WINZ! Astros score only in two innings, but that's enough for an 8-2 win over Pittsburgh.
*The eight runs by the Astros are the highest since they managed to lose that football game against the Rays (14-10) on June 26.
*Enough about the X losses in X games, let's just enjoy this rare win over the Pirates. And then cry over that last statement.
*I think it was Brett Dolan who mentioned this last night, but the Astros haven't had a save since the Astros beat the Cardinals on June 8.
*Bud Norris was The Man, throwing 7IP with 7H/2ER, 3K:2BB. In his career, he's 3-4 against the Pirates, with 52K:13BB - his highest K:BB ratio against any team he's faced.
*In five June starts and two July starts, Norris has thrown 45IP, 31H/15ER, 40K:19BB.
*Give it up to Wilton Lopez - who struck out the side on 14 pitches, and David Carpenter, who has made four appearances in the Majors (3.1IP) and has yet to allow a run, and just one hit.
*And the Astros' 14 hits is the most they've had since that game against the Rays. They had managed 14 hits in the previous two games of the Pirates series.
*Here's something weird - the Astros struck out 10 times last night for the 4th time. When that happens, the Astros are 3-1. They've had double-digit Ks 14 times this season and are 5-9 in those games.
*Hunter Pence was 3x5 with 2RBI - it's his 10th 3-hit game of the year. He had 11 3+ hit games in all of 2010.
*Carlos Lee had a couple of hits and drew the only walk of the night for Houston. It's the 26th time this season the Astros have 0/1 walk.
*Clint Barmes was 2x4 with an RBI - and in the last seven days, Barmes is 10x26 with four extra-base hits and 2BB. He got on base in six of twelve plate appearances (4H/2BB) in this Pirates series, and his .698 OPS is the highest since June 5 (.711).
*Carlos Corporan got a hit - going 1x4. It was the first hit by an Astros catcher since June 29 against Texas (23 PAs).
*Man of the Match: Bud Norris!
*Goat of the Game: No Goat today.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
