The Astros were able to put themselves in a position to at least not lose the first series of the season after Figueroa held it together in a 5-3 win over San Diego.
*Astros pitching has held San Diego to 19H/6ER, 21K:8BB in 27IP this series.
*Figueroa threw 116 pitches in 6.2IP, allowing 6H/3R (2ER), 5K:2BB, and coming an out away from the win. It's the most pitches he's thrown in an outing (obviously) since September 22, 2009, when he threw 126 pitches against the Braves while with the Mets.
*As previously mentioned, Melancon got the One Batter, One Decision role - retiring Orlando Hudson with runners on the corners and two out in the 7th in a 3-3 game.
*Some notes on Melancon: He has yet to allow a hit at MMP (0x12). With RISP, hitters are 0x7 with a walk. With 2 Outs/RISP, hitters are 0x5. And his BABIPa is .211.
*Jeff Fulchino threw a scoreless 8th inning. It was the 3rd time in his last four appearances to not allow a baserunner.
*And Brandon Lyon made things interesting yet again, but still came away with a Save. He allowed two singles, and so for the 3rd time in six appearances, Lyon has allowed 2+ baserunners. That said, he has retired 15 of the last 19 batters he's faced, walking none this season.
*Chris Johnson swung the big bat, getting his first homer of the season in the 4th - a two-run shot - that tied the game up at 3-3. It was his 47th PA of the season. He got his first homer of 2010 in his 95th PA of the season.
*Even though Carlos Lee has a hit in eight of his last ten games, he's still only hitting .217 in April, with a .604 OPS.
*From 1999-2009, Lee posted a .291/.344/.503 line. In 2010-pres, that slash line is .244/.288/.411.
*After we all went nuts about him hitting a homer in his 7th PA of 2011, he's now gone 56 plate appearances without one, and has only managed a double and a triple for XBHs.
*Let's give it up for Joe Inglett! After completely nutting his opportunities against the Cubs on April 11, Inglett came through with the go-ahead RBI, scoring Chris Johnson, who (gasp!) walked.
*Man of the Match: This one's going to Nelson Figueroa. After he gave up two first inning runs (and I sent a text to my cousin, saying that he should be traded for a box of broken bats), he threw 5.2IP allowing 5H/1ER, 5K:1BB.
*Goat of the Game: Matt Downs. 0x2 (albeit with a walk), and the error that gave the Padres a run.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
