Well, at least the Padres lost, making them 13-20. So the Astros are tied for last in the National League, 1.5 games ahead of the White Sox for worst record in baseball. Oh yes, Astros lose 6-1.
*The Astros are 3-5 at PNC Park, dating to the beginning of 2010, and are 6-11 on the road this season.
*Bud Norris threw 7IP, 7H/3ER, 9K:2BB - giving him five straight quality starts. He's 2-3 against the Pirates lifetime, but has 40K:9BB - and that 4.44 K:BB ratio is the highest against any team he's faced.
*Norris was much more economical than usual - throwing first-pitch strikes to 24 of the 28 batters he faced. The Pirates were 3x7 when swinging at the first pitch. He only needed 97 pitches to record those 21 outs. It was the first sub-100 pitch quality start since July 28, 2010 against the Cubs.
*Norris' 52Ks are 5th-best in the National League, behind Cliff Lee, Matt Garza, Roy Halladay, and Tim Lincecum.
*Norris is leading the team in ERA (3.16), ERA+ (116), WHIP (1.27), H/9 (8.4), K/9 (11.0), and K:BB ratio (3.71).
*Jose Valdez had a rough outing - allowing 1H/3ER, 1K:2BB in 0.2IP - before Del Rosario came in and got the final out.
*Astros relievers have a 6-6 record, with a 5.36 ERA/1.69 WHIP, with 65K:39BB in 90.2IP.
*Michael Bourn was 2x4 with a double, giving him hits in six of the last ten games, though had just three hits in his previous 21ABs.
*Angel Sanchez was 0x4, and after his seven game hitting streak, is hitless in his last 15PAs.
*Counting the shortened May 1 game last Sunday, Carlos Lee has five hits in his last 12PAs, and has been on base in six of those 12PAs. He's raised his OPS 62 points since the end of the April 30 game.
*The Astros only saw 110 pitches, and had 17 ABs of three pitches or fewer.
*Man of the Match: Going with Bud Norris here.
*Goat of the Game: Angel Sanchez - just hasn't done much worth mentioning.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
