Thursday, June 10, 2010

Astros 5
Rockies 4

W: Oswalt | L: Chacin (Rockies variety)

Astros.com
Gamezone

This one was pretty exciting. As is usual for a Thursday day game, glimpses are all I can hope for and I only stole a few. As is also usual, I will not attempt to “recap” the game, but provide a few nuggets, factoids, bites, bits and morsels to ponder:

► Roy pitched like Roy, but was pulled after 7 and 96 pitches. Though I haven’t searched thoroughly, I haven’t seen anything that explains why he didn’t go further.

► Bourn showed his mortality in the field with a lapse of sorts. He let Todd Helton go 1st to 3rd with a lacking effort coming in on a Tulowitski single to center. The result of the mess was 2nd and 3rd and both runners eventually scored, Tulo on a sac fly to shallow center that was not one of Michael’s better throws.

► Q is mashing. 3 for 4 with a HR today has upped his season AVG to .268 and for June to .417. He’s slugging .792 for the month.

► Manzella drove in 3 of the 5 Astros runs, 2 on a bases-loaded soft flare to center in the 6th to give the Astros the 3-run lead they needed because…

► In a wild 8th and up by 3, Wilton Lopez face 3 batters and gave up three singles and a run before being pulled. Chacin came in and K’d Hawpe but gave up another single to load ’em up with one out. On comes Daigle to face Oliva who grounded to 3rd but the DP was not to be and another run crossed. Daigle stayed in to face Giambi, the no longer juiced-up feared hitter he was but still a threat, he flied out to center and the lead remained.

► Mills put Lyon in for this save situation. Like pulling Oswalt, not sure why but it worked. 1-2-3.

June has really been good to the Astros. 8 wins in 10 days, with the offense showing signs of promise.

Alright, I’ve already taken up too much of your time because the Astros are going to NYC this weekend and you really, REALLY should be reading this.

Astros 6, Rockies 2
W: Brandon Lyon, L: Matt Belisle

Astros Recap
Game Zone

P’s—Felipe Paulino pitched 8 innings giving up 2 runs. He did a great job. This was his third consecutive outing of pitching 8 innings. I think he may be getting his groove. Good for the Astros.

Q’s–Humberto Quintero had a pretty nice game also last night. He had two hits and two throw’em outs, only one of which was ruled an out. But he was flashing his arm, in a good way.

The bittersweet part of the night was Matt Belisle’s outing. While many here at SnS want Belisle to do well, we can’t be too upset when Carlos Lee hits a grandslam to get the Astros the win. It was a good gamble by the Rockies, Lee was 1 for 15 prior to that hit. I do not doubt Belisle will bounce back and continue pitching well again. There’s that shitty saying, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Matty B just got stronger.

I watched this game after watching the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup. I must say that is the best trophy celebration in sports. Jeremy Roenick was holding back tears since he did not have the opportunity to hoist the cup when he played. Something about that trophy is just tons better than the others. I think winning a championship in any sport is an amazing feat, but that trophy is one of the best sports moments shown. Plus, they get to spend a day with it doing whatever crazy shit they want with it.

Astros @ Rockies, 6/8/2010

Houston 4, Colorado 3 (BOX)

Lopez (W, 3-0),  Lyndstrom (S, 14), Belisle (L, 1-2)

Bernardo Fallas (Chron.com) recap / Owen Perkins (MLB.com) recap

Gamezone

Monday’s game was ugly.  Tuesday’s game had a similar stink to it, with the distict possibility that it would be worse…  Michael Bourn getting a night off with Jason Micheals playing center in his stead. A lineup that put Keppinger in the lead-off spot and Manzella in the two-hole, Feliz, Michaels, Cash and Moehler batting 6 through 9.  Moehler making his third start of the season (after getting shelled in his first start and pitching a decent game in his second), this time against the Rockies, who absolutely rake against Moehler.  None of this things inspired confidence – an impending feeling of doom if you like…

The first inning, in fact the first for batters for the Rockies, only heightened the stench in the air. 4 straight hits by the Rockies, with no outs, led to three runs. JD: “It could go from bad to worse to flat out ugly here in a hurry…” .  Oddly enough, it didn’t.  Moehler got a strikeout on the next batter and got Helton to ground out into a double play in the next at bat.  Inning over, HOU 0, COL 3.

The 2nd inning went 3-up, 3-down for both teams.  In the 3rd inning, Moehler induced the Rockies into their second double play of the night, and ended up stranded 2.  HOU 0, COL 3.

You can’t throw that weak-ass shit to JEFF KEPPINGER, bitch! led off the top of the 4th with a double, and subsequently scored on a long single by Manzella.  Berkman flied out to left, Lee singled to left and then Spaz grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the 4th.  HOU 1, COL 3.  Moehler pitched out of trouble in the bottom of the 4th, again leaving 2 Rockies stranded.  Through 4: HOU 1, COL 3.

Kevin Cash managed a single in the top of the 5th, but was left stranded at first.  Rockies had some traffic on the bases in the bottom of the inning, but the Astros end the inning by turning their 3rd double play of the night.  Through 5, HOU 1, COL 3.  The Astros went down in order in the top of the 6th (despite a scorcher hit by Manzella to third), but the ‘fun’ started in the bottom of the inning.  Olivo singled to start the bottom of the 6th.  With Helton up with no outs and 2 strikes, the Rockies put on the hit and run.  Helton whiffed and Olivo was thrown out by Cash for the strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play (the Astros 4th of the night).  The next batter, Mora, took a walk and then during Barmes’ at bat, good ole’ Balking Bob Davidson did what he does best -calling some weak-ass balk on Moehler. With 2 outs and a runner now in scoring position, the Astros intentionally walk Barmes to get to the pitcher, Francis.  Francis grounds out into a force at 3rd base to end the inning.  through 9, HOU 1, COL 3.

The Astros scored another run in the Top of the 7th with a double, and some heads-up base running by Lee on a shot by Spaz that was caught at the wall.  With Lee on 3rd base after tagging up on Spaz’ fly out, he was able to score on a broken bat roller by Feliz to the shortstop. Middle 7, HOU 2, COL 3.  Wilton Lopez took over the bottom of the 7th and set the Rockies down in order.  Through 7, HOU 2, COL 3.

Things got fun for the Astros in the top of the 8th.  Matty B. came in to pitch for Francis, and Michael Bourn came in to pinch-hit for Lopez.  Bourn started 1-2, but ended up lining a single to right (on the 7th pitch of the at bat).  With Keppinger up and the count 2-2, Bourn took off on a hit-and-run.  The ball was looped into center and Bourn had already passed 2nd base before he realized the ball would be caught, so he turned on the burners, touched 2nd and busted it back to 1st base to avoid being doubled off.  With Manzella at the plate, good ole’ Balking Bob Davidson called another horseshit balk, this time on Belisle, sending Bourn to second base.  Manzella then put down a sweet bunt single towards 3rd base.  1 out, runners at the corners.  Belisle was lifted at this point and replaced with Franklin Morales.  Berkman proceeded to ground into a force out at 2nd base, scoring Bourn. Tie ballgame.  With Lee in the box, Berkman hustled down to 2nd base for his 2nd steal of the year.  A soft fly single to left put the Astros up by a run (both charged to Matty B), and an ugly strikeoout by Spaz ended the inning.  Middle 8, HOU 4, COL 3.  Bourn stayed in to play center in the bottom of the 8th, and Michaels switched over to left.  Lyon came in to pitch.  Brad Hawpe, the leadoff batter for the inning, absolutely crushed the 2-1 pitch into left, but Michaels made a leaping catch at the top of the wall to rob him of a hit (double or home run, I couldn’t quite tell).  Lyon retired the next two in order to end the 8th.  Through 8, HOU 4, COL 3.

The Astros went down in order in the top of the 9th.  Lindtrom took the hill to close out the game.  Struck out Mora for the 1st out. Walked Stewart (on a couple of decent pitches), bringing up pinch-hitter Jason Giambi (yes he is still alive and playing baseball) with a runner on.  Giambi crushed the ball to left, but Michaels made the catch at the back of the track. 2 outs, runner on first base.  Gonzalez proceeding to ground into the 4-6 force to end the game. GOOD GUYS WIN 4 – 3!!!

All in all, a fun game to watch.  It started out fugly, but Moehler managed to get 18 straight outs without allowing a runner to score (after the first 3 runs had scored with no outs in the bottom of the 1st that is…).  It wasn’t particularly pretty, but Moehler did what he so often does, and that was to give an unspectacular but workmanlike performence on the mound.  6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER.  The pen held the Rukkakes scoreless for the final 3 innings as well.  Manzella began to show some life at the plate, and Lee actually looked good all around (good swing, heads-up base running, etc).  The Astros slowly chipped away at the 3-run deficit and took the lead on a well-played 8th inning (sorry Matty B, wish it had been someone else…).

And that there is your ballgame, folks. Rockies can’t sweep now, and the Astros still have a chance to win the series.  Good stuff, all.  And better news still, you’ll be happy to know that the legendary JackAstro will be back for his regularly scheduled Tuesday night recap next week, so no more having to read my uninspiring rubbish on Wednesday mornings anymore…

By the way, for those of you keeping score at home, with the win on Tuesday the Astros fall 6.5 back in the “Race for Rendon,” trailing the Orioles and Indians (and tied with the Diamondbacks) for the prize of the 2011 draft.

Y’all have fun now, ya hear!!!

Monday, June 8th, 2010

Astros 1
Rox 5

W: Hammel | L: Wandy

Astros.com
Gamezone

Switching between this test and Bud’s fugly mug to check on the draft, it was clear from the start that the air and the sheer expanse of Coors had the Astros a bit on their heels. The most trouble Wandy had was early, topped by a Barmes double off the wall in left (creatively played by Carlos) that led to the 2 runs scored in that frame. After 1 more given up in the 3rd, Wandy kicked back and held the Rox down through the 7th.

The bigger problem is the one this team has had all season, silent bats. Jason Hammel scattered six hits and 3 walks in over 7 scoreless innings but the Astros had their chances. Pence had a 2-out RBI opportunity in the 1st after a single and a walk but grounded weakly to 3rd. Back-to-back singles to lead off the 2nd was snuffed by Manzella’s 6-3 DP and a Wandy K. That’s as close as they came to getting on the board. Blum singled home the Astros lone run with 2-out in the 9th and me snoring on the couch.

3 more in Denver. Mark previewed it perfectly.