted by a solo homer by Carlos Rivera. The Indians got back two in the 5th off Mark McLemore and one (unearned) off Brandon Duckworth in the 6th to tie it at 3-3. The score remained as such until the top of the 8th, when Houston put up a four-spot, started by Barry Wesson's first homer, a solo shot, of the spring. Duckworth and Wandy Rodriguez finished the job from there.
Wait a minute... Redding and Duckworth combined for no earned runs in 7.2 innings today? Hope you people have fire insurance, because the apocalypse is upon us.
The Astros will play the Yankees at Osceola County Stadium on Sunday at 12:05pm CDT. Dave Burba is scheduled to start, with Mike Gallo, Chad Harville, Phil Norton and Travis Driskill also slated to get some mound work in.
