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Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros, 7:05 PM CDT

Pittsburgh Pirates @ Houston Astros



Current Series

3 game series vs Pirates @ Minute Maid Park

Pittsburgh Pirates Red-star
@ Houston Astros Red-star

Monday, Jul 21, 2008, 7:05 PM CDT
Minute Maid Park

John Van Benschoten vs Runelvys Hernandez

Partly cloudy. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 95.

 

Complete Coverage >

Tue 07/22

Paul Maholm vs Jack Cassel

Partly cloudy with a 50-percent chance of rain. Winds blowing from right to left field at 10-20 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 90.

7:05 PM CDT
Wed 07/23 1:05 PM CDT


W-LGGSCGSHOSVBSIPHRERHRBBKERAWHIP
2008 - John Van Benschoten 1-2 7 3 0 0 0 0 15.2 25 18 17 5 12 15 9.77 2.36

W-LGGSCGSHOSVBSIPHRERHRBBKERAWHIP
2008 - Runelvys Hernandez 0-3 3 3 0 0 0 0 14.0 24 17 16 4 9 12 10.29 2.36




What a joke of a starting pitching match up... wow, this game doesn't exactly bring the fans to the stadium!  I think anything more than 10,000 fans at the game would have to be a bonus for Drayton...

Astros managed to win a series against the best team in the NL over the weekend, taking 2 of 3 from the Cubs... that sounds good and all, but both the Brewers and Cardinals still managed to increase their lead over the Astros by sweeping their last series.

MICHAEL BOURN BATTING 2ND!!!! OMG! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!  If I actually typed what I was thinking, I'd get kicked off the internet for foul language and hurtful thoughts...  anyways... Obviously I'm not a big fan of Bourn [being in the lineup] batting 2nd and still think Wigginton should be leading off...

Poll
Over/Under combined runs scored with 2 pitchers around 10.00 ERA
>15
6 votes
<15
8 votes

14 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 179 comments

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Comments

Display:

When I wrote an article earlier giving mid term grades to pitchers....

I said, “his 10.29 ERA leads one to believe that he won’t be any further help to the major league team this year.” At that time, I wasn’t expecting that Hernandez would get another call up to the Astros. I was wrong. Whether I was wrong about his inability to help the big league team this year….well, we will see tonight.

by clack on Jul 21, 2008 6:38 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don't think you are wrong

I think Cassell is a better option(I think he’s won 6 game straight) but I’m thinking him starting tonight wouldn’t be enoug rest… but who knows…

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 6:45 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

wasn't Cassell on the d/l recently?

I thought that was perhaps why Hernandez made the recent starts instead of him.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 7:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cassel and Hernandez "shared" their last start (Friday, I think)...

so that neither would pitch too many innings, in anticipation that one or both might be needed for big league starts. Cassel has had several excellent starts recently, including a 2 hitter and pitching something like 4 or 5 perfect innings in the start prior to Friday.

by clack on Jul 21, 2008 7:40 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

OVER

Should be fun game to watch as far as offense goes. :p

by entropic soul on Jul 21, 2008 6:38 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wait

they can’t tie? Aw man, I was looking forward to a draw

by stanleytree on Jul 21, 2008 6:57 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

First batter, first hit.

Pirates have a man on in the minimum at bats.

by entropic soul on Jul 21, 2008 7:07 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Probably

I started to not put my over/under up there for that reason

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 7:14 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

PUMA!

Leaps and snares a liner over his head, much like we see Tejada do.

by entropic soul on Jul 21, 2008 7:10 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Matsui on...

Let’s see what Bourn does. A repeat of the top of the first inning?

by entropic soul on Jul 21, 2008 7:14 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Matsui steals!

Barely safe but he makes it!

by entropic soul on Jul 21, 2008 7:15 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Matsui

Small ball at it’s finest.. IF hit followed by a steal at 2nd

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 7:15 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

And Bourn walks. :)

PEOPLE ON WITH NO OUTS FOR BERKMAN!!!
First time ever?

by entropic soul on Jul 21, 2008 7:16 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

astros getting some gifts

in the first inning.

two outs that should have been made, plus walking Bourn

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 7:17 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

OT: A's fans dreaming up trades

Ran across this fan post from the A’s blog, basically proposing they swap all their major league trade pieces (Mark Ellis, Huston Street, Duscherer, et. al.) to the Cardinals for Colby Rasmus.

Athletic’s Nation

For the most part, I think it’s a pipe dream, because of how highly the Cards prize Rasmus and because it’s one of those quantity for quality trades, but it’s fun to think about getting Rasmus out of the division. I have a feeling I’m going to be hating that guy for years to come. Also, it’s true that the Cards may be looking at a window w/ Carpenter and Pujols and there’s a v. small chance they might go for broke and try to make the WS the next couple of years. Maybe their record this year might convince them to gamble.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 7:25 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

nice play wiggy

high degree of difficulty. the Russian judge scores it a 9

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 7:29 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hernandez walks the PITCHER to load the bases

then starts the next batter 2-0.

Gets the count to 3-2 – two outs

Got the fly out to deep right field.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 7:35 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Bad defensive inning for Berkman

First the bad throw to Tejada allowing the runner to be at second.

Then a lapse of concentration m,ae him late in throwqing to catcher Asumus and then throw off to the left just enough that the runner scored.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 7:53 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

meh

honestly I missed the 1st one(wife gave me some cheesecake), but the 2nd play, he just paused for a second.. yea if he would have thrown right when he got the ball he probably would have gotten him.. but it wasn’t like he screwed that play up.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 7:56 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

time for a homer from carlos

just imagine if him and berkman would get hot at the same time. that would be fun to watch.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:03 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yep, lee is still hot

leans out and punches one to right

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:04 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Tie Game

Lee, singles to score Matsui

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:04 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Why is Tejada running so slow?

He seemed to be running kinda slow on his last two ground outs. He doesn’t usually do that.

by entropic soul on Jul 21, 2008 8:05 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I dunno

it looked like he was basically stopping before he got to the bag though

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:07 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I thought he seemed slower as well

as slowly as the plays developed, esp. that bouncer up the middle, I figued it would be closer at 1st. maybe something’s nagging him.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:10 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yea

like our record

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:11 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

he didn't listen

but ended up safe..

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:17 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

he did

barely made it.

both steals tonight have been pretty close. pence seemed to slide a little early and I think it slowed him down

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Puma's stats

I was just going to pop over to baseball reference and check Puma’s stats for the last few weeks, but the chron guy beat me to it.

Since July 1:
50 AB, 10 hits (.200 BA)
.375 OBP
3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR
.260 Slugging
5 RBI in 14 starts, one pinch-hit appearances and today’s limited start.

amazing to have a .375 OBP w/ only a .200 BA, but that’s what a good eye and lots of respect will get you.

SLG is way down, since he’s only had a couple doubles and no HR.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:15 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He knows

and takes it out on a water bottle in the dugout

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:20 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ausmus!!

RBI double!!! Astros up 2-0

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:20 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

no joke

That’s pretty routine in normal depth

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:20 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

they're playing him like a pitcher these days

also, may have shortened up a bit to try to cut down runner at the plate on a single.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:21 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ausmus may be

player of the game after all.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 8:21 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hunter Pence slide

I thought he was taught to slede feet first after his big injury last year.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 8:23 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

WTF?

Pence wasn’t even in line with the ball.

by entropic soul on Jul 21, 2008 8:28 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I dunno

I thought it was gone, but Pence looked like he should have caught it.. I thought he looked for the wall or something

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:29 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Tie Game

Lead off double and then a single past a diving Puma

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:28 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hernandez

stops the ball with his thigh/calf, and then throws out the lead runner at 1st.

Looked like it hurt

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:31 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Runners on 1st and 2nd

no outs for Lee.. Time to get aht 15+/-

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:41 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lee

RBI single to right

Astros up 3-2

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 8:42 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

EL CABALLO!

Dedicated to driving in runs!
Take that, All Star game!

by entropic soul on Jul 21, 2008 8:42 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

there you go carlos

crushed that one off the crawford boxes wall

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:42 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

bourn should have hi-fived the pitcher

he was standing between home and the dugout backing up the play. that would have added insult to injury i guess.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:43 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

i hope those weren't real signs

we’re in trouble if carlos is making calls on the basepaths.

lol, that was funny. he’s definitely a likeable guy

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:45 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

the astros should move to this Atlantic Independent league

sounds like half our old roster is there. we could probably DOMINATE!

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:52 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

weeks' HR that JD mentioned

was a 3 run job, giving the brewers the lead.

ankiel made an error. don’t know what exactly it was, but for a guy who’s supposed to be a top defensive CF’er, i’ve seen him look bad on several balls this year. wonder how much of that rep is for arm strength, which he certainly has?

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 8:57 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Luke Scott

American League Player of the Week

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 9:03 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Would you

rather have him than Miguel Tejada?

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 9:03 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

if Tejada doesn't get back to how he was playing the first couple months?

yes.

(which is a weasel answer b/c it’s conditional, so I’ll just say flat out yes. I like Miggy, but that was a bad trade.)

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:04 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Here's why he won

In the four games following the break, Scott hit .538 (7-for-13) with two doubles, three home runs and six RBIs. He crushed two homers in Friday’s win, and smashed a game-winning shot in the bottom of the 10th inning in Saturday’s back-and-forth triumph.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 9:05 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

ohhhh that hurts

ump took a pitch right off the hand

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:07 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cardinals - Brewers

Bottom of the ninth
Pujols batting with two outs and two men on base –
score tied 3-3

Albert flies to center

Going to extra innings

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 9:13 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

torres blew the lead

Weeks made a couple questionable plays at 2nd base. hard to tell what happened on gamecast/fansites, but it sounds like they could have got out of it w/ the win if not for it.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:15 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Maybe we can

trade them Valverde :)

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jul 21, 2008 9:17 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

damn, me neither

i’ve been trying to keep track on the web. go brewers

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:19 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Brewers take the lead in the tenth

not sure how they scored

Brewers still batting

(must have been a homerun since nobody out and bases are empty)

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 9:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

infield single followed by bad throw by aaron miles

brewers score another as Kendall comes around from 2nd (following a double) 5-3 Brewers

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:22 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Carlos make an out?

or pitching change?

gotta get PIP working

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:23 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

out

Astros don’t score

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 9:25 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

In the over/under vote

It looks like the “under” votes will be right.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 9:27 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

20 left on base so far

10 by Pirates
10 by Astros

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 9:35 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Brewers win 6-3

glaus doubled in the bot. 10th, but other than that, 3 groundouts.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:31 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

man, if pence weren't getting those hits

he would be truly horrible the past few months.

as it is, he’s merely putrid

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:40 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

long 3-2 game

if I’m not mistaken, the MIL-STL game would have started at the same time as us (it was in STL) and they played 10 innings. we’re barely done w/ 7.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:55 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

and it seems even longer

I wanted them to stop after 7 innings.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 9:58 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that was ugly

bucs runner breaks for 2nd, stops and goes back, ausmus throw goes between matsui and tejada into cf. luckily, runner stayed at 1st.

“an exciting no-play” as jd put it.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 9:59 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that was weird

sloppy game

yet it’s a low scoring, close game

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 10:00 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

bucs threaten again

1st and 3rd w/ 2 out. brocail pitching

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:03 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

grounder to short end it

2 more left on.

12 for each team.

3-2 astros.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:03 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Harden-Unit pitching duel continues thru 5.5

RJ allowed 2 hit, 0 runs. 4 K’s thru 6
Harden 0 hit, 0 run, 8 K’s thru 5.5

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:05 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

to the 9th

erstad in LF

3-4-5 due up for bucs against Papa Grande.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:14 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

hey you guys

I see Valverde is in. So Hernandez had a good game? Pirates can score a lot of runs.

Brew/Cards was stressful but we won.

by ol Pete on Jul 21, 2008 10:16 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

an OK game

8 hits and 2 runs thru 5 1/3 I think was the line. lot of traffic, but both teams have stranded 12 runners. more of a garbage game that we happen to be leading at the moment.

y’all had some excitement. why don’t you sweep the cards so they will shut up.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:18 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

good enough . . . . but

read the thread. – lots of baserunners.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 10:19 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

1st batter flies out to LF

glad it was Erstad and not lee. Lee probably gets to the hard hit liner, but makes it interesting.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:17 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

actually no

i figured the pirates were sucking worse than us.

but i’m not terribly surprised

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:21 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I'm glad we suck this year

b/c I wouldn’t really have much confidence in Valverde if we were playing important games.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:20 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Tie Game

Emotionally I put this game in the win column several innings ago.

Now maybe extra innings coming up

and Carlos Lee out of the game.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 10:22 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

pirates seem to do this to us a lot

wasn’t it the pirates who knocked Lidge out of the closer spot at the very beginning of last year when we were at home?

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:23 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Not me

I’m really not that negative a person – I just felt very uneasy about a one run lead and all those men left on base. Things were too quiet.

by mokulen on Jul 21, 2008 10:24 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Miggy's energy seems to go along w/ the game score

he looked slow, waving as that single bounced thru the hole.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:24 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

6-3

Terrible night for Valverde. He retired one batter of the 7 he faced.

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 10:30 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

LOL

game has descended into farce

possible inside-the-park HR, depending on the scoring

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:34 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

won't be an error

but Hunter misplayed that ball, getting to close to the place where the bullpen wall juts out and then the ball took a bad bounce and rolled parallel to the RF wall way back towards the line.

ends up being a 3 run inside the park HR.

also, if brad picks up the short hop at the plate, it would have been close as the runner slid into home.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:35 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that was interesting

thought he’d run out of steam in those last two steps

by mokulen on Jul 21, 2008 10:36 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

he looked like he was

like I said, if brad picks that ball he might be out.

so we’ve given up 11 runs in the 9th inning the past 2 days?

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:37 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Inside the park homerun

Fitting for this game

what is that? 9-3

Astros fan for life

by Joe in Birmingham on Jul 21, 2008 10:35 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

not for drayton's seats.

there’s usually people patrolling the aisles to those sections. although i never tried it so late in the game.

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:54 PM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Valverde's line

The line on Jose Valverde (hide the children’s eyes)

1/3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, BB, 2 HR

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:41 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

erstad doesn't like to work

starts all three games in the cubs series – 0 hits
PH in the 9th – bloop hit into LF

by lnewcomer on Jul 21, 2008 10:42 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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