So the Astros completely gave this game away, with crap defense and a crap late-inning offense blowing a three run lead. Padres win 8-6.
*The Astros are now 0-5 in games following a win.
*They had a 6-4 lead to end the 7th. In seven games where the Astros have been ahead at the end of seven, they're now 4-3.
*Myers again threw a quality start - 6IP, 8H/3ER, 5K:2BB - but got nothing to show for it. Thanks to the bullpen, he's 1-0 when he should be 3-0.
*The Astros committed three errors - two by Abad on the same play where he fell all over the ball and then, once he had regained consciousness, threw the ball to Sealy and one by Sanchez, where he let the ball go right through him, ultimately letting the go-ahead runs get across.
*In the 7th, Melancon allowed a leadoff single to Nick Hundley. Then Ryan Ludwick hit a ball right at Sanchez for an easy double play. This would have meant a 6-5 Astros lead with two outs and nobody on. Instead, there were two on and nobody out. The Padres got two hits and three walks in the rest of the inning (Fulchino walking in the 8th Padres run). Ball game.
*Congratulations to Jose Valdez, who made his Major League debut after nine seasons in the minors, and struck out Ryan Ludwick and Cameron Maybin (on six total pitches) to start his ML career.
*To the offense, which can only be highlighted by missed 9th inning opportunities. With Heath Bell on the mound again, Jason Michaels led off with a single (and is 7x13 against Bell for his career). Chris Johnson struck out swinging, and pinch-hitter Brett Wallace drew a walk. Humberto Quintero bounced it off Venable's glove to load up the bases with one out. Matt Downs struck out, but really should have drawn a walk if it wasn't for Greg Gibson apparently wanting to go home, and calling it a strike. Jason Bourgeois grounded out to third base to end the game. They Are Our Astros, after all.
*Wallace's walk was his eighth of the season, in his 15th game/58th PA. He had eight walks in 51 games (159 PAs) in 2010.
*Amazingly, the Astros have 13 hits and four walks in the 9th inning. But have only scored four 9th inning runs all season. Wallace is 4x7 with 2BB in the 9th. Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence, Bill Hall, and Angel Sanchez are a combined 1x10, 3K:0BB in the 9th.
*Chris Johnson was 2x4 with an RBI, raising his batting average from .196 to .208. But the other two ABs were Ks, and he has 15Ks in 50 ABs.
*Man of the Match: Could go to either Carlos Lee or Bill Hall. Whatever.
*Goat of the Game: Angel Sanchez. 0x4, and committed a crucial error.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
