The Sweep Is Sweet: Astros 2 Pirates 0

These aren't your Astros. Who is this team and who's this fellow called J.A. Happ. The Astros have swept only one other series and that was back in May against another division rival the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

J.A. Happ had a very un-Happ-like start going 7 innings posting 6 strikeouts, 1 walk and allowing 0 runs on 3 hits for his fifth win of the season. Maybe he should be called Dr. Hooton because apparently he's fixed whatever ailed Mr. Happ. As much as we rag on the guy for not being very pleasing to the eyes statistically you always root for him to have games like these, where all your statistical mumbo jumbo can be thrown out the window.

The Astros did miss some opportunities that would of blown this game open like last night. For whatever reasons they didn't have their mojo, but that's okay because they provided just enough to win.

If you like small ball this was your game as both runs scored came via a ground out and a bunt single. Jimmy Paredes was the first to score on a Humberto Quintero ground out to catcher Ryan Doumit who initially looked back Paredes at third before throwing to first, Paredes still decided to come home after the throw was made. The return throw would go eventually end up out of play allowing Paredes to score the first run. After a J.A. Happ walk, his third of the season, Jordan Schafer laid down a perfect bunt single that allowed Angel Sanchez to score.

Mark "The Shark" Melancon came in the ninth to close out the game and secure his sixteenth save of the season.

With the win the Astros now have a 47-90 record, a four game winning streak and a 5-5 record in their last 10 games. To avoid losing a 100 games this season the Astros will need to go 16-9 the rest of the way. If they continue to play like this it's very possible and certainly something to root for.