Recap for G144 - Astros @ Reds

Terrible. Just awful. I watched the whole thing, and I never thought the Astros were going to win this game. As usual, I was right, and the Reds won 3-1. That pushes the Reds to 8-3 over the Astros so far this season. Wandy has now thrown three straight games in which he has given up two runs or less, and it's also the sixth straight start in which Wandy has struck out 6+ batters.

Let's just do the thing:
Wandy: 6IP, 5H/2ER, 8K:2BB, 12/24 first-pitch strikes, 35/68 non-contact strikes (20 called:15 swinging)
Gervacio: 0.1IP, 1K:1BB, 1/2 FPS, 3/4 NCS (1c:2s)
Wright: 0IP, 1H, 0/1 FPS, 0/1 NCS
Fulchino: 1.2IP, 1H/1ER, 2K:0BB, 7/17 NCS (2c:5s)

It's pretty disgusting that the pitching staff has to throw something better than a quality start to get a chance to win. But Jay Bruce came off the DL and hit a go-ahead two-run single for the winning margin. Brandon Phillips became the first Red ever to get 20 homers, 20 doubles, and 20 steals in three consecutive seasons.

The Astros had their chances, and were 1x7 with runners in scoring position (Tejada getting the lone RISP hit, but the Astros' one run came on a double from Carlos Lee in which Berkman hustled from first to give the Astros a fleeting lead. That, however, was the best I've seen Berkman run since his calf injury in July. But they did have a runner in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but predictably, did nothing. And that doesn't even count when Carlos Lee got picked off second base for no good reason.

Michael Bourn stole second in the first inning for his 55th stolen base, which is tops in the National League, and puts him two behind Carl Crawford and six behind Jacoby Ellsbury. The next closest to Bourn is Nyjer Morgan, with 42.

Pitch Count Hero: Michael Bourn - 20 pitches in 4 PAs (2x4); Wandy Rodriguez - 15 pitches in 3 PAs (0x3)

Pitch Count Punk: Humberto Quintero - 7 pitches in 3 PAs (0x3)

Man of the Match: I simply cannot give it to anyone on the offense, though Michael Bourn is certainly deserving. This one goes to Wandy, who is now 13-10 with a 2.77 ERA.

Goat of the Game: Kaz Matsui. Why is he still in the lineup? 0x3 with a sacrifice, but his OBP is now .297.