The Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds just finished up a three game series that saw the Astros take two out of three games. On Thursday in the rubber game, the Astros defeated the Reds by the score of 3-2. It was a good series win for the Astros who have about a month left in the season to improve on their 68-66 record.

Brad Backe earned the win after throwing 6 2/3 innings. Backe gave up six hits and two runs while picking up his ninth win of the season. The Astros bullpen did a great job to hold the Reds to the two runs that Backe gave up. Doug Brocail, LaTroy Hawkins, and Jose Valverde all threw out of the pen for the Astros. Valverde finished the game up and picked up his 35th save.

All three of the Astros runs in the game via the home run ball as they hit three solo shots off the Reds pitchers. Ty Wigginton got things started with his homerun in the first inning and then in the fifth it was Humberto Quintero’s turn to go deep. The third home run came from Wigginton in the sixth inning as he finished with two home runs and two rbi. Great day for Ty at the plate!

Astros Blog

The Houston Astros lost to the San Francisco Giants by the score of 4-2 on Tuesday night.  It was Brad Backe who took the loss as he gave up four runs including a solo home run to the opposing teams pitcher.  Backe is now 2-5 on the season as he continues to struggle on the mound.

Carlos Lee provided both runs for the the Astros at the plate.  Lee singled in Miguel Tejada in the third inning and then he hit a solo home run in the eighth inning.  The Astros weren’t able to come up with a rally after the home run however.  Lance Berkman was cooled down a little bit as he went 1-3 in the game.

Astros Blog

The Houston Astros are needing their verteran pitchers to step up this season if the Astros are going to make a run at the post season.  Shawn Chacon and Brad Backe got off to a good start on Sunday as they both pitched pretty good for the Astros.

Backe pitched two scoreless innings against Atlanta, while Chacon gave an encouraging performance in a two-inning stint against Washington.

I like the Astros chances if Chacon and Backe can with 12-13 games each.  I really think the Astros will score enough runs to compete, it is just if the pitching staff can step up and get the team into the playoffs.

Astros Blog