That, my friends, is a four-game win streak. And what's more? It's a four-game win streak on the road. Astros win 7-4.
*The four game road win streak is the longest since August of 2010 (not impressive, I know.) If they win Friday's game, it will tie that streak, set over August 22-26, 2010.
*The win moves the Astros to 3-2 over San Diego this season. They have a winning record against four teams now: Cubs (4-2), Dodgers (2-1), Padres (3-2), and Blue Jays (2-1).
*On this four-game streak, the Astros have outscored their opponents 29-15. It had taken eight of the previous games to get to 29 runs.
*Bud Norris allowed 6H/4ER, 6K:2BB in 6IP. In each of his two previous starts, he had allowed two earned runs (nine runs total).
*He threw 111 pitches - 70 for strikes. Norris, this season, has thrown 1251 pitches, and 788 of them for strikes, for a 62.98% of strikes:pitches.
*Norris also only got one groundball out on the night - his fewest of the season.
*Mark Melancon got his 5th save of the season, and his 2nd in two games. He hasn't allowed a hit in three appearances, but has walked a batter in two straight games. His 16 pitches were actually the most he had thrown since May 22 against Toronto (six games).
*The offense got 11 hits - marking the 4th straight game with double-digit hits. They had a five-game stretch from April 8-12 earlier this year (2-3).
*Carlos Lee was 2x4 with a walk - the third game in his last four that he has two hits, and the 4th game in his last six. Lee is hitting over .260 for the first time since April 5th, when an 0x4 against Cincinnati dropped him from .364 to .267, and an 0x3 dropped him from .267 to .222.
*Brett Wallace was also 2x4, with a double, and a walk. Wallace now has a nine-game hitting streak, with five hits in his last nine ABs.
*Chris Johnson hit his 6th homer of the season, bringing his .380 SLG to within 101 points of his 2010 SLG. On this four-game road trip, he's hitting .353/.389/.647, with a Johnson-esque .455 BABIP.
*The Astros were 2x14 last night w/RISP, and are now hitting - as a team - .278/.351/.386 with RISP.
*Man of the Match: Chris Johnson!
*Goat of the Game: Anyone who batted with a runner in scoring position. Carlos Lee and Johnson were the only players to get a hit w/RISP.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
