Pasadena came into the game hoping to get some more efficient outs and go further into the game. He completed 7 strong innings, got his 13th win, but his outs recorded, 8 grounders, 9 flyballs, and 5ks still not the Pettitte of the past.
The 3rd got him talking to himself. He gave up a single then got an out on a 3rd strike fouled bunt by the Brewers' pitcher Davis. The lead off hitter Brady Clark bounced a grounder to the left of Ensberg. He charged the slow hopper, scooped, then tried to whip a side arm throw on the run to 2nd. He missed. An error on what could have been an inning ending dp. Pettitte couldn?t recover from the error and gave up a couple singles to score 2 runs.
Pettitte was the first batter in the bottom of the 3rd, the only lefty in Garner?s dexter lineup. He got the Astros? first hit, advanced to 2nd on Taveras? attempt at a bunt single. Then scored when Berkman dropped a liner over short for a 2 out RBI.
Pasadena put the clamps on after that and only allowed one more single until he left after the 7th.
In the 8th the hitters finally figured out Davis? slow motion delivery, his curve, change and 86 mph ?fastball?. Burke singled, advanced to 2nd on Everett?s sac bunt. Then Ausmus, who I hear is hitting .500 in the last 5 games, ripped a run scoring double into the left field corner. Taveras bounced a high chop over David Bell who had been playing on top of him all night for his own RBI double. Then Biggio caught a hanging slider from the reliever Helling and crashed a Crawford Box homer to the delight of his Sunshine Kids guests. That put the game at 5-2.
Wheeler came in for the 8th , Prince Fielder knocked his post Break ERA off the Blutarski Line with a homer. Fielder, who had 2 RBI this game, wasn?t supposed to play except that Jeff Cirillo bounced his helmet off the turf in the first when he was called out at on a play at 1st that wasn?t even close. He was safe by 2 steps.
The Pope worked the 9th. He gave up his obligatory double before retiring the side, giraffing over to cover 1st on a 3-1 putout.
The Mets are next, 7:05 and the last pitcher that has been announced for that game is Wandy.
