Astros offense explodes, the bullpen implodes, but Wandy still gets the W: Cards 6 — Astros 11
by Stephen Higdon on Jul 21, 2009 10:46 PM CDT
in Events
7 comments
We could almost just go ahead and gloss over the first six innings of this game because it wasn't until the seventh that this one got...interesting is about the mildest way to put it. Wandy didn't have his best stuff in the first few innings, but he dialed it in to cruise through 7IP and even contributed offensively in what would be an explosive bottom of the seventh.
Let's break it down:
- Wandy Rodriguez's line: 7IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 5K, 0BB with 6GB and 10FB on 104 pitches (71 strikes).
- Hunter Pence started the Astros off with a 2-run HR in the second to give the Astros a lead they would never relinquish (try as Chad Paronto might, though).
- Miguel Tejada was 2/5 with 3 RBIs on two singles and a sac fly.
- Chris Coste did an admirable job standing in for Lance Berkman with an RBI double in the fourth and played solid defense.
- Carlos Lee hit a 316 foot grand slam to ice—or what seemed like icing at the time—the Cardinals after TLR ordered an IBB of Miguel Tejada. Way to make'em pay big guy.
- Geoff Blum had an amazing snare to rob Jason LaRue of a double in the top of the seventh and hit a homerun in the bottom of the frame before Carlos Lee could even finish his curtain call.
- Brendan Ryan doubled a ball that caromed off the Crawford Boxes and made Carlos Lee look a little silly in the field.
- Skip Schumaker walked and then a passed ball advanced Ryan to third.
- Nick Stavinoha hit a sac fly to score Ryan.
- In stepped Albert Pujols which was nerve racking, but a 1B to left limited the damage to runners at first and second.
- Ryan Ludwick clocked a HR.
- Mark DeRosa tattooed his second HR of the night into our bullpen off Wesley Wright.
- Thankfully the Cardinals bullpen hasn't heard of momentum and Miguel Tejada's sac fly was able to take the proverbial wind out of the Cardinals proverbial sails. I was kind of hoping that TLR would sucker punch Dennys Reyes when he pulled him.
With the Cubs extra inning loss to the Phillies and the Astros series clinching victory (how's that for the keynote address I was looking for?) here's how the NL Central shakes out:
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i was at the game
good game…
love the feeling when stros offense does so swell u start high-fiving every person around you as if they are your friends!
Anyway was at both games and i must say that the fans are showing up and staying…very good atmosphere right now!
i hope i am able to go tommorow…itll be a hell of a game!
GO STROS!!!
(PS – Get rid of Erstad, Michaels, Kata and bring up Bogusevic, Manzella, and Abercrombie)
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jul 21, 2009 11:02 PM CDT reply actions
The most important stat in Wandy's line
0bb like you said he didn’t have his best stuff, and still managed to stay away from walking hitters.
Too true
When I went and looked at his final line, I was shocked that there were no walks just because of the impression I had of his first few innings. I guess Wandy is finally learning how to grind through the tough outings.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Jul 22, 2009 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed
Limiting his walks was huge. That at bat against Rasmus where he fouled off about 10 pitches on 3-2 was really impressive to me. Wandy didn’t seemed worried at all, just kept pounding fastballs and curveballs in the zone. Finally, got Rasmus to fly out to shallow center. The Wandy of 2007 probably loses focus and walks him there.
NL pitcher of the month for July? He’s 4-0 with an era below 1 right now.
Probably the biggest strides
Wandy has made over the past couple of years is being able to stay focus and keep his composure when things go awry. He just seems so much more calm and collected at all times these days. Maybe his confidence is just that vastly improved. Maybe he’s seeing a Buddhist.
Good call on possible NL pitcher of the month. Quick search and I came up with a few top candidates:
Wandy: 4GS, 4W, 1 CG/SHO, 0.62 ERA, 27/5 K/BB
Haren: 3GS, 3W, 1 CG/SHO, 0.78 ERA, 24/3 K/BB (one less start, also two unearned runs)
Kershaw: 4GS, 3W, 0 CG, 0.38 ERA, 21/13 K/BB
Two others that could make a decent case are Carpenter and Oswalt. Should be a doozy tonight.
by littlevisigoth on Jul 22, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
I hope that it the cause of the change in demeanor is this option:
Maybe he’s seeing a Buddhist.
The Crawfishboxes
A good friend of mine used to say, "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Think about that for a while.
by Stephen Higdon on Jul 22, 2009 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Astros are making big strides in the NL Central. In the past 20 games for the Astros the boys have won 13 of those. The Astros are gettng good pitching and timely hitting which was not the case the first part of the season. And with the Astros winning the first two games vs. the Cardinals is impressive too. Doing all this without Lance Berkman being healthy. But others are stepping up their games. This is good to see. If this trent continues I see the Astros overtaking first place soon. Who woudl of thought this. Not many fans would of. But I am a true fan. Even when the Astros had their slumps I am still backing them 100%. I am not like most fans who only root for a team when they are winning. I back the Astros not matter what happens good or bad. The bad is sometimes rough to take but the Astros cant play well all the time.
And with the pitching matchup of Carpenter and Oswalt tonight I feel the Astros should win this game too. In Oswalts last start in Los Angeles on July 17, he pitched a complete game in a 8-1 victory. Since Oswalt squared his record at 3-3 after winning 6-4 on June 13 @ Arizona he has been nails. He has gone 3-1 after that game with two of those wins being complete games. Looks like the Oswalt of old. I feel if Oswalt and the rest of the starters continue to shine its gonna be hell on the baseball world.
by Diehard Astros Fan on Jul 22, 2009 1:21 PM CDT reply actions
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Current Series
3 game series vs Cubs @ Wrigley Field
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Monday, Sep 6, 2010, 1:20 PM CDT Wandy Rodriguez vs Casey Coleman Sunny. Winds blowing out to left field at 15-20 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 80. |
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| Tue 09/07 | 7:05 PM CDT | |
| Wed 09/08 | 7:05 PM CDT | |
NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati
|
79 | 57 | .580 | 0 | Lost 1 |
|
St. Louis
|
71 | 63 | .529 | 7 | Won 1 |
|
Houston
|
64 | 72 | .470 | 15 | Won 2 |
|
Milwaukee
|
63 | 73 | .463 | 16 | Won 1 |
|
Chicago
|
59 | 78 | .430 | 20.5 | Lost 1 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
45 | 91 | .330 | 34 | Lost 2 |
(updated 9.6.2010 at 5:46 AM CDT)
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