Oswalt: 6IP, 6H, 3ER, 7K:0BB
Arias: 1IP, 1K
Wright: .1IP, 1ER, 0K:2BB
Sampson: .2IP, 1H,
Hawkins: .1IP, 1H, 1BB
Oswalt pitched alright - another home run, this time to Micah Hoffpauir - but he still had what is considered a quality start. And another no decision.
| Pitcher | Pit/Str | Strike% | BF/Outs | Efficiency% | GB/FB/K |
| Oswalt | 108/72 | 66.7% | 25/18 | 72% | 4/7/7 |
| Arias | 9/7 | 77.8% | 3/3 | 100% | 2/0/1 |
| Wright | 15/6 | 40% | 3/1 | 33.3% | 0/1/0 |
| Sampson | 12/8 | 66.7% | 3/2 | 66.7% | 1/1/0 |
| LaHawk | 12/8 | 66.7% | 3/1 | 33.3% | 1/0/0 |
| Total | 156/101 | 64.7% | 37/25 | 67.6% | 8/9/8 |
Matsui and Bourn were a combined 0x9 in 10 plate appearances (Bourn did draw a walk). However, 3-8 were 9x21 with all four runs and RBI, 2K:4BB. It looked like the Astros had Wells on the ropes in the early going. In the second inning, Pudge walked to load the bases, and Roy grounded out to end the 29-pitch inning for Wells. In the 3rd, the Astros had Lance and Lee on, and this time Tejada grounded out to end the inning. After that, the Astros had 1-2-3 innings from the 4th-8th. That's 15 up and 15 down. But then the 9th happened.
Now, Berkman and Lee went back-to-back (on three total pitches) in the top of the 9th, making it a 4-2 game. Then Tejada singles to left, then Pence singles to center and Tejada takes an extra base. Blum is then hit, loading the bases, and then Pudge singles, scoring Tejada and Pence - tying the game - and Blum is on 2nd with no outs. Noodlearm Fukudome is in right. Michaels pinch-hits, fly ball to right. Blum stays put. Matsui flies out to right. Blum stays put. Bourn walks, loading the bases for Berkman, who grounds out.
Let's look at this. Should Blum hustle it up and take third on what would be considered a sac fly from Michaels, he's in line to score the 5th run of the game when Matsui flies out to right. He doesn't do any of that, and the Astros leave the game tied. LaHawk nuts it (maybe Sampson and his 1.59 ERA should be taken for a spin in the 9th), and the game is over.
Longest AB of the night: 10 pitches by Blum in the 2nd, resulted in a single.
Man of the Match:
Carlos Lee. 3x4 with a homer to follow Berkman's to turn a fluke into a rally.
Goat of the Game:
Geoff Blum. Poor baserunning decisions led to what could have been a much, much different game.
