Houston Astros Begin 10 Game Home Stand Against The Reds

If there were ever a deserving gimme Roy O would get one tonight.*  However, this is a different looking Reds team that he has faced in the past but still, I think the odds are in his favor.  So now that I have jinxed Houston for tonight, let’s check out that starting line up.
 
Bourn
Tejada
Berkman
Lee
Pence
Blum
Rodriguez
Smith
Oswalt
 
I like this lineup.  I would personally rather have Kepp in there but it will be nice for Smith to get his first start of the season, leaving Erstad as the only bench player without  a start. 
 
Why do I like this lineup? Tejada isn’t the power hitter he once was yet, he still has a nice average to start the season.  Because of his lack of power numbers, no homers this season, it makes since to put him in the two hole so he will see more fastballs in front Lance, hopefully getting on base for Berkman, Lee, and Pence to drive him in.
 
Richard Justice can’t make up his mind, so what’s new? He has some optimistic words for Houston in his latest post.
 
Let’s make it 3 in a row and get Roy his first win tonight.
 
Go Stros.
*(See roy’s record against Cincinnati)
Post info: By cardsjason on April 17th, 2009
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Houston Astros Defeat Pittsburgh for First Series Win

I was at class today so I didn’t get to watch/score the game so here is the wrap from Stros.com:

Bourn 1-3, 2 BB, 2B, 2 R
Tejada 2-4, BB, R
Berkman 1-4, BB, K, 3 RBI, R, 3-run HR
Lee 1-4, RBI
Pence 1-4, BB, RBI, HR, K
Blum 1-5
Rodriguez 1-4, BB, K
Keppinger 1-2, R, BB, 3B
Ortiz 1-2, RBI

Pitching lines:
Ortiz 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Wright .1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER (got the W)
Sampson 1.2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 ER
Byrdak 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 0 ER
LeHawk 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, (save)

Good news: Berkman and Pence both went yard for the 2nd and 3rd home runs respectively. Keppinger and Tejada stayed hot and our bullpen didn’t give up any runs. Russ Ortiz also hung in there and kept Houston in the game.

Bad news: Ortiz didn’t quite go 5 innings. Houston left 10 on base.

Wright (1-0)
LeHawk (Save)

Tomorrow has Roy Oswalt taking on his favorite team the Cincinnati Reds for the start of a 10 game home stand for Houston.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 16th, 2009
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Houston Astros Defeat Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1: Hampton Gets Win

Mike Hampton pitched 6 great innings as the Astros defeated the Pirates 4-1. 
 
Houston came out early and scored in the first inning for the first time all season with a sac fly from Lee and Pence.  Houston would score again in the 3rd off of a 2 run double from Carlos Lee.
 
Bourn 0-2, BB, R, ends hit streak
Tejada 3-4, 2B, 2 R
Berkman 2-4, 2B, R, K
Lee 1-3, 3 RBI, 2B, Sac Fly, K
Pence 1-3, RBI
Blum 0-3, BB
Rodriguez 0-4, GIDP
Keppinger 1-4, 2B
Hampton 0-3, K
Erstad 0-1, K

The real story of today’s game is the performance by Mike Hampton.

Pitching line:
Mike Hampton 6 IP, 8K, 1BB, 4 hits, no runs allowed
Geoff Geary 1 IP, 1BB, 2 hits, no runs allowed
LaTroy Hawkins 1 IP, 0 BB, 1 hit, nor runs allowed
Jose Valverde 1 IP, 1K 2 hits, 0BB, HR, 1 earned run.
 
Good News: Tejada, Berkman, Lee went 6-11 today producing 3 RBI.  The best news is however is Mike Hampton who is todays MVP for the game after helping Houston snap their 5 game losing streak.
Bad News: Houston left 6 runners on base. Michael Bourn also went 0-for ending his hitting streak.  However he did get on base in his first at bat with a walk and eventually scored a run.
 
Mike Hampton W (1-1)
Houston (2-6)

Tomorrow is the first game for Russ Ortiz and he will face Jeff Karstens.

 
Game time tomorrow is early, 11:35 a.m. central.
 
Post info: By cardsjason on April 15th, 2009
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Houston Astros V. Pittsburgh Pirates Game 2 Line Up

Didn’t I mention something about Bourn getting moved up in the lineup?

Todays 9:

Bourn
Tejada
Berkman
Lee
Pence
Blum
Rodriguez
Keppinger
Hampton

“I like it!” – Barney from the Simpsons.

 

Post info: By cardsjason on April 15th, 2009
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Houston Astros Starting Pitcher Brian Moehler to 15 Day DL, Arias Called Up

From Brian McTaggart @ Chron.com:
 
“Astros pitcher Brian Moehler was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a grade one medial collateral ligament strain in his right knee.
 
Moehler is scheduled to start Sunday, but it’s not known who will take his spot.
“I’m able to ride the bike and can play catch, which is a good thing because my arm isn’t going to get out of shape,” Moehler said. “That’s a plus. I just can’t go out and run right now or anything like that.”
Arias, who had a terrific spring, gave up five walks, two hits and six runs (four earned) in 2 1/3 innings in his only outing for the Express on Saturday. “
 
I figured Arias would be the first pitcher called up but Fulchino got the nod.  Looks like I wasn’t too far off.
 
Any idea who is gonna take the spot start for Moehler?  I guess it is going to be either Fulchino or Arias seeing as Sampson hasn’t thrown enough pitches really to step in and start.
 
Btw, Felipe Paulino has had two stellar outings at AAA Round Rock.
Post info: By cardsjason on April 15th, 2009
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Houston Astros V Pittsburgh Pirates Game 2: Pre-Preview

Game 2 of the 3 game series with Pittsburgh is tonight at 6:05. Mike Hampton is going to be on the bump facing Ross Ohlendorf.

Houston has got to get something going against Ohlendorf in support of Hampton. Thanks to the Spurs I wont get to see Houston’s game tonight but I will be listening thanks to mlb.com.

For those of you in the same boat as I am, there are other ways to follow the game. Check out Zachary Levine’s live blog at chron.com or Astros County. Not sure if County is blogging tonight’s game but they usually do.

Here are a few links until the line ups are posted:

Richard Justice has declared war on Ed Wade.

The Unofficial Scorer Zach Levine, the same Zach Levine with the live blog tonight, looks at the Astros patience at the plate. Surprising results if you ask me.

Chip Bailey reflects on the players the Astros have traded and what Houston should have gotten for them.

Finally Gerry Faley at Fox Sports compares Houston to the Washington Nationals and decides Houston is worse off. The Nationals have a plan apparently.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 15th, 2009
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Houston Astros Media Round Up 4/14: Pitching, Positivity, and Injury Updates

Richard Justice has an article on where the Astros went wrong…pitching.

Brian McTaggart gives injury updates on Moehler and Kaz as well as some info on the stros, all in a negative light as Tag tends to do.

Jose de Jesus Ortiz officialy opens up the “negative free zone,” or as I like to call it, the anti-McTaggart zone. He does his best to shed some positivity on the Astros‘ current situation, from the major-league to the minor-league level.

Finally, head over to Astros County and join the debate on whether or not the Astros should move to the AL West. I say no way Jose.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 14th, 2009
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Houston Astros Lose 5th Consecutive Game

Pittsburgh 7 Houston 0

Moehler left the game early with a knee injury adding injury to insult in his 2 outings this season.

Houston’s bats are completely dormant right now. The Astros haven’t scored a run in 18 innings and only had four hits today. Two of their hits were doubles by Tejada and Keppinger.

Thank the lord Houston has a day off tomorrow. Hopefully it will give them a chance to regroup and literally come out swinging against Ohlendorf on Wednesday in support of Mike Hampton.

Btw, why give your hottest hitter in Michael Bourn a day off? Maybe Coop is going slot him higher in the line up on Wednesday?

Who knows, but lets hope that between now and then Houston finds their bats.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 13th, 2009
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Houston Astros Reliever Doug Brocail to DL

Brocail on his injury from Stros.com:
“I’ll be honest — I was more worried about this one than when I blew out my elbow the second time,” he said. “When you wake up and you can’t get your arm up, and you struggle to get it out … I’m a strike thrower. When I go out there and throw 13 straight balls, it’s not good. At least this way, I can get all the swelling out, and once the swelling goes out, it’ll keep the rotators from rubbing so bad.”
 
Houston placed Doug Brocail on the 15-day DL with a strained rotator-cuff. Jeff Fulchino will takes his spot in the pen and join the team Monday when they face the Pirates.  I figured Alberto Arias was going to be the first pitcher called up from Round Rock but Fulchino gets the nod.
 
Hopefully Brocail will be feeling better when he come back from his two week vacation.
Houston is currently down 2-0 to St. Louis in the bottom of the 4th with 1 on and 1 out.
Post info: By cardsjason on April 12th, 2009
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Houston Astros Drop Game 2 @ St. Louis in a Blowout

I felt like I was serving a court ordered punishment watching this game today.

Instead of posting a pitching line for the Houston hurlers I’m just gonna post this:

Albert Pujols 2-4, 2 HR, 7 RBI.

I want to puke.

Oswalt came out dealing and Houston looked like they were going to be in good shop when they had 2 runners on in each of the first 3 innings. However they couldn’t drive any runs across and missed out on all 3 opportunities.

After 4 Roy had given up only 1 run and the game was still in hand. However in the 5th Roy gave up another run and eventually had to face Albert Pujols with the bases loaded who, as Albert Pujols tends to do, went yard for the breakfast at Denny’s.

My mom txt’d me and called Cooper and idiot for pitching to Pujols. I don’t agree. Yes Pujols is a monster and the bases were juiced but he had his ace on the hill who had been dealing up until this inning. I pitch to the guy too.

Later Wright comes in and gives up 2 bloops for singles and has to face Pujols who hit his 2nd jack, for 3 runs and after that I gave up all hope for today’s game having any silver lining at all.

In the bottom of the 9th Blum singled and Bourn hit an RBI triple which is great for Michael who went 1-3 with a BB. Smith brought Bourn in with a sac fly to left giving Houston their only 2 runs of the game.

Cardinals win it 11-2.
Wainwright gets the win and Roy Oswalt starts the season with two losses.

Cripes…glad this one is over.

Post info: By cardsjason on April 11th, 2009
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