There just may be a County Clerk Jinx, after what happened to Brandon Lyon. Dodgers win 6-3.
*The loss gives the Astros a two-game losing streak for the first time since August 20-21, when they dropped two at Florida.
*It's the first two-game losing streak at home since August 10-11 against Atlanta, when the bullpen blew two late games, and Brandon Lyon took his last loss.
*Lyon failed to record an out in an outing for the first time this season, and the first time since April 2, 2008, when he allowed 3H/3ER at Cincinnati.
*Lyon walked Trent Oeltjen, and Reed Johnson reached via bunt single. A.J Ellis sac'ed to third, but threw the ball away, scoring Oeltjen and Johnson and letting Ellis get all the way to 3rd. Tim Byrdak gave up Lyon's third run with a double to Loney that scored Ellis.
*In the last two games, Happ and Wandy have combined for 12IP, 12H/4ER, 14K:4BB. The bullpen has combined for 6IP, 7H/6R (5ER), 10K:3BB.
*The good news in the pitching staff is with Wandy Rodriguez. It's been a tale of two seasons with Wandy. In his first 14 starts of 2010: 75.1IP, 95H/51ER, 52K:34BB, .317/.389/.460 against, 6.09 ERA. In his last 15 starts: 101.1IP, 77H/23ER, 102K:22BB, .208/.258/.324 against, 2.04 ERA.
*Last night's game was Wandy's tenth straight quality start.
*Since the All-Star Break, Wandy has posted 77K:16BB.
*Since returning from the DL on September 1, Jeff Keppinger has gone 12x39, with a .308/.372/.333 line, with 1K:4BB in 44 PAs. His 2x4 night last night was his fourth multi-hit game in his last eight.
*Michael Bourn was 1x3 with a triple and a walk. That's a 21-game on-base streak, and in those 21 games, Bourn is hitting .359/.435/.500 (28x78).
*After hitting .400/.447/.771 in nine games from August 30 coming into this series with the Dodgers, Hunter Pence is 1x12 in these three games.
*This is hardly a surprise. Pence's .628 OPS against LAD is his lowest against an NL opponent (.614 in six games against the Yankees).
*Angel Sanchez isn't getting much playing time, but when he does, he's producing. Sanchez has started four games in September, has gone 6x18, including last night's 2x4 performance.
*Pitch Count Hero: Geoff Blum (0x3, BB) - 21 pitches in four PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Keppinger (2x4) - 13 pitches in four PAs.
*Man of the Match: Wandy Rodriguez!
*Goat of the Game: Brandon Lyon. One error blew this game wide open.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
