The Houston Astros were blown out by the Florida Marlins on Wednesday night by the score of 14-2. This is a game that the Astros just need to forget about and start thinking about Thursday’s game. The Astros have now lost three games in a row as they are having trouble staying in the wild card race.

Brandon Backe was terrible on the mound as he only lasted 1 2/3 innings. Backe gave up six hits and five runs including two home runs in the game. Backe took the loss after getting shelled and is now 9-13. The bullpen wasn’t very good either as Jack Cassel gave up one run, Fernando Nieve three runs, and Dave Borkowski five runs. It was a bad night to be a Astros pitcher.

The only offense for the Astros on the night came from Hunter Pence. Pence hit two solo home runs in the game. I can’t really fault the offense to much however as the pitching staff put the offense in a huge hole.

Thursday’s game is pretty much a must win in my opinion. If the Astros lose Thursday’s game, I think you can pretty much pack things in.

Astros Blog

Today was a bad day all around for the Astros tonight. First, Roy Oswalt left the game after the first inning with his hip bothering him again. Then, the Astros got pummeled 10-0.

Right after Oswalt left, Chad Paronto came in and gave up a two-run homer to Ron Belliard of the Nationals. He gave up another run in the 3rd inning to end his night.

After a couple strong showings, Dave Borkowski went back to his old ways. He gave up 7 runs in only two innings. Just when you think our bullpen could turn into a strong point, they blow up.

There wasn’t too much on the offensive side of the game for the Astros either, the only strong points were Carlos Lee and Kazuo Matsui each had 2 hits.

I wish there was more to write about on this game, but really it’s embarassing to even write this entry. I hope this game sends a strong message to Ed Wade to wake up and realize this team is not built for the playoffs. I know that Oswalt got injured and that had a lot to do with the loss, but something needs to change. On the radio this morning Wade said he doesn’t think the Houston fans want to start rebuilding. News flash Ed, it’s not up to the fans, it’s up to you. Rebuild and be competitive in a couple years and you will have more fans. Right now people are just losing interest in this squad, and rightfully so.

Maybe we will wake up tomorrow and find a headline about some major roster moves. Atleast we can dream…

The Astros lost 4-3 tonight in a 6 hour game, which over 3 hours of it was waiting out the rain.

Brandon Backe had a strong start, allowing no runs over 4 innings before the rain started. In the top of the fourth Hunter Pence smashed a homer over the center field fence to go up 1-0. After coming back from a two and a half hour rain delay, Carlos Lee hit a 2-run homerun in the fifth inning. Unfortunately, since the long delay, Backe was unable to continue pitching. As far as offense, that is all the Astros would muster.

The Pirates got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Nate McLouth hit a homer off of Dave Borkowski. Then in the 8th inning Doug Brocail came in to try and get the hold, but could not finish the inning. He gave up a solo homerun to Adam LaRoche, and then lost the lead by giving up a bases loaded single to Nate McLouth. Jose Valverde had to come in the finish the inning. In the ninth inning the Astros couldn’t do anything to save the game when Miguel Tejada grounded out to the pitcher with Michael Bourn on second base.

It was tough loss to swallow for the Astros, as they had a lead the whole game and through all the rain delays. This team needs some sort of shakeup, because these kind of losses add up and take a toll on a team. I know winning makes a lot of people happy, but what happened to the happy-go-lucky Astros of May? They used to look like they enjoyed every minute of their job, but not anymore. Let’s hope Ed Wade can do something in the next couple of weeks to get this team going in the right direction.

The Houston Astros ran into a buzz saw in the name of Hiroki Kuroda on Wednesday night as Kuroda pitched seven scoreless innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Astros 4-1.  The Astros just couldn’t get anything going against Kuroda.  When they did score a run in the bottom of the ninth inning it was a little too late to make a difference.

Cliff Lee hit a solo home run in the ninth inning for the Astros only run.  There really isn’t anything else to blog about on the offense.

Runelvys Hernandez dropped to 0-2 on the season after pitching five innings and giving up six hits and four runs.  Hernandez struck out four batters but gave up a two run home run as well.  Dave Borkowski pitched two scoreless innings while Tim Byrdak and Chris Sampson both pitched one scoreless inning each.

The Astros will need to win on Thursday to salvage a split in the series with the Dodgers.

Astros Blog

The Houston Astros fell to the Chicago Cubs by the score of 7-2 on Monday night.  The loss put the Astros 3.5 games behind the Cubs in the division standings.

Brian Moehler pitched five innings while giving up seven hits and three runs to take the loss.  Moehler is now 1-1 on the season.  Tim Byrdak pitched a scoreless inning of relief after Moehler exited.  That is when the wheels came off for the Astros bullpen.  Fernando Nieve and Wesley Wright both gave up one run each before Dave Borkowski gave up two runs on a home run.

Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence each had a rbi in the game for the Astros.  Lee had a rbi single in the fourth inning while Pence had a rbi single in the fifth inning.  Other then that, the Astros struck out nine times in the game.

The Astros will need to have a better showing tomorrow unless they want to fall 4.5 games behind the Cubs.  Astros Blog

The Houston Astros pitching staff couldn’t hold down Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night as the Cardinals went on to win 6-4.

Pujols hit two homeruns off Astros pitching and also had a RBI single in the game.  All that came after he and Bradon Backe got into a heated argument about Pujols slide in the previous game.  I don’t think Pujols is the kind of guy that you want to piss off before a game!

Starting pitcher Chris Sampson has had flu-like symptoms all week and only lasted four innings took the loss for the Astros. He allowed six hits and three runs and said he was drained after those four innings.  Brian Moehler, Dave Borkowski, and Oscar Villarreal all pitched in relief and all gave up one earned run.

Michael Bourn, Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, and Mark Loretta each had one RBI for the Astros.

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Dave Borkowski and the Houston Astros have agreed on a one year contract that will pay Borkowski $800,000 in 2008.  The Astros are hoping that he will rebound from a crappy year in 2007 and put up some better numbers in 2008.

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