Astros avoid a sweep in a Sunday matinee

Things of note during the game:

• Carlos Lee missed a HR by about three feet.
• Lance scorched a line-drive that got ruled an error, but finally seemed to make decent contact.
• Pudge took a straight, happy zone, fastball for a ride to score the go ahead run.
• Geoff Blum collected a hit on his b-day.
• Michael Bourn continues to show tremendous improvement at the plate.  I've really been impressed with him thus far.
• Doug Brocail returned today.  He struggled mightily with his command, but made it through unscathed, mainly because of a fortuitous Braun pop-fly to Berkman.
• Pudge threw out two runners on the base paths.
• Carlos Lee was frustratingly pulled out of a close game, late, again.  It really doesn't make sense to pull your one offensive threat out of a game like that.
• Valverde made things interesting: Walked Weeks, appeared to re-tweak his calf fielding a bunt, feel behind Braun 2-0 but struck him out on three straight strikes, and got Fielder to ground into a 4 unassisted.  His splitter really came through for him, in spite of getting squeezed.
• Unfortunately, he hobbled around after converting his second save of the year.

via www.fangraphs.com

Box score and Brew Crew wrap-up here.  Tomorrow: GAB and hopefully a Berkman/Oswalt domination.