Recap for G38 - Brewers at Astros

The Brewers have now taken three out of four from the Astros this season, and if the Astros expect to contend in this division, they're going to have to do better than this: Against the Cardinals, Brewers, and Cubs this season, the Astros are 3-11. Things were rolling along okay for our fair team until a cut Mike Hampton suffered in the shower trying to get soap out of the dispenser (there are so many things to discuss with that fact, there's just not enough time) on Sunday came back to haunt him and he exited after four innings. By the time Ortiz left two innings later, the score may as well have been a final.

Hampton: 4IP, 3H/2ER, 4K:3BB
Ortiz: 2IP, 3H/2ER, 2K:2BB
Fulchino: 3IP

Fulchino threw three perfect innings, but Ortiz? Ortiz was not so perfect. He game up the two earned after walking the first two batters he saw. Honestly, 46 pitches to get through two innings. He did get one back by taking Dave Bush deep, but there is plenty of blame for the offense, as well.

Pitcher	Pit/Str	Strike%	BF/Outs	Efficiency%	GB/FB/K
Hampton	60/31	51.7%	16/12	75%	4/4/4
Ortiz	46/25	54.3%	11/6	54.5%	1/3/2
Fulchino	35/25	71.4%	9/9	100%	5/4/0
Total	141/81	57.4%	36/27	75%	10/11/6

Oh yeah, and Kaz Matsui stole home - the second Astros steal of home in the last week. Multi-hit games from Pence (3x4) and Bourn (2x4) provided most of the offense, though Ortiz' homer was the lone RBI of the game. Not that the Astros didn't have their chances.

Bush got 17 non-contact strikes tonight, while Blum and Pudge combined for an 0x8 night, both leaving the bases loaded in the 4th. With RISP and 2 out, the Astros left five men on base.

Longest AB of the night: 7 pitches to Bourn in the 5th

Man of the Match:
Jeff Fulchino. Gave the Astros a real chance with three perfect innings of relief.

Goat of the Game:
Blum. 0x4 with 6LOB.