I bet Dodgers fans are pissed! The Astros score five runs in an inning - again - and go on to win 7-2, even without Hunter Pence.
*The Astros had five runs in an inning for the second straight game. They hadn't scored five runs in consecutive games - total - since May 30-31.
*The shutout is the first for the Astros since May 1, when the Astros beat the Brewers 5-0. It's the first road shutout since September 29, 2010 (Cincinnati), and the first shutout at Dodger Stadium since July 16, 2009.
*Wandy threw 6IP, 7H/0ER, 6K:1BB and moved to 5-3. The win makes him the team leader, separating from Bud Norris and Mark Melancon. It also gives Wandy a career 67-67 record, with a 4.09 ERA.
*It's Wandy's 2nd consecutive scoreless outing since returning from the DL, where he has allowed 9H/0ER, 11K:5BB in 12IP. He last threw back-to-back scoreless starts on July 25/31, 2010.
*A bullpen of Abad/Lopez/Rodriguez allowed a combined 3H/0ER in 3IP, throwing 23 of 30 pitches for strikes, and first-pitch strikes to 10 of 11 batters. In June, Wilton Lopez has made seven appearances (6IP), and allowed 6H/0ER, 8K:1BB.
*The 5th inning was a wild one for the offense. Brett Wallace started with a walk, Chris Johnson singles, and Clint Barmes reached on a bunt single. Then Carlos Corporan and Wandy both struck out, and it looked like the same old Astros. Then Bourn drew a walk, scoring Wallace, Bourgeois reached on an infield single, scoring Johnson, and Keppinger singled to right, scoring Barmes and Bourn. Carlos Lee walked to load the bases - again - and Jason Bourgeois scored on a wild pitch. In his second PA of the inning, Wallace struck out to end it.
*But still, the Astros had only enjoyed 63 PAs with the bases loaded all season, They had four, just in the 5th inning.
*Michael Bourn was 2x4 with a walk and an RBI. In his last ten games, he's 13x38 with 5K:4BB, 4SB.
*Clint Barmes got his second straight 2-hit game, raising his batting average to .226, with an OPS of .657.
*Chris Johnson also had two hits, giving him a seven-game hit streak, and raising his line to .242/.279/.398. His .677 OPS is the highest it has been since G3, and he's hitting .319/.361/.492 since May 30.
*Carlos Lee also drew a walk and got a hit, and he's hitting .344/.440/.484 in June. The .924 OPS would be the highest OPS he has had in a month since August 2008, when he had a ridiculous .500/.605/.967 line in nine games before breaking his finger.
*Man of the Match: Wandy Rodriguez
*Goat of the Game: No Goat!
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
