Well, it avoided a sweep, and the Astros are 1-0 following team meetings in August. Jeff Keppinger broke a 3-3 tie with a solo homer with two outs in the top of the 9th, and Valverde recorded six outs to preserve a 4-3 win over St. Louis.
Moehler: 6IP, 6H/3ER, 1K:1BB, 17/24 first-pitch strikes, 20/50 non-contact strikes (17 called:3 swinging)
Gervacio: 0.1IP, 1H, 2/3 FPS, 3/11 NCS (3c)
Byrdak: 0.1IP, 1/1 FPS, 1/2 NCS (1c)
Fulchino: 0.1IP, 1K, 0/1 FPS, 3/3 NCS (1c:2s)
Valverde: 2IP, 1H/0ER, 2K:1BB, 5/8 FPS, 7/13 NCS (4c:3s)
Moehler threw a quality start, and departed somewhat early, having thrown just 76 pitches through six innings. Coop used three relievers to get through the seventh inning, and Valverde allowed two baserunners in a six-out save - his first six-out save of the year.
Offensively, Matsui and Coste had the only two two-hit games, both going 2x3 with a walk. It looked like the Astros had wasted a pretty good opportunity in the top of the 2nd inning, sending eight men to the plate but only scoring two runs. Keppinger flied out to right with the bases loaded to end the inning, and it looked like his Goat streak would run to two games. With the Cardinals leading 3-2 in the 8th, Tejada scored from first on Erstad's double to tie it up, and then Keppinger hit a squeaker over Matt Holliday's head for the game-winning home run with two outs in the 9th.
Pitch Count Hero: Chris Coste - 18 pitches in 4 PAs (2x3)
Pitch Count Punk: Lance Berkman - 12 pitches in 5 PAs (0x5)
Man of the Match: It has to go to Keppinger. The Astros haven't got the Big Hit lately, and Keppinger provided that hit with the game-winning knock.
Goat of the Game: Lance Berkman: Even with his 2x4 day yesterday, Berkman was 2x12 against the Cardinals in this three-game set. Add the quick ABs, and that's a Goat.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
