One thing is for sure tonight: Bill Hall won't be the Goat. And congratulations, Astros fans - I didn't think you had it in you. Well done. Well done, indeed. Astros win 6-5 over St. Louis.
*For the 3rd time in the last four series, the Astros won the series opener, and your Astros are now 4-3 in their last seven games.
*The Astros scored multiple runs in the 9th inning (two, in this instance) for the first time this season.
*When trailing in the 9th inning, the Astros had been 0-13. In fact, when trailing at any point after the 4th inning, the Astros were winless. THAT ENDS TONIGHT.
*Bud Norris was the victim of an ingant-ass play by Angel Sanchez, who flat-out Pele'd a grounder, which led to three unearned runs. In 45.2IP against St. Louis, Norris has allowed 39H/10ER, 41K:13BB. The only team he has a higher K:BB ratio against is the Marlins (3.50 K:BB).
*The bullpen of Abad, Fulchino, and Lyon allowed 4H/2ER, 2K:2BB in 3IP. Lyon has allowed earned runs in multiple games for the first time this season, and since September 14/15, 2010.
*It's been since April 14 (four consecutive appearances) that Brandon Lyon hasn't allowed a baserunner in an outing.
*But hey, how about that Brett Wallace? Berkman may be hitting .378 after his 2x5 night, but Wallace is hitting .347 after his 3x4 evening. It's his 3rd 3-hit game of the season, and his fifth multi-hit game in his last six starts. He's hitting 13x25 in the six-game hitting streak.
*Chris Johnson broke an 0x14 skid with a 5th inning single, and got his 4th 2-hit game of the season. Despite having hits in 11 of his 20 appearances, he's now hitting just .197.
*Hunter Pence hit his 4th homer of the season. It was his first homer of the season that actually came at home, and the Cardinals join the Reds and Phillies as the only teams he has double-digit homers against. That was also his 50th career homer at Minute Maid Park.
*Pence's homer was the only extra-base hit of the game. The Astros are now 2-4 in games where they get just one XBH.
*Carlos Lee was 0x4 with an intentional walk. He's now 0-for-his-last-11PAs. He was up to bat, before Bill Hall got the walk-off, with the bases loaded. And he popped up. With RISP, he's now 8x31, and that was his first AB with the bases loaded this season. He previously had a .678 SLG w/bases loaded for his career.
*And congratulations to Brian Bogusevic who, in his first PA since getting called up after the Michaels injury, singled off Mitchell Boggs and scored the game-winning run. That was his 4th ML hit in a game he did not start (six total).
*But Bill Hall. Hall was 1x3 with 2BB. He has four walks in his last 17PAs, and only had one go-ahead hit this season previous to his 9th inning walkoff which scored Michael Bourn. It was his first multi-walk game in 68 games (July 28, 2010 @ LAA)
*Man of the Match: Bill Hall!
*Goat of the Game: Angel Sanchez. You're quickly making us forget that you're hitting .291 (.213 since his 4-hit game against the Cubs in G11) with your glove/foot.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
