What is it about this team and Fridays? Did Hunter Pence or Brett Wallace play some Rebecca Black last week and curse this team for the rest of the season? 

Crazy conspiracy theories aside, I felt better about this loss than I have all this season. Some very positive things in the midst of the loss, like J.R. Towles going 3 for 4 with a solo home run or Brett Wallace going 3 for 4 with his own solo home run and two runs scored. Heck, even Wandy Rodriguez bounced back in a big way. Of course, he WAS pitching at home, where he's so comfortable, he might as well have a La-Z-Boy out there on the mound.

Wandy wasn't brilliant, allowing eight hits and only striking out two, but he was effective. He only allowed one run and pitched around some tough situations. It helped that the Astros made some sparkling defensive plays for him time and again, but don't discount how big this was. With the shoulder tendinitis this spring and his rough outing against Philadelphia, there was no telling how Wandy would start this season. If he was as bad as the start of 2010, this team would really suffer.

Unfortunately, not every part of this game was a bright spot, as the ever-reliable Wilton Lopez gave up two runs and the lead in the top of the eighth. Jeff Fulchino gave up another run in the ninth, which proved key, since Wallace led off the ninth with a solo home run. That made it 4-3, but if Fulchino hadn't given up that solo shot to Chris Coghlan...

Alas, we'll have to settle for some very positive points in an otherwise disappointing loss.