Well, well. This was an interesting game, between Jayson Werth falling asleep on second base to Michael Bourn running to Trenton to avoid Ryan Howard's tag. Astros steal one, 3-2.
*Brett Myers took advantage of his chance to stick it to the Phillies, throwing 7IP (26 starts with 18+ outs, ties Larry Dierker's franchise record), allowing 9H/2ER, 9K:1BB.
*Myers' career K:BB ratio, from 2002 to 2009 was 2.39. This year, that has been bumped to 2.72. Since July, his K:BB ratio has been 3.69.
*He's typically good for one rough inning, and last night that inning was the third. Having struck out the side in the 2nd, Carlos Ruiz hit a 2-0 pitch to left to tie the game at one. Joe Blanton and Jimmy Rollins hit singles, and Victorino grounded into a fielder's choice - getting Blanton at home. Chase Utley brought in Rollins with a single, and Myers got Howard to strike out. Not so bad as bad innings go, but the Phillies took the lead and Joe Blanton was rolling.
*Blanton allowed 6H/1ER, 9K:0BB, throwing 68 of his 100 pitches for strikes. His 70 Game Score was the highest an opposing pitcher has thrown, and the Astros won the game, since Ryan Dempster's 73 on April 18 for the Cubs.
*Last night was the 23rd time the opposing starting pitcher has thrown a 70+ Game Score.
*So, to the 8th. Jason Michaels led off the inning with a pinch-hit single to right. Bourn "reaches" on a bunt single in which he ran out of the basepath, but is incredibly called safe. Angel Sanchez sac'ed them both over one base. Hunter Pence struck out swinging (his 23rd K w/RISP). Carlos Lee drove them both in with a single, to take the lead and provide the margin of victory.
*It was Carlos Lee's 18th go-ahead hit of the season.
*Since the beginning of the Mets series (eight games), the Astros have had 18 RBI. Pence and Lee have been responsible for 14 of them.
*And finally, congratulations to Michael Bourn. He had three hits between August 13 and August 21, and has five in his last two games, thanks to his 3x4 night (the fifth time he's had 3+ hits this season).
*Pitch Count Hero: Angel Sanchez (1x3) - 20 pitches in three PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Michael Bourn (3x4) - 9 pitches in four PAs.
*Man of the Match: Brett Myers.
*Goat of the Game: Going with Brett Wallace here. He's 2x22 over the last week, and his average is under .200.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
