Thursday, June 3, 2010

Natinals 4
Astros 6

W: Lindstrom | L: Matt “Mike” Capps
HR: Cash, Berkman, Lee

Astros.com
Gamezone

Despite the critical debate surrounding Moehler’s future on this 19-34 team, he pitched well for 5. Combined with HRs by Cash and Berkman, the Astros had a one-run lead after 8. On we go to the newly-exciting “save situation” for Matt Lindstrom.

Started out great with a K and a certain feeling of confidence. Then, a sharp liner to right that Twinkie leaped and snagged in a sweet, yet scary play. OK, 2 out. Then, a single up the middle by PH Morse. No worries, Willie Harris up. 2nd pitch, a low sinker, Harris golfed a high slicing pop to short left. Flapjack, still in the game for some reason (actually, a reason we’ll find out later), zeroed in on the ball as it headed towards the outcropping of seats along the LF line. Sensing no chance for a catch, he pulled up as the ball bounced past his bare-handed try at fielding it. Running on the pitch, Morse is halfway between 2nd and third by the time the ball hits the ground and easily cruises home as the tying run. Once Flapjack corralled the ball and got it in, Harris was safely at 3rd. In a foreshadowing of the hero/goat theme of this wacky-ass 9th, Cristian Guzman capped Lindstrom’s blown save with a high-pop single to shallow LCF that scored Harris, giving the gNats the lead.

So the Astros have one more shot, down by one with PH Sullivan, then the unchanged top of the order due up against gNats closer Capps. Sully grounded out, then Bourn doubled. Cue the wavy image flashback dissolve to the bottom of the 8th and the down-by-one desperation of gNats manager Riggleman. In a double-switch, he moved starting SS Guzman to RF to get the pitcher out of the due-up-in-the-9th 6th spot with Desmond in at SS. Got it? The line-up change worked but there is still the bottom of the inning to deal with. Flashback over, wavy dissolve back to Berkman batting with 1 out in the 9th. He rips what could be called either a topspin fly or a sinking liner to RF Guzman who seemed to have a beat but the ball sunk just past his glove as he came in on it. The ball bounced away and Bourn strolled home to tie the game.

It was scored an error, but he’s a SS in RF. Hero’s fall complete. Now for that goat. Flapjack sauntered up to the plate with one thing on his mind. KABONG! 2-run, walk-off no-doubter to the Crawfords. Goat’s redemption complete. Astros take 3 of 4 from the Natinals and seem, and I mean seem, to be getting a bit of a groove back with the bats. We’ll see.

3 coming up with the FuckTheCubs at Minute Maid. Check out the always bile-filled FTC Series Preview by Craig. It’ll get you in the right frame of mind…

Nationals 1, Astros 5
W: Wandy Rodriguez, L: John Lannan

Astros Recap

The last two games Jim Deshaies seems to be amusing himself with Baseball Bingo during the games. I decided to recap this game by finding some stats to fit into the number ranges on a regular bingo card.

B5 – Number of runs scored by the Astros.

I26 – Pence’s team leading RBIs (2 for the night). Carlos Lee is in second with 23.

N40 – Strike outs by Manzella (1 for the night). 44 strike outs thrown by Wandy (8 on the night).

G60 – Innings pitched by Wandy (5 for the night).

O64 – Successful Stolen Base Percentage against Quintero (Morgan stole a base) (36% Caugt Stealing, obviously leads the team, Cash is at 27%).

The Astros won this game, but no one really seems to care since ArmandoGalaragga pitched a perfect game, but there was an umpire error.

The Gamezone has its usual information and strosrays preview is simply outstanding .

The Astros go for the series win today at 1:05 pm. Also, just a note that the Cubs are packing their bags to come to Houston for the weekend.

June 1, 2010. Natinals at Astros

Natinals 7, Astros 8  (BOX)

W. Lopez (W, 2-0),  Capps (L, 0-2). Lindstrom (BS, 2)

McTaggart Recap

How shall I lose thee? Let me count the ways. With a boot, and a gaffe, and some walks, but it wasn’t to be.  The Good Guys tried their asses off to pull out a “L” from tonight’s game, but just couldn’t make it happen in the end, try and try as they may.  Despite the fluid nature of the Astros stellar, to shit, to shit, to shit, to stellar performances tonight, it was a win and a sorely needed one at that.

Brett Myers came through in a big way tonight

Giving a beleaguered bullpen a strong 7-inning start (7.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR).

Count Berkman in as a convert to the Brett Myers fan club:

“I was prepared not the like the guy just from playing against him, and I’ve got to tell you he’s one of my favorite teammates in terms of his competitiveness.  He has a perfect attitude for what you’re looking for in a pitcher. If he loses 2-1 win, he’s always blaming himself and takes responsibility. He’s a competitor and not scared to throw the ball over the plate. I just think he’s a great addition to this team.  That’s the kind of guy you can win with.  He’s a warrior. The day he pitches he’s focused, he’s intense and I think the team feeds on that. I think the team takes the personality of the that day’s starter, and he does a great job of bringing that intensity to the ballclub.”

As did the offense

Sweet Baby Bourn: 1-4, 2 BB, 3 R

Jeff Keppinger, bitches: 3-5. 1 R

Puma: 3-5, 1 BB, 1 R, 5 RBI

Pence!!!: 2-3, 2 BB, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR

The defense, not so much

A booted ball by Blum and a poor throw to the plate by Berkman in the top of the 5th led to 3 unearned runs.

Nor the bullpen

Lyon allowed a run to score in the top of the 8th and loaded the bases before getting back-to-back strikeouts to end the thread (Astros lead 6-5). Line: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO.

Lindstrom allowed the tying and go-ahead run to score in the top of the 9th for his second blown save of the season (Natinals lead 7-5). Line: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO.

That is until Wilton Lopez

came in and cleaned up Lindstrom’s bases loaded mess. Line: 0.2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO.

And Berkman atoned for an earlier sin

2 out in the bottom of the 9th, Berkman plated 2 with a walk-off base hit.

As did third base umpire Bill Hohn

Yeah, this guy, who ruled that Berkman checked his swing on what otherwise would have been strike 3 and the ballgame (and yes, it looked as if Hohn did Berkman a very big favor).

Sure, parts of the game were ugly.  Yet it was a win, and a sweet one at that…

Things I learned in the Gamezone tonight

Brett Myers is a fucking gamer, but he doesn’t even look Korean. He lowered his ERA to 3.04 on the season.  Better than Lincecum. Lincecum looks more Korean than Myers.  But ultimately, What can you say about Myers?  He’s a battler.  He hits them with everything he has.

Bizarre Panamanian rituals: Carlos gets under more balls than a midget hooker.

Yet another brilliant marketing strategy by Pam.

You do NOT walk a man to get to Jeff Keppinger, bitch! (unless Feliz trying to score from third on the play).