Hey! So the Astros were finally on the right side of a 1-0 game, defeating the Padres.
*The Astros were 0-2 in 1-0 games in 2010, and last won a 1-0 game on August 21, 2009, against the Di'mon'bac's.
*Astros pitching gave up just three hits to the Padres - something they did six times in 2010, and were 5-1 in those games.
*Bud Norris was a gamer, going 6IP, 2H/0ER, 7K:3BB, but needing 116 pitches to do it. The two hits tie a career low in a start.
*In his last two starts against the Padres, Bud has thrown 13IP, 5H/0ER, 12K:6BB.
*His 15 swinging strikes are a season-high, and his 33 non-contact strikes were the most since September 20, 2010.
*The Padres' Dustin Moseley got a 12-up/12-down to start the game before giving up a leadoff single to Carlos Lee.
*The Astros manufactured their run the hard way - with a Quintero lead-off single in the 6th, Norris laid down a sac bunt, Bourn singled to score him. That's all your scoring.
*But it didn't come without drama. Fernando Abad allowed a one-out bunt single to Cameron Maybin (no shame in that), and Mark Melancon came in to get Bartlett to hit into a 5-4-3 DP to end the inning. Staying out for the 8th, Eric Patterson reached 1st on Q's interference, and then stole 2nd. Chase Headley walked, and with one out, Orlando Hudson grounded out to Wallace, who threw to Quintero, who tagged out Patterson, and then Ludwick struck out swinging to end the only real threat.
*Melancon has allowed just one hit against the last 20 batters he has faced.
*Angel Sanchez was 0x4, snapping a five game hitting streak.
*Brett Wallace was 1x3 with a walk, giving him seven walks in April. This is impressive when you note that he drew eight walks in August and September 2010. He has been on base twice in each of his last four starts.
*Pence was 0x3 with a walk, but has now gone 10 ABs without a hit since his 3x5, 4RBI game against the Cubs.
*Man of the Match: Mark Melancon. All credit to Norris, but Melancon flat-out preserved that win.
*Goat of the Game: Bill Hall. 0x4, saw ten pitches, grounded out three times, and lined into a double play to end an inning.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
