Carrying a 3-1 lead into the 9th, the Astros lost 4-3. Let's get to the line:
Mike Hampton
4IP, 6H, 1R (0ER). 75 pitches, 50 for strikes (66.7%). 4 ground-outs, 4 fly-outs, 3 Ks.
FB hit 90, Slider at 87, Changeup at 86, Curve at 75.
Saith Hampton:
"I felt good," he said. "I threw all my pitches to both sides of the plate. For the most part I felt pretty comfortable. I felt if I got out of whack a little bit I could correct it pretty quickly. For the most part I felt pretty comfortable out there."
Hampton will start Friday at Beck's Stadium against the Cardinals.
Chris Sampson, 5th inning
1IP, 1H. 12p/8s (75%). 2go/1fo.
FB at 88,
Russ Ortiz, 6th-7th
2IP, 2K. 23p/16s (69.6%). 2go/2fo/2K.
FB at 92
Byrdak, 8th
1IP, 1H. 8p/5s (67.5%). 2go/1fo.
FB at 89-91
Brocail, 9th
1IP, 3H, 3R (2ER). 1go/2fo. 1L
How did this happen?:
Cabrera: 1 pitch/1 out
Choo: Line drive single to right
Espino: Ground-ball single to 3rd
Garko: Popped out to catcher
-Note: Two outs-
Carroll: HBP, bases loaded
Crowe: Two-run single to right
Graffanino: Ground-ball to third, E5 on Johnson, Carroll scored.
Lineup
Bourn, Keppinger, Berkman, Tejada, Pence, Erstad, Michaels, Smith, Quintero.
Bourn went 2x4 with 2r and 2SBs. Berkman had an RBI ground-rule double off Kerry Wood in the 6th. Johnson followed with an RBI double of his own.
Four errors - four! Three throwing errors on Johnson, Keppinger, Smith and a fielding error by Tejada led to two unearned runs. Attribute Smith's errors to nerves:
"Did you see today's game?" he said, when asked if he was nervous. "There was a tremendous amount of pressure today. You kind of know, but still, something could have been done today. It could have been me [who was cut], so I could sit here and lie to you and say I didn't feel any pressure."
There's your game.
Man of the Match: Lance Berkman
Goat of the Game: Doug Brocail
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
