Saturday, April 24, 2004
The Rocket Hits the Rockies
I've slacked on my Astros blogging lately, but today's afternoon Astros-Rockies tilt offers a chance to catch up.
Roger Clemens looks to record his fourth win of the season, and after last night's 13-6 Houston win, hopefully Rocket can just pitch his game, without the pressure of halting a four-game losing streak.
Craig Biggio and Adam Everett both score in the top of the first to give Clemens breathing room. I'm predicting a good six innings, at least, from Clemens. He might give up a few runs, but that's it.
END 1st: Astros 2, Colorado 0...
I might have to amend that prediction. The home plate ump (didn't catch who's back there today) isn't giving the pitchers much to work with.
Noteworthy: Morgan Ensberg gets the start at 3rd, despite Mike Lamb's six RBIs last night. Jimy Williams also has Jose Vizcaino in the lineup, in place of Jeff Kent.
END 2nd: Astros 2, Colorado 1...
I missed a lot of this inning trying to see what Dallas would do. But it looks like Colorado's run was unearned. Houston has the top of the order coming up.
MID 3rd: Astros 7, Colorado 1...
The key to a big Astros inning was the ability of Biggio and Everett to set the table, as they have consistently done so far this year. In ridding himself of that leg kick, Biggio has become a more selective hitter, especially with those sliders that used to kill him. Richard Hidalgo picked up two more RBIs, and Clemens helped himself out with a two-run single.
END 3rd: Astros 7, Colorado 3...
The Rockies touched Clemens for a pair of Coors Field HRs (Todd Helton and Charles Johnson), but you have to expect those. Despite the dingers, Astros fans can take away a positive: Brad Ausmus nailed his second potential base-stealer of the day. He's looked shaky this year, but both throws were sharp.
END 5th: Astros 7, Colorado 3...
1-2-3 4th and 5th for The Rocket.
END 6th: Astros 7, Rockies 5...
Another homer, followed by a single and a walk, brought Jimy to the mound, and Clemens out of the game. The Rocket only made it through 5 2/3. So much for my prediction. I don't think he pitched poorly, but you don't get much margin for error at Coors, especially with an inconsistent strike zone.
Dan Miceli comes on in relief, and after Royce Clayton bunts his way on, Miceli induces a pop-up to end the inning with the bases loaded. Whew!
MID 8th: Astros 8, Colorado 5...
Houston had a chance to put more runs on the board, but neither Richard Hidalgo nor Lance Berkman could take advantage of a bases-loaded, one-out situation, with as much as a sac-fly.
MID 9th: Astros 8, Colorado 5...
Moving right along, Miceli faces just three batters in the 8th, and the Astros go down 1-2-3 in the 9th. Octavio Dotel comes on in the 9th to try to get the save.
FINAL: Astros 8, Colorado 5
Dotel slams the door with a 1-2-3 9th, striking out the final two batters. Amazingly enough, the Houston bullpen has just two saves on the season. That speaks more for the offensive prowess, though, than the bullpen's inability to protect leads. The Astros just haven't played a whole lot of close games.
I would have liked to see a more consistent effort from the bats today; Houston fell prey to the big-inning-and-not-much-else syndrome that hurt them last year. But they won the game and clinched the series-- certainly the most important thing for a club that has had historicaly struggled against the Rockies, particularly in Denver.
Dan Miceli had good stuff today. When he came in, Houston faced the possibility of blowing a six-run lead. But Miceli got the out that he needed, and he added two more scoreless innings of relief. He takes the MVP for today's game, in my opinion. Because of his work, the Astros have a chance to sweep tomorrow and pick up momentum heading into a trio of intra-division series (3 @PIT, 4 v.CIN, 3 v.PIT)
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Roger Clemens looks to record his fourth win of the season, and after last night's 13-6 Houston win, hopefully Rocket can just pitch his game, without the pressure of halting a four-game losing streak.
Craig Biggio and Adam Everett both score in the top of the first to give Clemens breathing room. I'm predicting a good six innings, at least, from Clemens. He might give up a few runs, but that's it.
END 1st: Astros 2, Colorado 0...
I might have to amend that prediction. The home plate ump (didn't catch who's back there today) isn't giving the pitchers much to work with.
Noteworthy: Morgan Ensberg gets the start at 3rd, despite Mike Lamb's six RBIs last night. Jimy Williams also has Jose Vizcaino in the lineup, in place of Jeff Kent.
END 2nd: Astros 2, Colorado 1...
I missed a lot of this inning trying to see what Dallas would do. But it looks like Colorado's run was unearned. Houston has the top of the order coming up.
MID 3rd: Astros 7, Colorado 1...
The key to a big Astros inning was the ability of Biggio and Everett to set the table, as they have consistently done so far this year. In ridding himself of that leg kick, Biggio has become a more selective hitter, especially with those sliders that used to kill him. Richard Hidalgo picked up two more RBIs, and Clemens helped himself out with a two-run single.
END 3rd: Astros 7, Colorado 3...
The Rockies touched Clemens for a pair of Coors Field HRs (Todd Helton and Charles Johnson), but you have to expect those. Despite the dingers, Astros fans can take away a positive: Brad Ausmus nailed his second potential base-stealer of the day. He's looked shaky this year, but both throws were sharp.
END 5th: Astros 7, Colorado 3...
1-2-3 4th and 5th for The Rocket.
END 6th: Astros 7, Rockies 5...
Another homer, followed by a single and a walk, brought Jimy to the mound, and Clemens out of the game. The Rocket only made it through 5 2/3. So much for my prediction. I don't think he pitched poorly, but you don't get much margin for error at Coors, especially with an inconsistent strike zone.
Dan Miceli comes on in relief, and after Royce Clayton bunts his way on, Miceli induces a pop-up to end the inning with the bases loaded. Whew!
MID 8th: Astros 8, Colorado 5...
Houston had a chance to put more runs on the board, but neither Richard Hidalgo nor Lance Berkman could take advantage of a bases-loaded, one-out situation, with as much as a sac-fly.
MID 9th: Astros 8, Colorado 5...
Moving right along, Miceli faces just three batters in the 8th, and the Astros go down 1-2-3 in the 9th. Octavio Dotel comes on in the 9th to try to get the save.
FINAL: Astros 8, Colorado 5
Dotel slams the door with a 1-2-3 9th, striking out the final two batters. Amazingly enough, the Houston bullpen has just two saves on the season. That speaks more for the offensive prowess, though, than the bullpen's inability to protect leads. The Astros just haven't played a whole lot of close games.
I would have liked to see a more consistent effort from the bats today; Houston fell prey to the big-inning-and-not-much-else syndrome that hurt them last year. But they won the game and clinched the series-- certainly the most important thing for a club that has had historicaly struggled against the Rockies, particularly in Denver.
Dan Miceli had good stuff today. When he came in, Houston faced the possibility of blowing a six-run lead. But Miceli got the out that he needed, and he added two more scoreless innings of relief. He takes the MVP for today's game, in my opinion. Because of his work, the Astros have a chance to sweep tomorrow and pick up momentum heading into a trio of intra-division series (3 @PIT, 4 v.CIN, 3 v.PIT)
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