Here's your useless stat of the day. Brandon Backe is 2-0 on the season with a 2.57 ERA in games started after giving up 11 runs in the game before... Backe needs to pitch well for the rest of the season if he wants to be in the rotation next season. Actually... if the Astros do what they need to do during the off season, Brandon Backe probably shouldn't get a chance to be in the rotation. I like Backe a lot... I like the fire he brings to the game and I like my pitcher being able to swing the bat... but the stats don't lie, and Backe's career ERA is just below 5... no way he should be expected to be a top of the rotation pitcher. Maybe a #5... but that's not ideal.
But that doesn't take away form the nice game he pitched tonight... 7 innings(started the 8th but was pulled after giving up a 2 run home run in the 8th without getting an out) pitched with 5 hits, 1 walk and 4 strike outs earning his 8th win of the season.
Berkman and Tejada both had pretty good nights... Tejada was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI's and Berkman went 3 for 5 with 4 RBI's(including a 3 run jack in the 3rd).
Overall just a well played game. Newhan contributed with a very slick double play in which he fielded the ball just behind 2nd base and tossed the ball from his glove to Tejada who fired to 1st. Newhan also hit a home run in the 6th inning to help put the game out of reach.
I hope this poll confuses at least 1 of you ;)