Chris Johnson wins the game ALL BY HIMSELF and the Astros creep towards .500 with a 3-2 win over the Dodgers.
*The Astros improved to 67-73, and are six games under .500 for the first time since their April 30 loss to the Braves, dropping them to 8-14.
*Chris Johnson was 1x4 with a 3-run homer (the other ABs were strikeouts, and he committed an error) on the night. It was his sixth 3RBI game of the season.
*Bud Norris threw 6IP, 3H/2R (1ER), 7K:4BB. It was the first start since August 24 (three starts) that he threw a quality start, and his most strikeouts since that one time he struck out all them Pirates (14, on August 14).
*Norris came in to the game with more first-pitch strikes (247) than first-pitch balls (246). That changed with Norris throwing the FPS to just 11 of the 26 batters he faced.
*In the 15 times he threw the first-pitch ball, he threw the next pitch for a strike 12 times.
*How about Mark Melancon? He now has a six-appearance scoreless streak. And not just scoreless, but he hasn't allowed a hit since August 24 - a span of 16 batters.
*Brandon Lyon got his 14th save of the season, throwing a perfect 9th. Lyon hasn't allowed a run since the August 11 game against the Braves where he allowed five earned runs.
*Since that game (14 appearances), Lyon has allowed 13 baserunners in 15 innings. And no runs.
*Humberto Quintero got his second straight start, and responded with a 2x3 game. Since the beginning of the Pirates' series on August 13, Quintero is hitting .325.
*Pitch Count Hero: Chris Johnson (1x4) - 22 pitches in four PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Jeff Keppinger (1x4) and Jason Michaels (1x4) - Nine pitches in four PAs.
*Man of the Match: Chris Johnson, because if you have to get the MotM when you account for all of the runs in a win.
*Goat of the Game: Tommy Manzella - 0x4, and ended three innings - two of them by strikeout.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
