Andy Pettitte gave up a lead off double, after that he retired 11 in a row. He made it through 6, struck out 8 and got 7 groundball outs. He featured an effective first pitch curve and his cutter was biting in. He tried working the corners, and though he only walked 2, he had to go deep most counts.
Bill Brown got out his psa about the trade rumors almost immediately after reminding the audience that announcers for this game are hired and paid by the Houston Astros. ?The Houston Chronicle particularly making a mistake in reporting.?, he said.
Morgan Ensberg, fresh of the DL doubled to start the 4th. His approach looks to have changed, much more aggressive at the plate. The double was a little outside, but he went with it and hit the ball deep to right center. Then Scott grounded to 2nd moving him over, and Everett, also swinging the bat well, got a fly to left just deep enough.
Huff played right and handled the one chance, a fly ball going away to his glove side. Lane relieved him in the 8th.
Bottom the 4th, Pettitte saw his worst trouble; with 2 outs, Piazza lined a low rope to center. Taveras came in to try a diving catch; he missed but luckily the ball knicked his glove and Piazza held at first. Kahlil Greene lined a single just to the right of Everett, then Adrian Gonzalez walked. Bases loaded. Pettitte took advantage of the free swinging Ben Johnson and got him to bounce one back to the mound.
The JD quote of the night, ?Mike Byrnes eats worms.?
In the 5th, with 2 outs, Cameron anticipated a first pitch curve, and lined a double. But he didn?t advance as Pettitte K?d Barfield looking on a curve.
Then, again in the 6th, a walk and a single with 2 Ks in between, Pettitte found himself facing runners 1st and 2nd. Again, Ben Johnson. This time Pettitte went to 3-2 and K?d him swinging at a cutter low and in.
Luke Scott led off the 7th with a double but didn?t advance.
Qualls came in for the bottom 7th. He went 3 up, 3 down and got Cameron to K arguing on a big curve.
Wheeler got the tough 8th. He got Barfield and Giles to fly out and carved up Piazza, fastball at the knees, fastball outside corner, slider in swinging.
Lidge was the 9th. He hooked his first 2 fastballs badly, but recovered from a 2-1 count to K Greene on a slider. The big pitch in the sequence was the 97 mph fastball right down the middle that set up the slider. Lidge then stuck out Gonzalez, again slider. But he walked the pinch hitter Bard. With the count 3-2, Belhorn K?d on a check swing at a slider.
I think it?s Backe tomorrow, again 9:05 CDT.
