I'll be damned. Berkman hits a grand slam, and the Astros win 6-1.
*So that's 21 starts of 18+ outs for Myers, in 21 starts. It's his second complete game of the season, the first coming at San Francisco, when he threw 8IP, 5H/4ER, 7K:3BB. It's also the 10th complete game of his career, and only three of them have been shutouts.
*Myers' 12 strikeouts are a career-high, and the most since May 30, 2008 when he struck out 11 Marlins as a Phill...ie. This is also the second time this season he has struck out 10+ batters.
*In Myers' last five starts (since throwing a disaster start at Milwaukee on June 29), he has thrown 37.2IP, 23H/7ER, 31K:5BB.
*It's the third complete game of the season for the Astros, with Roy getting the other one.
*Big story on offense was that of Lance Berkman's big 7th inning grand slam. It was the 5th grand slam of his career and, as The Constable noted on Twitter, he's only 18 grand slams behind Lou Gehrig. His last one was August 12, 2008 against Jack Taschner of the San Francisco Giants. Before that, it was April 11, 2004 at Milwaukee. It's the third grand slam he's hit in the 7th inning. Four of the five grand slams were hit on the first or second pitch.
*How did the grand slam happen? Quintero was hit by a pitch (Bourgeois running); Bourgeois stole second, Myers sac'ed him to first, Bourn was intentionally walked, Sanchez sac'ed to the pitcher - scoring Bourgeois and keeping the bases loaded. Pence singled (scoring Bourn) and Sanchez was thrown out at third. With first base open, Lee walked on five pitches; Keppinger was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Berkman bounced on the third pitch for the slam.
*Chris Johnson was 2x4, extending his hitting streak to eleven games.
*Angel Sanchez was 0x5, ending his eight-game hit streak.
*Still, the Astros were 2x12 w/RISP. During this five game homestand, the Astros have gone 7x52 w/RISP - that's a .135 average.
*The Astros also struck out ten times, the 9th time that's happened this season. Oddly, they're 6-3 when they strike out that often.
*Carlos Lee was 2x3 with a walk, which is perfect, as I dropped him from my fantasy team today. It's the fifth time this season he has been on base three times in a game. Dude even stole a base, his first since April 25.
Pitch Count Hero: Hunter Pence (1x4) - 21 pitches in four PAs.
Pitch Count Punk: Chris Johnson (2x4) - 11 pitches in four PAs.
Man of the Match: Two of 'em - Brett Myers and Lance Berkman.
Goat of the Game: Going with Angel Sanchez here - at least Michael Bourn got on base.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
