Wandy Rodriguez (7-7, 3.51) vs Clayton Richard (6-10, 3.83)
Well. Then. The Astros doubled their highest run total from any other game since the All-Star Break. Wandy Rodriguez was dominant through three flawless innings. You really don't want to know what happened the rest of the time. Astros lose again, 8-4, and they looked as bad as their MLB-worst 34-58 record while doing it.
*For the first three innings, Wandy was perfect, and it looked like he just might do something special. His 4th inning, however, was at least as ugly as the first three were brilliant. Wandy's line: 4 IP / 4 H / 5 R / 5 ER / 2 BB / 4 K. Enerio Del Rosario gave up two runs (one earned) in 1.1 innings, but the unearned run came on his own botched pickoff throw to first, which went into right field, then the run scored when Matt Downs' return throw to third was also wild. Brandon Lyon surrendered a run in 1.2 innings, and only Rhiner Cruz escaped unscathed, with a perfect 8th in mop-up duty.
Observations:
*Three errors, including two on one play, made the defense look as bad as the pitching was.
*Houston's four runs today were as many (or more than) they had scored in any other two post-Break games combined.
*All four of those runs scored on Matt Downs homers - a three-run shot in the 6th, and a solo shot in the 9th. Downs added a single to go 3 for 4, and to try and make it harder to send him back to OKC whenever Wallace or others come up.
*Justin Maxwell and J.D. Martinez both went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
*Carlos Corporan singled in a pinch-hit appearance for his first Astros hit in 2012.
*Brian Bixler had a double and went 1 for 3.
*Jose Altuve was 0 for 4 for the second straight day, dropping his average (.290) to its lowest point since he was 0 for 3 after Opening Day. He's in a full-fledged slump, hitting only .187 in his last 18 games.
*Houston's four runs today were as many (or more than) they had scored in any other two post-Break games combined.
*All four of those runs scored on Matt Downs homers - a three-run shot in the 6th, and a solo shot in the 9th. Downs added a single to go 3 for 4, and to try and make it harder to send him back to OKC whenever Wallace or others come up.
*Justin Maxwell and J.D. Martinez both went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
*Carlos Corporan singled in a pinch-hit appearance for his first Astros hit in 2012.
*Brian Bixler had a double and went 1 for 3.
*Jose Altuve was 0 for 4 for the second straight day, dropping his average (.290) to its lowest point since he was 0 for 3 after Opening Day. He's in a full-fledged slump, hitting only .187 in his last 18 games.
Turning Point:
Wandy started 9 up, 9 down, then the bottom of the 4th happened. It went like this: single, walk, single, wild pitch, walk, single, error (Martinez), double. That plated five San Diego runs, and three straight outs after that still weren't enough to keep from ending Wandy's day.
Man of the Match:
Matt Downs. Even his day wasn't flawless, as he had a hand in the two-error Little League play in the 5th. But he does deserve kudos for his first career 2 HR game, and for providing all of Houston's offense.
Goat of the Game:
Wandy Rodriguez. If you want to see him traded, this game did terrible things for his value. If you want to see the Astros keep him, this still isn't the way your veteran ace is supposed to pitch. Either way, it was a bad day all around.
