Wilton Lopez' rough ride continues, and the Astros fall to the Cubs 5-4.
*In 7IP, Wandy Rodriguez gave up 8H/4ER, with 6K:1BB. The eight hits were more than he had allowed in his previous two starts, and the four earned runs equalled the number he had allowed in his previous four starts.
*It was the most hits and earned runs Wandy had given up since July 19 - also at Wrigley.
*Lopez gave up an 8th inning homer to Geovany Soto, marking the fourth time in his last six outings that he has allowed an earned run. He has allowed two homers in his last six games, and the homer on August 24 was the first he had allowed since May 7.
*Having not taken a loss all season through August, Lopez is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA/9.00 WHIP in two September games. Still, what's remarkable is that Lopez hasn't walked a batter since July 23 - 21 appearances.
*What killed the Astros was what some consider to be clutch hitting. The Astros were 2x11 w/RISP. Pence and Keppinger had your lone hits w/RISP, and even they were 1x3 and 1x2, respectively. Wandy was 0x2 w/RISP, though it's hard to hold it against him.
*Michael Bourn was 2x3 with two walks and his 46th stolen base of the year. He's 21x59 (.356) since August 22.
*Matt Downs was 1x2 with a walk in his Houston debut, and it was his first Major League game since June 13, when he was 1x3 with San Francisco against Oakland.
*Pitch Count Hero: Michael Bourn (2x3, 2BB) - 25 pitches in five PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Jason Castro (1x3, BB) - 12 pitches in four PAs.
*Man of the Match: Going with Michael Bourn here - got on base four out of five times today.
*Goat of the Game: Wilton Lopez. Unless someone has a better suggestion.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
