The Astros had the lead twice, but various pitchers couldn't hold on to it, and the Astros drop to 0-7 in extra-inning games with an 8-7 loss to San Diego.
*It marks the 3rd loss of the season when the Astros have scored 7+ runs (15-3).
*The Astros were 3x13 w/RISP, and the 13 LOBsters tie a season-high.
*Wandy threw 6.2IP, 8H/5ER, 6K:0BB - breaking a streak of three starts where Wandy allowed more than 3ER. It's just the 2nd time all season Wandy allowed 5+ earned runs.
*Wandy's 6Ks were the highest since he struck out seven Pirates on May 13.
*Fernando Rodriguez managed to go two outings in between giving up an earned run. He allowed a 2-run, go-ahead homer in the 8th inning to Jesus Guzman - a guy who had hit 6HR in 474 plate appearances, and had one homer away from Petco in his career.
*Brett Myers threw the 9th inning without incident, and Brandon Lyon got Cameron Maybin, walked Chase Headley (who then stole 2nd successfully), and Carlos Quentin doubled him home for the go-ahead run in the 10th inning.
*Headley's SB was the second of the game, meaning that runners have successfully stolen 38 bases against Castro, getting caught just eight times (82.6% success rate). Only Nick Hundley and Rod Barajas have allowed more stolen bases than Castro.
*Brian Bixler led off the game with a homer - the second of his career - and the 3rd time the Astros have begun the game with a homerun. Bixler was 2x5 with a double (HR, of course), walk, and three runs scored.
*In 37 June plate appearances, Bixler has twelve hits - seven of them for extra-bases.
*Carlos Lee also joined the homer parade for the 5th time this season. It was his first homerun since May 19 - a span of 83 Plate Appearances.
*It was the 18th multi-HR game of the season for the Astros, and they're 14-4 when they hit 2+ homers in a game.
*Jason Castro hit his 2nd homer of the season - a game-tying shot with two outs in the bottom of the 8th. It was his 4th career homer, and the first that (a) tied the game and (b) came after the 3rd inning. Three of his four career homeruns have been at Minute Maid Park.
*J.D. Martinez was 2x4 with a walk and 2RBI, giving him three multi-hit games in his last seven games, and three straight 2RBI games.
*Chris Johnson was 2x5 with a walk. In the last week, Johnson is hitting .480 (12x25). It's his fourth straight multi-hit game, and fifth in his last six. He has a six-game hitting streak.
*Jordan Schafer was 1x3 with a walk, stolen base, and a strikeout. Yeah, Schafer has at least 1K in 13 of his 15 starts in June, but he also has five walks in his last seven games. He had 17 walks in his first 55 games of the season.
*Man of the Match: Meh. Who knows? How about Brian Bixler?
*Goat of the Game: Anyone not named Brett Myers who threw a ball at Jason Castro.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
