Recap for G112 - Astros @ Marlins

Not going to go to the playoffs like that. But hang on, listen to what Coop said, in ESPN's game recap, after the Marlins had taken a 7-2 lead, on their way to an 8-6 win:

"We're not built to fight back like that. We did give it a pretty good go. We got to two runs down, but we've got to shut it down once we do get back in the game there. We got back in the game 4-2, but we just couldn't close the door and shut them off."

Just let that soak in. For a moment. I'll put it in again, just because it needs to be fully comprehended:

"We're not built to fight back like that."

Moehler let the Marlins get out to a 4-0 lead in the first, and the Astros fought back, and then gave it right back. Let's just do the thing:

Moehler: 5IP, 5H/4ER, 3K:3BB, 15/23 first-pitch strikes, 20/49 non-contact strikes (15 called:5 swinging)
Sampson: 2IP, 4H/3ER, 0K:3BB, 7/11 FPS, 7/18 NCS (6c:1s)
Arias: 1IP, 1H/1ER, 1K:1BB, 3/5 FPS, 5/9 NCS (5c)

Alright, I'm not done with Moehler's first inning, and then I'm coming after you, Chris Sampson. Moehler walked the first batter he faced, and then gave up a single. Hanley Ramirez flied out to center, but then there were three hits in a row, and a sac fly. There's your four runs, and ol' Henricus struck out with the bases loaded - so it could have been a lot worse coming out of the first.

A 2-run Erstad homer cut that in half, and then everything stayed pretty much together after that, except for the Astros offense. In the five remaining innings in which Moehler pitched, the Astros stranded five runners, including 0x5 with RISP. And that's just in innings 2-6. Ahh, the 6th.

Chris Sampson came in, gave up a single, a walk, a move-da-runners ovah groundout. Ross Gload was intentionally walked to load the bases, and then in comes Baker on a balk by Sampson. Coghlan singled in Cody Ross - Gload was thrown at home, and then Nick Johnson was intentionally walked...to reach NL batting leader Hanley Ramirez (hmmm...), who prompty singled in Coghlan, and just like that, it's 7-2, and God forbid you ask the Astros to come back from a 5-run deficit with nine outs remaining. You can only ask the Astros to lead a game wire-to-wire. That's how the Astros were built.

Erstad came through with an RBI double in the 8th, and Arias gave it back on a wild pitch. It got a little interesting in the 9th. Carlos Lee doubled in Matsui and Tejada, Lee later scored on a balk of Florida's own, and Pence struck out to end the game. Tejada, Lee, Pence, Pudge, and Erstad had all the Astros' hits.

Pitch Count Hero: Hunter Pence, 25 pitches in 5 PAs
Pitch Count Punk: Miguel Tejada, 13 pitches in 5 PAs (though it's hard to question him, he got three hits)

Man of the Match: Darin Erstad. Three RBIs including a monster two-run shot.

Goat of the Game: It's not going to Moehler. This Goat's for you, Chris Sampson. Seven baserunners (two of the intentional variety) in 2IP and a balk. 37 pitches, and the Marlins swung and missed at one. On July 9, Sampson's ERA was 2.68. Eight appearances, 7.2IP and 12 earned runs later, and it's sitting at 4.36.