Honestly? I don't mind the Phillies. I don't mind their fans - they did a lot of suffering before their recent run of success. I generally don't mind their players. I hate their media (with the exception of Paul Hagen). And THAT'S what makes this so fun. Astros win again, 3-2.
*The Astros' last six wins (four in a row, and two against the Mets) have been one-run games. Coming into this little stretch, the Astros were 10-13 in one-run games. That's now 16-13.
*That's four straight road wins, first since a four-game road sweep of the Reds on August 7-10, 2008.
*Did Happ out-duel Halladay? Well, not necessarily. Happ gave up 5H/2ER in 6.1IP, with 4K:2BB, and needed 104 pitches. Halladay threw 7IP, 6H/3ER, 6K:0BB, and came out after 73 pitches.
*Neither allowed a hit for quite some time. Pence got the first hit - for both sides - in the top of the 4th, with a homer off Halladay. The first hit Happ allowed was a homer to Jayson Werth in the 5th.
*Halladay threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of 26 Astros. Happ threw the FPS to 16 of 25 Phillies.
*Lyon recorded a six-out save. It's the second time he's gotten six outs this season, and his first six-out save since June 26, 2003 against the Tigers (when he was with Boston. That long ago.)
*The Astros hit two homers off Halladay - Pence and, unbelievably, Michael Bourn. Halladay has pitched in 135 games in which he allowed at least one home run. It's only the 33rd game he's allowed two homers.
*Chris Johnson had another 2-hit game. So after getting three hits in 28 ABs from August 17-23, he now has six hits in his last 10 ABs.
*Quintero had a nice game last night, going 2x3 with the game-winning RBI. It's the fourth go-ahead hit he's had this season. Quintero also picked off Ben Francisco at 3B to end the 7th inning. That was, uh, important, as the Phillies had the top of the order coming up with Francisco on 3rd and and Ruiz on 1st. Quintero's six pick-offs lead the Majors.
*And we should congratulate Hunter Pence on hitting his 20th homer of the season. It's the third straight season he's reached 20HR.
*Pence's 70HR since 2008 are one behind Carlos Lee for most on the team in that span.
*Pitch Count Hero: Hunter Pence (1x4) - 18 pitches in four PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Brett Wallace (0x3) and Humberto Quintero (0x3) - six pitches in three PAs.
*Man of the Match: Could go to Happ, but it goes to Humberto Quintero!
*Goat of the Game: Brett Wallace, I'm sorry. 0x3. Six pitches. Didn't get the ball out of the infield. Use this, and learn.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
