There are certain things we can count on: (1) Brett Myers will get 18 outs. (2) The Astros will do everything they can to get the bullpen a win. Luckily, Myers stayed in just long enough to get the decision. Astros win 4-2.
*The Brewers are now 0-4 at Minute Maid Park this season. And the Astros are 17-9 at home (and 33-22 overall) since the All-Star Break.
*Using the magic of Pythagoras, we see that the Astros have the largest positive margin of actual W-L and expected W-L. Logic, and Keith Law, will tell you that, given the runs scored/runs allowed, the Astros should be 61-83. Yet they're 69-75. The Pirates have a +6, the Royals have a +5. The Cardinals have a -6 margin.
*Brett Myers threw another 18+ outs, extending his streak to 30 starts. He won't reach Curt Schilling's 2002 streak of 18+ out games to 35 this season, but we'll pick it up next season, yes?
*Myers threw 7IP, 6H/1ER, 10K:1BB. Since the beginning of July, Myers has thrown 97.2IP, 78H/22ER, 85K:20BB, 2.03 ERA/1.00 WHIP.
*The Astros are 18-12 in Myers' 30 starts.
*Mark Melancon's hitless streak ended at 21 batters, and his scoreless streak ran to eight games before giving up an earned run in the 8th - though Henry Villar actually gave up the hit that scored Ryan Braun, whom Melancon walked to leadoff the 8th.
*Fernando Abad came in for the 9th to face Lorenzo Cain, who doubled, and Matt Lindstrom got all three outs in the 9th for his 23rd save. It's Lindstrom's first save since July 16 and his first 9th inning work since going on the DL on August 16.
*This game was tied going into the 7th for just the 18th time this season, (they've had the lead going into the 7th 53 times, and been behind 73 times). After their three-run 7th, the Astros are now 9-9 when beginning the 7th inning tied.
*Michael Bourn continued his tear with a 2x4 night, and also stole his 50th base of the year. Bourn has stolen 40+ bases in three straight seasons. His 111 stolen bases in a two-year span are the most since Biggio stole 97 bases in 1997-98.
*Jeff Keppinger was 2x2 with three walks, his second 3BB game of the year, but it's the first time this season he's been on base five times in a game, and his OPS rose 12 points (.740 to .752).
*Brett Wallace, with his 1x3, BB night, has seen his slash line rise from .207/.309/.244 to .227/.315/.327 in September alone. His walk was intentional - in the 7th (we'll get to that). But Brett Wallace has walked seven times in his young career. Three of those have been intentional.
*Carlos Lee was 2x4, for his second multi-hit game in a row, and his third of the month.
*The Astros broke the game open in the 7th (as previously mentioned) after Geoff Blum's pinch-hit lead-off single to right. Bourgeois ran for him, and Bourn's sac bunt got him to 2nd. Jeff Keppinger walked, and Carlos Lee brought Bourgeois home with a single. Chris Johnson followed that up with an RBI single, and Brandon Kintzler intentionally walked Brett Wallace to get to Tommy Manzella. Starting with an 0-1 count, Kintzler then walked Manzella - scoring Carlos Lee - for the 4th run of the game.
*How you walk a batter with a .523 OPS with the bases loaded, especially with Quintero on deck - who himself has a .572 OPS - is beyond me.
*Pitch Count Hero: Hunter Pence (0x4) - 20 pitches in five PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Humberto Quintero (0x4) - 11 pitches in four PAs.
*Man of the Match: Going with Brett Myers here.
*Goat of the Game: How about Hunter Pence? 0x4 on the night, 0x3 w/RISP, and ended two innings - one by GIDP.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
