First of all, it was pathetic how Cubs fans outnumbered Astros fans last night. Astros squander a bunch of late-inning chances, and the Cubs win 5-4.
*The Astros out-hit the Cubs 10-8. Incredibly, those eight hits are the second-lowest hits allowed by the Astros pitching staff this season. Opponents have had double-digit hits in eight of ten games.
*Nelson Figueroa was worth a steaming pile of crap for the second time in 2011, allowing 8H/5ER, 3K:2BB in 4IP for a 2.50 WHIP.
*In his two starts, Figueroa has thrown 9.1IP, 19H/11ER, 5K:4BB. His ERA was last over 10.00 on August 3, 2009 after giving up 10H/6ER against the Mets in his second appearance of the season (10.57).
*The Bullpen (Del Rosario, Lopez, Abad, Melancon, Lyon) allowed 0H/0ER, 4K:4BB in 5IP of relief. But the six total walks are a season high.
*Mark Melancon hasn't allowed a run this season - throwing four scoreless innings over six outings - and made his second straight appearance without allowing a baserunner. Of the last eleven batters he has faced, he has allowed one hit.
*Similarly, Brandon Lyon has allowed hits to two of the last eleven batters he has faced. Even with that, his WHIP is still 2.40 because of the G1 meltdown.
*Congratulations to Angel Sanchez, who hit the first homer of his career - a two-run shot off Dempster - in the 7th inning.
*The top third of the Cubs lineup (Castro-Barney-Byrd) were 7x13 with 3K:2BB, 3RBI, and scored all five Cubs runs.
*And yet, the Astros were 3x12 w/RISP, with Downs, Hall, and Sanchez getting the hits. Chris Johnson was 0x2 w/RISP, and Joe Inglett was 0x3, including the final AB of the game when he struck out looking with Bourgeois on second.
*Astros left on base from the 7th-9th inning...
7th: 2 (Wallace flied out, and Johnson grounded out)
8th: 2 (Bourn struck out, Sanchez struck out)
9th: 2 (Inglett struck out looking)
*Yes, that's six left on base, and the Astros were 0x5 with the tying run in scoring position in the last three innings.
*Despite going 0x3 with a walk, Pence has been on base in every game this season.
*Brett Wallace was 1x3 with two walks, and he has a five-game hitting streak (7x18), and has been on base in nine of the ten games the Astros have played.
*Wallace has walked five times in 41 PAs (12.2%). In 2010, he walked eight times in 159 PAs (5.0%).
*Man of the Match: Angel Sanchez - congrats on your first homer.
*Goat of the Game: Was going to go with Figueroa, but instead will go with Joe Inglett. Struck out with two on in the 2nd, grounded out with the bases loaded in the 6th, struck out looking to end the game with two on in the 9th.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
