Two guesses as to the Goat of the Game, and the second one doesn't count. Brandon Lyon gives up four runs in the 10th, and the Astros lose 6-3 to the Brian McCanns.
*Brian McCann hit a three-run 10th inning homer to give the Braves a 5-2 lead. Of the eight homers that McCann has hit in 2011, three have come against the Astros. Both extra-inning homers he has hit have been against the Astros.
*The loss gives the Astros their 7th three-game losing streak of the season, and since the four-game win streak, the Astros have lost seven of eight.
*In that stretch, the Astros have been outscored 50-23.
*Lyon managed to screw up Jordan Lyles' 1st home start, where he threw 6.1IP, 8H/2ER, 5K:2BB, and allowed a homer to Eric Hinske. He threw 22 first-pitch strikes out of 29 batters, and got 28 non-contact strikes (15 called; 13 swinging).
*The next eight outs went swimmingly, with Escalona, Lopez, and Melancon combining to allow 1H/0ER, 3K:0BB.
*Then Brandon Lyon happened - again. Facing four batters, he got none of them out, allowing 3H/4ER, 0K:1BB. He has allowed an earned run in each of his last four appearances, dating back to April 30, seeing his ERA balloon - no, spiral out of control like a drop-kicked astronaut - from 4.76 to 10.22.
*The Astros exited five of Lyon's last six appearances in a worse position than when he entered.
*The Astros' offense got double-digit hits for the fourth time in five games, and their five extra-base hits (four doubles, one triple) are the most since May 31, at Chicago.
*The big story on offense is Hunter Pence, whose two doubles extended his hitting streak to 22 games. Eleven of his 36 hits in those 22 games have been for extra-bases (11 2B; 1 3B; 3 HR).
*Carlos Lee was 3x5 with two doubles and 2RBI, giving him a 12-game on-base streak, with 6K:9BB. It was his first three-hit game since G2 against the Phillies.
*Michael Bourn got his 5th triple of the season, in 64 games. In 141 games in 2010, Bourn had six triples.
*Man of the Match: Carlos Lee
*Goat of the Game: Brandon Lyon
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
