Three in a row. Whaaaa? Astros win 10-4

Hey look the pitching showed up.

J.A. Happ went 6.1 innings missing a quality start by one run, because Enerio Del Rosario allowed a force out to score an inherited runner. The bullpen pitched 2.2 scoreless innings behind Happ, minus Del Rosario allowing that inherited run to secure the Astros 12th victory and third in a row.

Happ threw 113 pitches, 76 for strikes, compile 5 K's and 1 BB  in front of a crowd of 12,005. And you thought the Astros attendance was bad, the Reds are supposed to be contenders for a playoff spot. I think some Reds fans should avoid calling the Astros the "DisAstros" until they can pull more than 20K fans, AND actually beat the Astros who are only two games behind the Reds. Think about it, If the Astros go for the sweep, both teams will be 14-17.

I gotta say with Carlos Lee out of the lineup this Astros team is looking a lot better. Brett Wallace hitting in Lee's usual spot went 2 for 5 with this shot in the fifth for his second of the season. Chris Johnson also went yard and was 2 for 5 on the night as well, his second hit being a triple in the 9th inning. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Bill Hall, who didn't collect a hit but did draw two walks and scored both times. I could go on, and I will. Jason Bourgeois continued his hot hitting with three hits, and two RBI, but buyer beware, he still has zero walks on the season. Clint Barmes had a 2 for 4 night driving in two and walking once, which probably resulted in a fist pump from Ed Wade. Even Happ contributed with an RBI hit in the fourth, when Mike Leake served up a cookie after striking out in the previous at bat.

While the Astros did score six runs in the fourth inning and 10 overall, that was business as usual, the real star of the game was the pitching that really seems to of put it together these last few games. But even with the pitching and hitting firing on all cylinders the play of the game goes to Brandon Phillips who made this play which will probably show up on "Plays of the Year".

In honor of some of our previous writers I present this video, which is a lot more fun than some of the ones they were posting at this time last year.

Luke Bryan - Rain Is A Good Thing (via emimusic)