Boom, sucka! Astros sweep the Cardinals behind more strong starting pitching, 5-2.
*This marks the second time the Astros have swept the Cardinals twice in a season since 1997.
*The win puts the Astros at 62-71 on the year, nine games under .500 for the first time since being 13-22 on May 14. Courtesy of Brian McTaggart, we can point out that the Astros are 64-63 since their 0-8 start to the season.
*The Astros were 10-5 against St. Louis this season, making them 36-24 against NL Central opponents in 2010.
*Nelson Figueroa and the bullpen came up big, withstanding St. Louis' early 2-run homer by Matt Holliday. The Cardinals in the 1st inning: 2x5, 2R. The Cardinals in the next eight innings: 5x28, 3BB, HBP
*With the win, Nelson Figueroa posted the highest number of wins in a season since 2001, tying a career high at four.
*Hunter Pence broke put the Astros ahead with one swing of the bat, hitting a three-run homer in the 5th to give the Astros a 3-2 lead. With the homer, Jeff Suppan joined Jamie Moyer and Ricky Nolasco as the only pitchers Pence has hit three homers against.
*35 of Pence's 88 career homers have been go-ahead homers. 27 of them with two outs, and 45 of them have been in the 5th inning or later.
*Pence also drew two walks on the day, ending a 37 plate appearance streak without a walk (last walk: August 24, the 16-inning Phillies game). It's his third 2BB/2H game of the year.
*Jason Castro was also 2x4 today. For the season against St. Louis, Castro hit .318 (7x22) - the highest average against any team. In his last six games, Castro has three two-hit games, and is 7x20.
*Brian Bogusevic was the first call-up to see some game action. He took a first-pitch ball, and hit the second pitch for a grounder to first, leading to Brett Wallace getting thrown out at home. Two batters later, Bogusevic stole his first Major-League base on Yadier Molina.
*Michael Bourn extended his hitting streak to eleven games. He's 17x44 (.386) during the streak.
*Pitch Count Hero: Michael Bourn (1x2, BB) - 22 pitches in three PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Carlos Lee (0x3) - seven pitches in three PAs.
*Man of the Match: Hunter Pence!
*Goat of the Game: Geoff Blum. Unless anybody has any other ideas.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
