Chris Sampson VS Joe Blanton
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| Chris Sampson | Joe Blanton |
| 6 - 5, 3.36 | 5 - 4, 3.60 |
Chris Sampson, the Astros best starting pitcher this season(yes, better than Roy-O who has a 3.44 ERA) takes on big Joe Blanton tonight. Sampson is looking for his 7th win of the season whle Blanton is going for his 6th. Tonight could turn out to be a pitching duel with both pitchers having very respectable ERA's.
| Lineups | |
| Astros | A's |
| Biggio, 2B Lamb, 1B Pence, CF Lee, LF Loretta, 3B Burke, RF Munson, C Everett, SS Sampson, P |
Kotsay, CF Ellis, 2B Swisher, RF Chavez, 3B Johnson, 1B Crosby, SS Cust, LF Kendall, C Blanton, P |
No Berkman again who is sitting out his 2nd game of his 2 game suspension for his actions last week. Some fans are upset that Berkman chose to sit both of his games at home where the fans come out to see him... I don't think Berkman did it intentionally, I think if Pence wouldn't have gotten hurt, he probably would have sat out over the weekend while the Astros were out of town. No issues with Berkman for me.
Evidently the Astros see Loretta as a better defensive 3rd basemen than Lamb with Loretta playing 3rd today and Lamb playing first. I really have little preference either way.
FSN is stating that Burke and Munson neither one were in the original lineup, but Scott is evidently having injury problems still so Burke took his spot, and Ausmus reminded Garner that he was supposed to have the day off... I could be wrong, but Ausmus asking to be off kind of upsets me... he had a really good game last night, so I think he should see if he can build on that and play again even if he was supposed to have the day off... oh well, no biggie.