First let me point out the following – Jason Michaels started in RF because a lefty, Cole Hamels, was pitching. He sucks, to put it mildly, but Millsie-poo has a platoon fetish. He got hurt in the second, had to be pulled, JB Shuck, a LEFTY went in, and went 2 fer 2 against a LEFTY pitcher!!! Millsie-poo must be in total shock.
Second, I just have to say it – J Happ managed to keep the Phillies from scoring, in spite of giving up tons of walks and he actually looked pretty good for the first 4 innings. Can’t hardly believe it.
Actually, what I can’t hardly believe is how the Astros hit Cole Freaking Hamels all over the place. They had at least 1 hit in each of the 5 innings Hamels pitched – and he gave up FIVE runs over 5 IP. He’s only given up 5 or more runs in a game twice this year – both times against the Mets, 7 runs in each game. He gave up a run in the first when JD Martinez doubled in Clint Barmes – who looked good in the 2-hole. Then Clank and Downs loaded the bases with a single and HBP, but CJ struck out and Jason Michaels grounded out.
Stros had a man on first in the second and a man on 3rd in the 3rd without scoring. But after Hunter Pence homered to the Conoco Pump to tie things up in the 4th, Stros came back. Shuck singled (AGAINST A LEFTY – YOU GET THIS MILLSIE-POO???!!!) then stole second, Q struck out, then Happ ROE. Boogy was supposed to lay down the bunt, failed, then singled home Shuck. Then Barmes hit a 3 run homer into the Crawford Boxes – lucky boy – 5 feet further toward center and it would have just been a flyout.
Meanwhile, Happ had thrown 10 pitches in the 1st, 14 in the 2nd, 11 in the 3rd – seriously – needed 20 in the 4th (more fouls and a walk). This means only 55 pitches at the end of 4 innings. Really. Truly.
But he lost the strike zone in the 5th – went to 3-2 on the first out, 2-2 on the second, then gave up a single, then a 5 pitch walk, then another 5 pitch walk to load the bases, then Ryan Howard up. He went to 3-2, got 2 fouls, then Ryan was juuuuuuust a little ahead of the next pitch and flew out to the scoreboard. 31 pitches – now THAT’s the Happ we’ve been dreading.
Stros stranded another in the bottom of the 5th, then J had a fun 6th. Started off with a 3-2 out, a 2-2 out, then a 5 pitch walk (here we go again) and a 3-2 groundout. 23 pitches.
But hey, he made it through 6, somehow giving up only 1 run. Against the best team in the majors. I’ll take it.
Froddy pitched a stellar 7th and 8th and David Carpenter gave up a solo homer in the 9th, but got the other 3 outs.
Stros loaded the bases in the 8th – Angel Sanchez couldn’t lay down a good bunt and JD grounded out to strand em all, but fortunately, the lead held.
Unbelieveable.
Tomorrow afternoon, it’s Bud Norris vs Roy Halliday. We got 4 runs offn Roy on Opening Day, remember, but Brandon Lyon blew the first of the Astros 23 blown saves and no cigar…
You know Happ did give a lot of BB’s. But it sure looked like he was squeezed on a lot pitches. There seemed to be a lot of where was that expression on his face.
Nice catch by JD. Thought that was going to be a cheap slammy in the CB’s
1-0 game with Astros on the short end of the score. Wilton Lopez is now pitching in the 8th…it’d be reaaaal nice if the Astros pull one out for a sweep. But I doubt it.
Norris really escaped a tough situation with bases loaded and one out. However I get the feeling the Phillies didn’t take the Astros very seriously in the series and it showed.
Eric
danny,
true dat the strike zone was the size of a pin head and the ump did NOT give the strike at the knees
eric,
am not understanding why bud got pulled
Astros hit rock bottom:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6967153/rock-bottom-h-town
pretty accurate
especially the part about ed wade’s shtty job with drafting
crane is NOT gonna make things any better
I was going to say that Crane might actually make things worse, except I’m not sure such a thing is possible. Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll block the sale until someone who would actually care about the team wants to buy it.
Magoo Mills has a losing fetish also.