You're damn right the Astros beat the Louisville Bats. Astros win 2-0.
*Only Johnny Cueto was a regular starter in the Reds' lineup tonight. Just so you know. So the rest of this point comes with an *.
*Nelson Figueroa threw a pretty decent line: 6.2IP, 6H/0ER, 5K:3BB.
*You have to keep in mind. Out of 158 games, the Astros had only lead going into the top of the 2nd 47 times.
*Figueroa allowed no earned runs in an outing for the first time as a starter for the Astros, and no earned runs since August 4, when he threw three scoreless IPs in an 8-4 loss to the Cardinals, in innings 2-4.
*Figueroa's Game Score tonight was 62. This is the highest Game Score for Figueroa since his 3rd start for the Astros - August 27.
*The bullpen only allowed 1H/0ER, 1K:0BB in 2.1IP.
*Brandon Lyon got his 20th save of the season. Even as recently as 2007, the Astros didn't have one player with 20 saves, nevermind two players with 20 saves. The last time the Astros had two players with 20+ saves was - correct me if I'm wrong - never. The Astros never have had two players with 20+ saves.
*Out of the 140 pitches the Reds saw tonight - they only swung and missed eight times.
*Carlos Lee busted out with a 3x4 night, with a run scored and an RBI. The Astros only got two extra-base hits on the night - doubles from Lee and Keppinger.
*Hey, who was the only player in the lineup hitting over .300? Chris Johnson, of course, who went 1x4 to lower his average to .315.
*Pitch Count Hero: Hunter Pence (0x4) - 22 pitches in four PAs.
*Pitch Count Punk: Carlos Lee (3x4) - eight pitches in four PAs.
*Man of the Match: Carlos Lee.
*Goat of the Game: Hunter Pence - 0x4 and two inning-ending ABs.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
