Some Astros fans are going to be upset about this latest turn of events, in which our two newest pitchers allowed 14 runs in a 14-7 loss at Arizona. I'm not. Not even close, because this is on the job training for 2010. So why should I care what happens in 2009 if we're already thinking about 2010? It was one game, and a lot of lessons can be learned from it. Let's do the thing:
Bazardo: 2IP, 8H/8ER, 0K:3BB, 10/15 first-pitch strikes, 8/24 non-contact strikes (7c:1s)
Lopez: 4IP, 8H/6ER, 3K:2BB, 13/22 FPS, 21/60 NCS (11c:10s) - 92 pitches, 3 homers
Gervacio: 1IP, 2K, 1/3 FPS, 7/9 NCS (3c:4s)
LaHawk: 1IP, 1K, 2/3 FPS, 4/9 NCS (3c:1s)
Pretty tough major-league debut for Lopez. I'm still impressed by Sam Gervacio and the job he's doing. Another inning of scoreles relief, and his ERA is now 1.08.
Offensively, it was the fourth time this season the Astros have scored seven runs and lost. Pence and Matsui were both 2x4 - Pence had two RBI, Matsui, just one - and Berkman and Keppinger were both 1x4 with 2 RBI each. Tejada was lifted after two ABs, and Maysonet installed at SS.
Not that it mattered, but the Astros actually led this game 2-0 in the first. Berkman made another baserunning mistake trying to advance to third after hitting a 2-run double...with nobody out. And then they led again, 4-3, on Keppinger's two-run homer in the 3rd. That's when the wheels fell off, for the first time, in the bottom half of the inning. Seven straight Diamondba'ks reached base, three of them on extra-base hits
Regardless, the only way to look at this and to not want to cry is that this was a learning experience game.
Pitch Count Hero: Jeff Keppinger - 23 pitches in 5 PAs (1x4, 2RBI)
Pitch Count Punk: Lance Berkman - 12 pitches in 4 PAs (1x4, 2RBI)
Man of the Match: Uhhh. How about Hunter Pence? Rebounded from being benched for most of the St. Louis series with 2x4, 2RBI.
Goat of the Game: Just because it's a learning experience doesn't mean that Bazardo gets off the hook. Got one swinging strike in 44 pitches.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
