Holy crap, that sucked. The Astros fought back hard, but the pitching staff - mainly Wandy - pretty much nutted it. Let's look at some numbers:
*The L8 is obviously the longest skid of the season (and has been for four games, now). Amazingly, the 2011 Astros' longest L streak was seven, from Aug 9-15. They had two such streaks in 2010, but a loss tomorrow would tie the longest streak since 2009, when the Astros lost nine in a row from Sept 13-22, 2009.
*The Astros are now 7-1 when scoring 8+ runs, and are 15-8 when scoring 5+ runs.
*Houston has been outscored 67-37 in the last eight games, but have had 14+ hits in four of their last five games. That's ridiculous.
*During this eight-game losing streak, the pitching staff has allowed 100H/60ER, 59K:30BB, 17HR, 38 extra-base hits. That's a 7.09 ERA/1.70 ERA.
*Wandy lasted 5IP, allowing 9H/9R (7ER), 3K:2BB and 4HR. He "only" threw 93 pitches, but only got 15 outs. His 18 Game Score was the lowest since he threw up a 15 against...Cincinnati, on May 28, 2010.
*He had allowed six homers coming into tonight, but gave up four tonight - three in the first two innings. It's the third start in a row with Wandy allowing a homer, and the second straight start with 2+ homers allowed. He has only allowed four homers twice in his career, with the previous instance coming on June 4, 2009 - against Colorado.
*In fact, Wandy made 77 starts between outings with 3+ homers, and has allowed 3+ homers twice since May 7. Wandy's last two starts (@COL, vCIN): 10IP, 19H/11ER, 8K:2BB, 52 batters faced.
*Fernando Rodriguez came out for the 6th, and allowed 2H/1ER. The Astros are 6-17 in games in which F-Rod pitches. He has allowed multiple baserunners in three of his last four outings.
*David Carpenter struck out two, giving up nada in his inning of work - his first perfect outing of the season.
*Brandon Lyon allowed 2ER tonight in his inning of work, matching his total from April 16-May 31 (70 batters faced).
*Cozart-Stubbs-Votto (1-3 in Reds' lineup) went for a combined 9x15, with 6RBI and five extra-base hits.
*Jason Castro threw out Joey Votto at 2nd, to break a streak of 14 straight stolen bases by opponents. Astros catchers (and pitchers, I suppose) have allowed an 82.5% success rate in SBs in 2012 (47 of 57). Opponents are now 28 for 32 running on Castro - an 87.5% success rate.
*Still, the Astros struck out 15 times, tying a season-high. They've struck out 10+ times in 14 games this season, and are 1-14 when it happens.
*Jordan Schafer was 1x5 with 3Ks, and his 55Ks on the season are the 8th-highest in the NL. Since May 1, he has 25K:5BB (94 PAs).
*Fernando Martinez made his first start since May 22, 2011, and also had himself three strikeouts, and a Willie Mays-Hayes-esque dive for a ball that allowed the Reds to go up 10-9 in the 6th.
*Here's the craziest part of all the craziness tonight: Chris Johnson went 2x2 and drew three walks. It's the first time in his career he has drawn that many walks, and his 3rd multi-walk game of the season. He had not drawn two walks in a single game before 2012. He now has 10 walks in 194 plate appearances - 5.2%. He had 16 walks in 405 plate appearances in 2011 - 4.0%.
*J.D. Martinez was 2x5 with 3RBI tonight, giving him hits in four straight games - something that hasn't happened since his nine-game hit streak to open the season ended on April 15.
*Jed Lowrie's homer in the 1st inning was his 9th of the season - tying a career-high for homers, which he set in 2010 in 197 PAs. After tonight, Lowrie has 194 PAs.
*Oh yes, and in non-breaking news: Jose Altuve was 3x5 with three runs scored. It's his third 3-hit game in his last four games, and fifth in his last nine.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
