In the 9th JD says, ?It?s a strange game when 2-0 seems like a blow out. But the Astros haven?t hit the ball hard all night.?
Here?s how it went. In the 1st, 2 outs, runner on 2nd, actually Adam Dunn who just stole the base, Huff dives to his left for a grounder. Now here?s a man who hasn?t moved more than one step to his left since he?s joined the team. Everett was in position to make the play. Doesn?t matter, ball dinks off Huff?s glove and runner is on 3rd, 2 outs. Next batter, grounder to the right of Biggio, short step, long step, ball out of reach, run scores.
So it goes.
In the 2nd, the Reds had runners 1st and 3rd, runner on 1st breaks, Ausmus fakes the throw, runner on 3rd breaks, and they get him going back to 3rd.
Astros had a chance in the 5th. Scott lead off with a double. Ausmus grounded to the right side, advancing the runner to 3rd with one out. Everett fouled back the squeeze and and then struck out. Harang walked Clemens on 4 pitches to get to Biggio who blooped out to 2nd.
The top the 7th started the same way for the Reds. Lead off double. One hopper to Everett that he bobbled; the runner broke on contact, Everett would have had a play at 3rd except for the aforementioned booble. He got the runner at 1st but there was runner 3d, one out. 8 batter walked, then the pitcher blooped a bunt towards first. The runner on 3rd moved half way, Lamb came in, picked up the ball, didn?t look the runner back, and lobbed the throw to 1st. Biggio?s hump backed throw home had no chance.
Top the 8th, Everett lead off with a double. Berkman pinch hit and popped up on 3-2. Biggio lined to 3rd, and Lamb struck out.
Matt Albers made his major league debut in the bottom of the 8th. Ausmus said something that had him grinning before the 1st batter, who doubled. Then he got a come backer. The runner on 2nd crabbed towards 3rd, Albers took 2 steps towards him and threw to 3rd. They fucked up the run down further and the trailing runner was able to make 2nd before they made the out. Garner came to the mound and got the ball. Albers left the mound grinning. About what? Just happy to be here? Wheeler got the last 2 outs so they didn?t score.
I have given up expecting the Astros to teach their players to execute a run down. But I learned how to do this in little league. It was Albers first game! Do they not teach this anymore?
Astros left 2 runners on with 2 outs in the 9th.
More of this bullshit continues tomorrow at 7:05.
