That's what I'm talking about. Wandy and four relievers combined to shutout the Dodgers in a 3-0 win.
Manny held 1x4, but it could have very easily been 2x4 if not for Hunter Pence's diving catch towards the right field line. One note of concern: Lance left the game with a mild calf strain, and we'll have more on that later.
Wandy: 6IP, 5H/0ER, 6K:2BB, 13/24 first-pitch strikes, 36/68 non-contact strikes (24 called:12 swinging)
Byrdak: 0IP, 1BB, 1/1 FPS, 2/2 NCS (1c:1s) - walked the only batter he faced.
Arias: 1IP, 1H/0ER, 2K:0BB, 2/4 FPS, 7/13 NCS (4c:3s)
LaHawk: 1IP, 1H, 2/3 FPS, 4/10 NCS (4c:0s)
Valverde: 1IP, 1H, 2/4 FPS, 3/12 NCS (3c:0s)
The Dodgers were 0x8 with RISP, and while that seems futile on the part of the Dodgers' offense, it also means the Astros pitchers were 8x8 with Dodgers in scoring position, and they left nine on base to end the inning. Valverde got his 9th save in 13 chances, and for the ERA check, Wandy is at 2.81, Arias at 1.52, LaHawk at 2.33, Valverde at 3.27. Those are good numbers.
Offensively, the Astros got all their runs off Randy Wolf - three runs on five hits. Quintero led off the scoring with his first homer of the season with two outs, and then in the 7th inning...
Lee: Singles to left
Tejada: Singles to center
Pence: Singles to center (Wolf pulled)
Matsui: Singles, scoring Lee
Quintero: GIDP, but scores Tejada
The top of the lineup didn't do...anything, really. Bourn/Keppinger/Berkman combined for 0x10, 3K:2BB. 4/5/6/7 was 6x15, 2K:1BB, 2R. Aside from Q's homer, Matsui had the only other extra-base hit, a double (putting him at 2x4 for the night, and he's now hitting .257). Since coming back from injury in June, Matsui is 24x76 (.316), and is 9x16 (.563) in his current six-game hitting streak.
Man of the Match: Tough. I want to give it to Q for his homerun and RBI GIDP, but this one's going to Wandy.
Goat of the Game: Michael Bourn. 0x4, 2K.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
