So the fresh start of the second half quickly evaporated into the awful stench of the first half. Pirates win 4-0.
*The Astros are now 2-8 against the Pirates this season.
*They have their second 5-game losing streak of July, third 5-game losing streak since June 24, and have three wins in their last 21 games.
*Brett Myers threw pretty well, allowing 5H/3ER, 11K:3BB in 6IP. After 20 starts, he's 3-10 with a 4.86 ERA/1.37 WHIP, and 95K:40BB. After 20 starts in 2010, Myers was 7-6 with a 3.24 ERA/1.26 WHIP, and 101K:41BB.
*His 11K are the most he's had since striking out 12 Cubs on July 27.
*A bullpen of F-Rod, Escalona, Carpenter, and Del Rosario threw 3IP, 1H/1R (0ER), 3K:1BB. David Carpenter threw 1IP, 0H/0ER, 1K:0BB.
*The "offense" was held to five hits for the 13th time this season, and were shutout for the 5th time.
*In 10 games against the Pirates, the Astros are hitting .246/.290/.314. The .604 OPS is the lowest against any team they have played 4+ times.
*This is amazing - the Astros only saw 83 pitches. The entire game. There's no way I'm going back to see just where that ranks up there with the rest of the season, but if you consider that the Astros had 30 PAs in this game, it's an average of 2.77 pitches/PA. Brett Myers threw his 83rd pitch with one out in the top of the 5th.
*Hunter Pence, Carlos Lee, and Humberto Quintero saw 13 pitches - combined - in eight playte appearances.
*Man of the Match: Brett Myers
*Goat of the Game: Carlos Lee - GIDPd with two men on to end the inning, as the tying run.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
