Hey! The Astros beat the Rockies 7-3 tonight!
*They got their first win of the season in G2 (obviously). But in 2011, it took until G6 to get that first win. And until G9 in 2010.
*The Astros got 10 hits off the Rockies tonight, meaning that eight of their last thirteen games (dating back to 2010) against the Rockies have been games in which the Astros got double-digit hits.
*Tonight Jordan Schafer and J.D. Martinez went yard against Colorado, marking the first time the Astros have had back-to-back multi-HR games since August 22-23, 2011 - against Colorado.
*Jordan Schafer's HR came as the lead-off batter for the Astros. Houston had two lead-off homers in all of 2011. It was the first lead-off homer of Schafer's career, and his 5th career HR. Jamie Moyer became just the 2nd non-Astros pitcher to give up a homer to Schafer, joining San Francisco's Ryan Vogelsong, with Brett Myers, J.A. Happ, and Brandon Lyon as the trio of Astros pitchers to allow a Schafer homer.
*Travis Buck got himself a pinch-hit triple - the first pinch-hit triple since, yes, April 7, 2010 when Cory Sullivan got one against Matt Cain and the Giants.
*J.D. Martinez had a big game - going 2x4 with 3RBI (the 6th 3+ RBI game of his career). But he also had a career-high 2 GIDPs, after having four in his time with the Astros, and the third multi-GIDP game of his professional career (both with the Hooks).
*Chris Johnson got two doubles on the night, his 3rd career 2-2B game.
*Congrats to Marwin Gonzalez and Lucas Harrell on their first career MLB hit.
*But perhaps the most impressive piece of the game was Lucas Harrell, who went 7IP, 3H/0ER, 4K:0BB for his 2nd career MLB win. It wasn't hard to achieve, but Harrell set a career-high in IP, and got his 2nd quality start of his career. 31 of his 93 pitches were non-contact strikes (26 called, 5 swinging).
*Harrell got out to a 2-0 count four times, and held the Rockies to 1x4 - with Michael Cuddyer's 2nd inning double as the only hit following the 2-0.
*Things sort of fell apart for the bullpen, allowing 3ER in the last six outs - including Brandon Lyon's outing. Lyon allowed a homer to Michael Cuddyer - the first batter he faced. Dating back to April 30, 2011, Lyon has allowed homers in five of his last six outings (30 batters faced).
*Wesley Wright allowed 2ER in 0.2IP, after allowing 2ER in 21 appearances (12IP) total in 2011. I know he's had limited playing time, but it's the first time he's allowed multiple ER in relief since June 18, 2010 (vs. Texas).
*Still, the Astros' pitching staff emerged from G2 having allowed no walks, something they accomplished just nine times in 2011, and twelve times since the beginning of the 2010 season.
Man of the Match: Going with Lucas Harrell here.
Goat of the Game: First win of the season? No Goat.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
