Contributed by homer.
The suitcases were lined up in the clubhouse as the Astros were set to scatter across the country after the game. Moehler and Zimmerman did their parts to keep the game moving and make sure that everyone got to their destinations on time until the game slowed to a crawl in the 6th. Kaz sent the home team into the break happy with an 8th inning three run shot to the first row of seats in right.
Bourn reached and advanced to second via an error in the first, and Tejada drove him in with a single. That run would be all that was needed to vanquish the young Mr. Zimmerman and his electric fastball 5-0. The Astros, however, did their best to give it away with sloppy baserunning and bases loaded jams in the 6th and 7th.
After a leadoff walk for El Vendo in the 4th, El Caballo launched one towards the daily Caballitos gathering, but about 3 inches too low. The call was reviewed by the umpires, but they could have just asked Carlos because he watched it all the way. Maybelline was also focused on something besides baserunning, as he ran through Clark’s stop sign and was tagged out by the waiting Nieves as he stopped about 5 feet short of home plate.
In the top of the 6th, Moehler gave up a lead off double, and, after a ground out to Puma, Moehler promptly walked the next two. An infield pop up and a 3-1 ground out ended the inning put the Nationals offense out of its misery.
In the top of the 7th, a leadoff single followed by a sacrifice bunt, a pitching change that brought Arias, and a single led to runners on the corner with one out. The speedy Nyjer Morgan easily stole second which was followed by a walk. Again, the inept Nationals offense couldn’t plate a run after a weak pop out to Berkman in foul territory and a Dunn ground out to Tejada, who was shifted up the middle, for the 6-3 put out.
In the bottom of the 7th, Blum half assed his way to first with a no hustle HBP and was followed by a Pence single up the middle. Pudge struckout for the third time, but not before arguing that he was also hit by a pitch after he pulled back on a bunt attempt. Home plate umpire Adrian Johnson ruled that he had made a bunt attempt for the swinging strike, but Pudge emphatically argued for an appeal to Jim Wolf at first. Cooper was roused from his Sunday afternoon nap to stroll out and get a close up view of Pudge losing his mind. Kaz picked him up, however, when he turned on a middle-in fastball and lined it into the first row of the right field seats.
A two on, two out 8th led to Papa Grande getting the call for the four out save opportunity which he converted without issue. The Astros added a run in the top of the 9th when Nationals pitcher Tyler Clippard caught a spike in mid delivery and balked in the Puma from third.
The Astros start the second half on Thursday night with the first of a four game set in LA. The Astros will face the Co-ards 12 times, the FTCs 7 times, the Brewers 9 times, and the Phillies 8 times for a total of 36 of the final 74 games.
