Sweet mercy. The Astros blow their second 4-run lead in five games to remain the only winless NL team - at least Boston and Tampa Bay both lost - in a 12-4 loss.
*Did I mention that the Reds scored 12 unanswered runs? I would liked to have told you that it took some time to go back and find the last time that happened, but I really didn't. On July 20, 2010 the Cubs scored 13 unanswered runs in a 14-7 win over Houston.
*Yes, and the Astros committed five errors. Check my math, but methinks the last time the Astros committed five errors in a game was May 19, 2005 against Arizona in a 6-1 loss. So if I'm right, the last time a game like last night happened, THE ASTROS WON THE PENNANT. (Update: the Astros also committed five errors against the Rangers in 2008).
*The errors were spread around the infield: Towles, Figueroa, Johnson, and two from Angel Sanchez - who committed five errors in 58 games in 2010. Those errors led to four unearned runs.
*Figueroa. He was given a 4-0 lead before he even took the mound - and by the time he threw his 60th pitch, was down 6-4. And the 3rd inning was just a hot mess. After getting Stubbs to groundout to open the inning, Phillips walked, Votto singled, Rolen doubled, Bruce reached on an infield single, Heisey reached on Figueroa's throwing error, before Ramon Hernandez could pop out on the second pitch, Jay Bruce stole third and scored on Towles' throwing error, which brought Heisey from 1st to 3rd. Janish singled, and it took Volquez striking out swinging to end the 5-run inning.
*So the first time through the rotation sees the following numbers: 0-4, 9.62 ERA/1.93 WHIP, 16K:11BB, .336/.405/.467 against, and a .378 BABIP.
*Hey, but Mark Melancon got four perfect outs (facing five batters because of one of Sanchez' errors), and threw first-pitch strikes to all five batters.
*Pathetically, Nelson Figueroa had the only multi-hit day at the plate for the Astros, though Sanchez walked twice and got a hit. Bourn, Pence, Lee, and Wallace also drew walks.
*Bill Hall also got a hit, but then again he struck out three times to give him a line of 2x19, 9K in 2011. The first strikeout came with the bases loaded in the 1st. Hall has a K in every game this season.
*The heart of the order (Pence-Lee-Hall-Wallace) went for a combined 1x14, 7K:3BB.
*Michael Bourn and Angel Sanchez stole their first bases of the season.
*Man of the Match: I'm actually giving this one to Brett Wallace, who drew a bases loaded walk in the first. That's how bad this game was.
*Goat of the Game: Bill Hall. 3Ks from the #5 spot - putting him here has to stop.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
