This is getting old. The Astros have now scored nine runs in their last five games, after getting smoked, 11-2 at the hands of St. Louis. The Astros have now lost nine straight for the first time since 2007 (10 straight). Let's just do the thing:
Bazardo: 3.2IP, 6H/6ER, 2K:2BB, 14/18 First-pitch strikes, 14/35 non-contact strikes (9c:5s)
Wright: 1.1IP, 2H/1ER, 1K:1BB, 3/6 FPS, 6/15 NCS (5c:1s)
Brocail: 1IP, 2/3 FPS, 3/8 NCS (3c)
Byrdak: 1IP, 1H/1ER, 1K:1BB, 4/5 FPS, 4/8 NCS (2c:2s)
Paronto: 1IP, 4H/2ER, 5/7 FPS, 6/16 NCS (5c:1s)
Valverde: 1IP, 2H/1ER, 4/5 FPS, 4/14 NCS (4s)
Astros pitchers threw first-pitch strikes to 32 of 44 Cardinals batters. And Bazardo actually started this game off dealing - getting the first seven Cards he saw, throwing first-pitch strikes to four of the six batters. Ahh, but then in the third, three runs scored on three hits and two walks. In the fourth, three more runs scored on four hits. It's amazing how quickly this outing imploded for Bazardo, but it's also not as if the bullpen came in and shut the Cardinals down, as St. Louis went ahead and scored five more runs in 5.1IP.
The key to this game could have been in the fourth for the Astros. St. Louis had a 6-0 lead, and if the Astros wanted to make an immediate statement, it would have been here. Miguel Tejada led off the inning with a double. Berkman worked a walk, and Carlos Lee got a single. That's bases loaded with nobody out. Blum hit a sac fly to score Tejada, Pence struck out swinging, and Keppinger grounded out to second to end the inning. Six plate appearances, one run.
Let's give some credit to Darin Erstad, who had a 10-pitch pinch-hit strikeout.
Man of the Match: Miguel Tejada, who went 3x4 with an RBI, and a run scored.
Goat of the Game: Yorman Bazardo. Started strong and completely fell apart. A living, breathing metaphor.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
