That was quite fun! If the Betting Man didn't get even more neurotic about having to make his picks public, he would have lost a lot more money. Astros win 10-4.
*G27-29 marks the first W3 of the season. In 2010, the first W3 came in G11-13.
*That said, the Astros are 12-12 since the 0-5 start.
*J.A. Happ pitched decently enough, allowing 8H/4ER, 5K:1BB in 6.1IP. He walked nine batters in his first two starts (11.2IP), and in his past four starts has walked six batters (23IP).
*The bullpen of Del Rosario, Abad, Melancon, and Figueroa allowed 1H/0ER, 1K:2BB in 2.2IP. And they were efficient, getting eight outs in 37 pitches. (Abad's one-pitch-one-out appearance helped).
*Mark Melancon enjoyed a baserunner-less outing for the first time since April 13, and it had been four appearances since he had not allowed a hit.
*Chris Johnson got a triple and a homer - his second homer in the past four games (12PAs). It was 33PAs between his 1st and 2nd HR.
*Brett Wallace also got a jack, and he has as many HRs in 2011 as he had in 2010. Wallace is hitting .383/.448/.543. Wallace has an 11-start hitting streak (pinch-hitting three games ago), and has reached base in 25 of the past 26 games.
*Jason Bourgeois is making the best case for going ahead and letting Carlos Lee rest up until 2013, going 3x5 with two doubles, 2RBI, and a stolen base. He has ten hits in his last 17 PAs.
*Bourgeois is the last position player on the team with 10+ PAs to not draw a walk, going 41PAs to start the season without reaching that magic four-ball count. Joe Inglett had joined him (24PAs), but obviously now finds himself in OKC.
*Bourgeois' 41ABs is actually the most in the National League without a walk. Laynce Nix has 38ABs, and no walks.
*Clint Barmes got his first two hits - both doubles - as an Astro, and also drew a walk.
*Man of the Match: Jason Bourgeois
*Goat of the Game: Going with Hunter Pence, who was 1x5, but 0x3 w/RISP.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
