On this day 10 years ago, Roy Oswalt started his first major-league game in a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Enron Field.
Oswalt needed just 73 pitches to get through six inning work. The right-hander allowed two hits and one run while walking none and striking out four. The only run Oswalt gave up was a solo homer to Adrian Beltre in the fifth inning.
Funny how similar Oswalt's first start looks compared to Jordan Lyles. Of course, Oswalt was facing a Dodgers team that was 30-25 after this loss, while the Cubs are really bad this season. Still, both were efficient and may have lacked on strikeouts, but made up for it with ground ball outs (Oswalt had seven in this one).
It was a weird lineup for the Dodgers, too. Paul LoDuca led off in this one while Mark Grudzielanek batted third and Marquis Grissom batted fifth. Darren Dreifort started for L.A.and pitched well, allowing two runs (one earned) in seven innings of work.
Oh, and did I mention that Oswalt was 1 for 1 at the plate with a double and a sacrifice hit? In fact, he was the only Astro in this lineup to record an extra-base hit, as he won his third game of this rookie season. At least Brad Ausmus went 2 for 3 with a stolen base. Also making an appearance was none other than Houston's current Pacific Rim scouting director Glen Barker.
Oswalt turned the ball over to a trio of relievers, who got through the final three innings spotlessly. Jay Powell struck out one in the seventh, Mike Jackson struck out one in the eighth and Billy Wagner notched his 13th save with a 1-2-3 ninth with a strikeout to boot.
Interesting scoring case in the bottom of the first for Houston. Craig Biggio led off with a single to third base. He then advanced to second on a throwing error by Beltre. After Julio Lugo flied out to center field, Biggio moved to third and scored when Jeff Bagwell grounded out to the shortstop Alex Cora. I guess the run was unearned because Biggio wouldn't have been in scoring position? Since he was awarded the single, they obviously didn't count it as the third out in the inning, but maybe I'm wrong. Can anyone clarify this for me?
Here's the graphic replay of the game, thanks to Back to Baseball.