And that, my friends, is how you screw up a game. The Astros lose 5-4.
*The Astros were out-hit in this series 34-13. And out-scored, of course, 19-8.
*The Astros have lost three series in a row to Texas, and are 6-15 against the Rangers from 2007-this afternoon.
*Since taking three of four from the Rockies (June 7-9), the Astros are 1-8. Despite this, their nine wins in June are one away from the highest total of wins in a month this season. (Depressed yet? Keep reading).
*Our Astros are now 4-2 in extra-inning games, and are 9-9 in one-run games. Problem is, in this season, the Astros are 2-16 in games decided by 5+ runs.
*The Rangers' Josh Hamilton came into the game hitting .344/.388/.705. After his 5x6 day, that's now .388/.432*/.731 (*my math could be off. Regardless, it's disgusting.)
*From what I can tell, Hamilton is the second opposing batter to have five hits against the Astros this season - after Edgar Renteria did it on April 7.
*The Rangers enjoyed 21 ABs w/RISP, and got seven hits. The Astros were 2x5. And it could have been worse: The Rangers left 16 on base, while the Astros hung just four out to dry.
*Paulino pitched well (6IP, 10H/2ER) - certainly well enough to get the win - but these are the Astros we're talking about, which means that the bullpen (chiefly Lindstrom and Daigle) screwed it up. Paulino's 36 non-contact strikes (22 called/14 swinging) were the highest total of non-contact strikes since May 8 against the Padres. It was Paulino's sixth quality start in his last seven games.
*Paulino still threw 101 pitches, 69 for strikes. That's 5.61 pitches per out. He has thrown 100+ pitches in 14 of 15 starts this season. How do you throw 100 pitches, get a quality start, and do it all in 6IP? Lots of balls (heh heh). The Rangers had thirteen PAs with RISP off Paulino, and only got three across. Still, he left with the lead. Ten batters saw a two-ball count.
*The Astros - and Paulino - almost got the win. But Matt Lindstrom... Lindstrom gave up four baserunners, two hits and two walks. Lindstrom had not allowed that many baserunners in an outing since June 1, when he allowed three hits and two walks, recording one out. It's the third time this season he has allowed 4+ baserunners.
*Lindstrom has entered the game with the lead 21 times, and has preserved that lead 16 times this season.
*Casey Daigle ain't done so well. He has an 8.10 ERA and a 2.40 WHIP. He has appeared in nine games this season, and has allowed a run in his last five appearances. In only two instances has he thrown a perfect outing.
*Now to the offense. Manzella enjoyed the only multi-hit game of the lineup - going 2x4, and breaking out of a 1x15 slump.
*Pence batted third for the 13th time this season. In those games, he is 14x53 (.264/.316/.453).
*Berkman batted second (1x5, 2B) for the first time since August 10, 2004 (1x2, 2BB against the Mets.)
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
