Unbelievable. The #2 spot gets another 0-fer, and the bullpen gets another loss. Astros lose 3-2 at Atlanta.
*On the bright side, Brett Myers threw well - 6IP, 8H/2ER, 6K:3BB. It's the fewest number of earned runs Myers allowed in a start since G11 - his 3rd start of the season - when he threw 7IP, 8H/1ER against the Cubs.
*Myers did walk three batters, giving him 3+ walks in four straight starts (26K:13BB).
*All eight hits he allowed were singles, only the second time this season that he didn't allow an extra-base hit.
*Though Myers didn't get the loss, his .286 win% (4-10) against Atlanta is the lowest of opponent he has faced more than three times.
*Okay, it's time to do something about Fernando Abad. He appeared in his third straight game, got one out, and allowed a hit, two walks, and an earned run. Abad dropped to 1-4 on the season. He did get his first swinging strike since five appearances (three swinging strikes in his last 79 pitches).
*Wilton Lopez threw 1.2IP of hitless relief, giving him back-to-back hitless outings for the third time this season.
*Offensively, either the Astros were that bad, or Tommy Hanson was that good. The Braves' pitching staff: 9IP, 4H/2R (1ER), 15K:1BB. Hanson struck out 10 Astros himself, and five of the last six outs (O'Flaherty and Kimbrel) were strikeouts.
*Tommy Hanson's 74 Game Score was the 2nd-highest against the Astros this season (Shawn Marcum, 75, in G26).
*It's the eighth time this season the Astros have struck out 10+ times, and the 15Ks are a season high. They struck out 15 times against the Phillies in August 2010, the Cubs in August 2009, the Reds in August 2008 - but unbelievably won all of those games. On May 17, 2007, they struck out 16 times against the Giants, and lost 2-1.
*The four hits the Astros got - coming from Carlos Lee and Matt Downs - tie a season low.
*Matt Downs hit his third homer of the year in the 5th inning to take a 1-0 lead. It's the 3rd straight game with an Astros homer, tying a season-high. Downs has two homers in his last five ABs, and a four-game RBI streak. Four of his last five hits have been for extra-bases.
*Carlos Lee also had two hits. That extends his hit streak to 10 games, where he has hit .400/.405/.600, and raised his OPS 120 points (.561 to .681).
*Clint Barmes was 0x3 with a walk in the 2-spot. In 2011, the Astros are getting a .256/.324/.325 line out of their #2 hitter. NL Average is actually .258/.325/.367 in the #2 hole.
*Man of the Match: Matt Downs
*Goat of the Game: Everybody splits the Goat!
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
