Okay, so the Astros have held the Cardinals scoreless for 14 of 16 innings (they haven't had to bat in the bottom of the 9th this series). Problem is, the innings where they do score is enough to win the game. Once again, all the runs scored by the Cardinals were in the 1st inning, and while the Astros got two back, it just wasn't enough (theme for this season?). Cardinals win, 3-2.
Let's do the thing:
Oswalt: 6IP, 10H/3ER, 3K:1BB, 23/30 first-pitch strikes, 27/70 non-contact strikes (20 called:7 swinging), 2HBP
Fulchino: 1IP, 1K:1BB, 0/4 FPS, 6/9 NCS (3c:3s)
Gervacio: 0.2IP, 2/2 FPS, 0/2 NCS
Byrdak: 0.1IP, 1K:1BB, 1/2 FPS, 4/5 NCS (2c:2s)
Oswalt's first inning:
Schumaker: Single to RF
Rasmus: Single to RF
Pujols: K looking
Holliday: RBI single to CF
DeRosa: 2-run double to left
Ankiel: Groundout to second
Molina: Groundout to second
And that was all the scoring. Roy gave up 10 hits over six innings - but obviously only six hits over the remaining five innings.
The Astros scored two runs in the 4th on four consecutive singles by Bourn, Pence, Berkman, and Lee. Tejada GIDPed for the first two outs of the season, and with Berkman on third, Keppinger grounded out to the pitcher. The Astros threatened again in the 9th. With one out, Ryan Franklin - who needed nine pitches last night - allowed a double to Lee. Tejada grounded out to third, and with Maysonet (running for Lee) on third, Keppinger grounded out to end the game. Six pitches. That's 15 pitches for five outs over two games.
Pitch Count Hero: The Astros weren't a very patient bunch tonight, Cardinals pitchers needed only 96 pitches to get through 33 Astros ABs. But Chris Coste gets the PCH - 17 pitches for 3 PAs (0x3)
Pitch Count Punk: Carlos Lee - 7 pitches in 4 PAs (3x4, 1RBI)
Man of the Match: Carlos Lee. Had three of the Astros' eight hits, and an RBI.
Goat of the Game: Jeff Keppinger. 0x4 on the night, and left the tying run on third base twice.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
