There. That wasn't so hard, was it? Keeping a team under 10 runs? With that 3-2 win, the Astros break a 143-game losing streak to the Reds (approximately) and head into the final seven days of the season, ending the "Home" portion of 2009 44-37.
Wandy: 6IP, 9H/2ER, 9K:1BB, 17/27 first-pitch strikes, 42/68 non-contact strikes (19 called:23 swinging)
Fulchino: 1IP, 2K, 2/3 FPS, 7/8 non-contact strikes (3c:4s)
LaHawk: 1IP, 1H, 3/4 FPS, 3/7 NCS (3c)
Valverde: 1IP, 1BB, 0/3 FPS, 5/11 NCS (1c:4s)
Wandy improved his record to 14-11 for the season, and will get one more chance, Friday against the Mets, for his 15th win. He's really been the only bright spot in the rotation all season long. Any fears we may have had regarding his yearly slide back in late May/early June were disspelled.
The bullpen today was excellent, allowing just two baserunners in three innings - LaHawk's ERA sits at 2.08, while Valverde's is 2.20. A strong second half from him all but assures him of a big ol' contract in 2010 - and probably not from the Astros.
The Astros were held to six hits on the day, with Pence getting two of them. Poor Maysonet, about 18 hours after I championed him for a start over Matsui, goes 0x3 with a GIDP. Quintero hit his 4th homer of the season, proving to be the game-winner, while Carlos Lee got his 99th RBI of the season. In the third inning, Wandy singled to center for the leadoff, Bourn singled, and Tejada walked to load the bases with nobody out, Berkman grounded into an FC - scoring Wandy. Lee grounded out to third, scoring Bourn, and Pence struck out swinging. So the Astros accidentally scored two runs, and Quintero added the third. And the Astros were 0x7 with RISP (making that 13x88 - .147).
Man of the Match: Wandy Rodriguez. 9K:1BB, one win.
Goat of the Game: Even though he got an RBI, Berkman was 0x3, 0x2 with RISP, and drops his career batting average to .299 (which actually happened yesterday).
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
