From the Office of the County Clerk: G51 - Astros v. Rockies

Jhoulys Chacin (3-3, 4.10) vs Bud Norris (4-4, 3.86)

The Astros resumed their bitter interleague rivalry with Colorado on this Memorial Day. Yeah, who are we kidding? I forgot that facing the Rockies even constituted interleague play until Our Fearless Leader mentioned it today. Then I was sad. But Brandon Barnes gave the day a happy ending, with a 12th inning RBI double sending Houston to their first walk-off of the season. Astros win 3-2 in 12, improving to 15-36 overall.

On the Mound:

*"Dominant" would not be the word of choice to describe Bud Norris' outing today; he allowed at least one base runner in six of his seven innings. But he was very effective at working out of trouble, and thereby turned in a very solid start overall, finishing with a 7 IP / 8 H / 2 R / 2 ER / 3 BB / 3 K line.

*Hector Ambriz kept the party going, allowing two singles and a wild pitch in an adventurous-but-scoreless 8th.

*Jose Veras then came into the tie game and pitched a perfect 9th.

*Travis Blackley took the Astros into extras, giving up two singles and an IBB in two scoreless frames.

*Then Paul Clemens earned the win, allowing only a leadoff single in a scoreless top of the 12th.

At the Plate:

*The Astros were held hitless until one out in the 4th, when Jose Altuve broke through with a single. He also added a double and two steals to finish 2 for 5 with a run scored and a walk.

*Carlos Pena evened the score with a 2-run double in the 4th, finishing 1 for 4 with a BB and 2 K.

*Jason Castro stayed hot, going 1 for 3 with two walks and a run scored.

*Marwin Gonzalez had a ground-rule double in the 8th, and a critical sac bunt in the 12th, to finish 1 for 4.

*Trevor Crowe had an almost-game-winning single to load the bases in the 11th and finished 1 for 5 with a K.

*Matt Dominguez started the game-winning rally with a single in the 12th, ending up 1 for 5 with 2 K.

*Barnyard, we love you! Brandon Barnes only entered the game as a pinch-runner for Castro in the 11th, but he stayed in to play CF and stroked the game-winning RBI double in his only AB.

*Jimmy Paredes also had a hit and went 1 for 5 with a K.

Turning Point:

Matty D led off the 12th with a single against some Wilton Lopez guy, then Ronny Cedeno came on to run for him. Marwin Gonzalez laid down a sac bunt to the pitcher that advanced Cedeno to second, but Robbie Grossman fanned following for the second out. That brought up Jose Altuve, whom Walt Weiss* chose to intentionally walk, to face Brandon Barnes instead. But Barnyard took Lopie's second sinker over the right field fence on a bounce, plating Cedeno from second for a walk-off ground-rule double.

Man of the Match:

Brandon Barnes! Once again, one of the most consistent bright spots for the Astros this season.

Goat of the Game:

J.D. Martinez. Earned the rare Platinum Sombrero, going 0 for 5 with 5 K and 5 LOB.


*Oh, Walt Weiss is Colorado's manager now? THAT may be reason for a rivalry...