Well that sucked. The Astros gave up a run in the 9th, 10th, and 11th to lose their second straight 1-run game, 5-4.
Oswalt turned in a strong start, but the bullpen - and the defense - totally nutted it, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Czech it (and the new pitching recap. What do you think? Look for the Chronicle to poach this in the coming days):
Oswalt: 6IP, 7H/1ER, 8K:2BB, 16 first-pitch strikes (FPS) (59.2%), 35 non-contact strikes (NCS)
Sampson: 1IP, 1 FPS (33.3%), 1 NCS
LaHawk: 1IP, 2 FPS (66.7%), 3 NCS
Valverde: 1IP, 2H/1ER, 1BB, 4 FPS (57.1%), 5 NCS
Byrdak: 1IP, 1H/1ER, 2K, 2 FPS (50%), 6 NCS
Fulchino: 1IP, 2H/1ER, 2K, 1 loss, 1 FPS (20%), 5 NCS
So let's recap. Oswalt throws 6IP, allowing one run. Sampson and LaHawk throw two perfect innings in relief with a 2-1 lead. Valverde comes in, gets a one-pitch out, then Maier is safe on Berkman's error, then Jacobs and DeJesus both get singles, and it's a tie game. In the 10th, it's a 2-2 game and Byrdak gives up Pena's first HR of the year. Matt Kata's pinch hit RBI single ties it up in the bottom of the 10th. With Kata on 2nd & Keppinger on 1st, Tejada strikes out swinging. Then Fulchino comes in and gives up a first-pitch homer to Miguel Olivo. Michaels/Berkman/Pence go down in order to end the game.
It was a team effort to lose this game. Tejada was 0x4 with an HBP, but ended the inning four times, including the 8th and 10th, leaving 4 on base, two in scoring position. But let's give credit to Erstad, who got a big 2-run pinch hit HR.
Man of the Match: I thought about Pudge, who scored two runs, but it's going to Roy. Threw a great game, and left in line for the win.
Goat of the Game: It's hard to say. The bullpen - outside of Sampson/LaHawk - was shaky at best, but it was Berkman's error, coupled with an 0x5 night, that gets him the Goat.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
