Rubber Match! And Bud Norris stepped up huge as the Astros finish the homestand 3-3 with a 5-0 win.
*The Astros held the Brewers to one run in the last 18 innings. The last time that happened was August 30-31, 2010, when the Astros shutout the Cardinals twice in a row.
*Bud Norris won the race to two, as he becomes the first Astros starter with multiple wins on the season, throwing an absolute gem: 7.2IP, 3H/0ER, 11K:3BB. It's the most strikeouts he's thrown since an August 2010 game against the Pirates, when he struck out 14.
*Norris' 81 Game Score is a career high, and also a season-high for the Astros. The last time an Astros starter had an 80+ Game Score, it was the aforementioned August 30, 2010 game against the Cardinals when J.A. Happ threw a complete game shutout.
*With the 11Ks, it gives Bud Norris 43Ks on the year - good enough for 4th in the NL and tied for 6th in all of MLB.
*The three hits allowed tie a season-low (Padres, G13).
*Carlos Lee was heading for his best game of the season (2x3, 3RBI) before Angel Sanchez donkey-kicked him in the ribs. Seriously, if you haven't seen that play, watch it, because it's nasty. His 3RBI were the most since G2 against the Phillies, when he had 4RBI.
*Lee's homer was his 3rd of the season, but remember - at this point last season, he didn't have any. And at least he now has more homers than triples. It was his 334th career homer, and his 68th against a lefty.
*Jason Bourgeois got two hits, giving him seven hits in his last 12 ABs. He has also stolen three bases in the past two games, his 8th of the year, three behind Michael Bourn, who has had 81 more PAs.
*Hunter Pence extended his hitting streak to six games, with a 1x4 day.
*Angel Sanchez' seven-game hitting streak is over, going 0x4.
*Man of the Match: Bud Norris!
*Goat of the Game: No Goat today...
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
