Astros blow winning chances in the ninth against the Athletics; Houston loses 4-3

Allow me to set the scene of where I was 'watching' the game today. I live within the city limit of Houston and don't have the ability to get Comcast. The game was broadcast on MLB Network, but it was locally blacked-out. Instead MLB Network was showing "The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training", which does have cameos from former Astros César Cedeño, Enos Cabell, Ken Forsch, Bob Watson and J.R. Richard. So I guess they were still showing Astros in a way. There was a level of depression that had set in before the game even started, because I was prevented from watchign the game two different ways.

Instead of video, Robert Ford and Steve Sparks talked over the constant flow of tweets from Astros staff, beat writers, bloggers, and fans on my computer. I listen to the call of Jonathan Villar's home run to dead center. Chris Carter hitting a double and barely scoring on a Matt Dominguez single. I heard the excitement of Villar scoring on a bad throw after stealing third later in the game. Topped off by the effort of Brett Oberholtzer, Anthony Bass, and Matt Albers to hold the A's to one run through eight innings.

Ford and Sparks were also the source for the dreadful, helpless feeling as Chad Qualls crumbled in the ninth. Jed Lowrie homered. Josh Donaldson walked. Yoenis Cespedes singled. The end was in sight. Qualls came back to strike out John Jaso. One ground ball would do to end the game. Alberto Callaspo singled to score Donaldson to tie the game. Not the end of the world, there is always extras. But, Astros fan knew there wouldn't be extra innings.

I sat and listened to Robert Ford -

"Josh Reddick stands in with a 1-2 count. Here is the pitch. [bat crack] That's a hit in front of Fowler. A's win"

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins makes Ryan a dull boy.

All baseball and no wins ma ks se.......