Different game, different manager, same lineup, same result. The Astros have lost seven straight, after getting shelled by the Cardinals, 7-3.
Dave Clark put Berkman back in the #3 spot, and he responded with two of the Astros' six hits, but Wandy let the game get out of hand before the Astros had a chance to get going. Wandy gave up three extra-base hits in a losing effort. Let's do the thing:
Wandy: 5IP, 9H/6ER, 5K:0BB, 9/23 first-pitch strikes, 26/57 non-contact strikes (13c:13s)
Paronto: 1IP, 3H/1ER, 1K, 5/6 FPS, 8/13 NCS (4c:4s)
Gervacio: 1IP, 2H, 1/3 FPS, 2/7 NCS (1c:1s)
Lopez: 1IP, 1H, 4/4 FPS, 3/8 NCS (2c:1s)
LaHawk: 1IP, 2/3 FPS, 1/4 NCS (1c)
Wandy only threw 9 first-pitch strikes to the 23 batters he faced, nine of which got on base, six of those scored. That said, the bullpen only allowed one run - Paronto gave up DeRosa's second homer of the game - over 4IP.
Tejada and Berkman each hit solo homers, their 12th and 23rd respectively. And that was pretty much it. Quintero was 1x1 with RISP, the only Astros hit of that nature, in a 2x3 night.
Pitch Count Hero: Michael Bourn - 17 pitches in 4 PAs (0x4)
Pitch Count Punk: Humberto Quintero - 4 pitches in 3 PAs (2x3, RBI)
Man of the Match: Jeez. How about Lance Berkman, just by default?
Goat of the Game: Sorry, Wandy. It was 3-0 by the time the Astros came to bat, and the Astros just aren't built to overcome three-run deficits (cap tip, Coop).
The thing that will interest me the most today will be the lineup for tonight's game. Dave Clark had about three and a half hours after it was announced that Coop was gone to get ready for the game (I don't know if he was given a heads-up). So I'm guessing the lineup was basically the same to provide a little stability in an unstable day. Let's see if it changes today.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
