Tonight all eyes were on 22. It didn?t stand for Clemens? jersey number, the millions in his contract, the number of seasons he's been in major league baseball, or even the date, 22 is Francisco Liriano?s age.
Through 7 the Astros managed 4 base runners vs the rookie. Three were erased on double plays and no runners reached 2nd. In the 8th, Preston Wilson hit his second single of the night, and Jason Lane got the bat in on one of Liriano?s inside fastballs that had everyone else shaking their heads. The homerun landed in the Crawford Boxes and cut the score to 4-2. That?s how it ended.
The Astros in season pickup, Roger Clemens went 5 innings. He threw exactly 100 pitches, 38 of them in the 3rd. Jason Kubel?s 3rd inning double scored a run and he came home on a 3-2, 2 out single from Cuddyer. Springer relieved in the 6th, Justin Morneau reached for a good pitch low and away and popped it into the bullpen for a homer. Nieve gave up the 4th run in his 2 innings of work. Trever Miller worked one perfect.
The Astros pack up and head for Chicago to face the White Sox who just swept the Cardinals. Pettitte vs 7-0 Contreras.
