Dallas Keuchel threw the first pitch of the night right down the middle of the plate and it was POW gone and the Astros lost right there. Neil Walker then hit another meaty one 425′ to the Hill, but that is where baseballs go to die, so Keuchel got lucky. But then Andrew McCutchen singled, then Keuchel threw another FB RIGHT down the middle and Garrett Jones hit it out.
Pirates 3 Stros done fore
Oh – half inning not over, sorry. Keuchel found some movement and got out the next 2 hitters.
AJ Burnett got 1,2,3 out. His ERA would be 2.68 if it wasn’t for that 12 run 3 inning game to start the year. Guess he didn’t like Noo Yawk real too much.
Next inning, first hitter walks, then Clint Barmes golfed a knee high pitch (mid plate) into the Crawford Boxes. At least it wasn’t right down the middle. He then gets 1,2,3 out – took 15 pitches, but he did it. Stros go 1,2,3.
Pirates 5 Astros nohit
Keuchel got 1,2,3 in the 3rd and 4th – the last of those outs being a very long FB by Barmes to the LF bullpen – 50′ to the left and it woulda been another homer.
Meanwhile, Corporan singled in the 3rd, so that took away any impending excitement of a no hitter.
The 5th was fun though – with one out, Sterling Marte singled, Walker walked, then Andrew McCutchen hit what looked like a perfect 5-4-3. CJ was on it in an instant, made a perfect throw to Altuve who made a perfect throw to Moore, only McCutchen beat it out and it’s men on first and third. So with Garrett Jones up (is he a FINE lookin White Boy or what?) and at 0-2, McCutchen takes off for second, only Keuchel has him picked off. Scott Moore notices Marte headed for home, throws to third and CJ fires a bullet to Corp-ie and Marte is dead meat.
Very kewl that the Stros have a good fielding play for ONCE instead of the horse-stuff misplays and errors.
Keuchel had a good 1,2,3 6th. Too bad he had a horsestuff first.
And except for a walk to CJ (yes, a walk) Burnett kept guys off bases through the end of the 6th and gave up a single in the 7th. Enerio-ie (or do we call him Dellie or Rosie or Sorry?) gave up a single to the pitcher, but got 1,2,3 out. For ONCE.
8th, he gave up a single, got a K, then was naturally yanked for a lefty to face Garrett Jones, who can’t hit leftys (see first inning homer offn a lefty) and then got him out. I was beyond shocked that Millsie-poo left him into face righty McGehee and somehow, he managed to get him out too. Will miracles nevah cease?
Burnett goes back out, throws ball 1, then CJ takes the next pitch, an inside high FB for a ride to the Crawford Boxes. Hey, there goes the shutout. Bogu grounds out, then Corporan homers into the RF stands. He can play defense (more on that later) AND he can hit? Imagine that. We should keep him up here instead of Snyder when The Catcher Of The Future comes back. Goo-bah Burnett. I thought fer sher he’d get a CG here. Brad Lincoln, former first rounder – 4th pick of the 06 draft, who is now a middle reliever, comes in. Downsie-doo walks, but Altuve and Marwin strand him.
Pirates 5 Stros 2
Imagine that.
Funny thing about drafts – Lincoln was the 4th pick, Andrew Miller was the 6th that year, and neither one of em turned into anything resembling a good starter. At least Lincoln is useful for middle relief – which, by the way, is something useful. Luke Hochevar was the first and he is still starting for the Royals, don’t ask me why, because his ML ERA since he started starting in 08 is well over 5. Youneverknow. Our first rounder, in case you’ve forgotten, was HS catcher Max Sapp, who never got out of A ball before catching spinal meningitis.
Where was I?
Oh yeah. So Rhiner Cruz comes in to pitch the 9th. He’s throwing in the high 90s and some of those throws are ridiculous – 2 feet in front of home, 3 feet to the left, to the right, above home. And Corporan CATCHES EVERY SINGLE ONE. NO (swear words) wild pitches/passed balls. Been a long time since we’ve had a catcher who can, like, you know, CATCH. He gives up a single, but somehow manages to get 3 outs.
Are you ready for this shock? THE BULLPEN GIVES UP NO RUNS.
I know – I can’t believe it neither.
So in comes Joel Hanrahan – the Astros are one of the few teams that caused him to blow a save this year. But it was a tie game then, so naturally we lost. Moore walks, goes to second on a WP, CJ singles him in!!! But thatttttt’s all folks.
We’ve now lost 10 straight and are 2 fer July. Really. we’re still at 34 wins and are on pace to easily break The Record.
Tomorrow is Jordan Lyles vs Jeff Karstens.
They’re calling up Armando Galarraga (TOLD yall) to face Wandy on Saturday. Arm-ie (I guess) hasn’t pitched worth spit except for that perfect game, since 2008. Had a 5.91 ERA for the Dbax last year in 8 starts over 42.2 innings. I can’t wait.
Wandy has thrown a few shutouts, but never a no hitter. I’d actually root for that.
Quote of the day, from soxaholix.com (WARNING – NOT G-rated)
” If Josh Beckett was any more wild, he’d be on display at Whole Foods between the harpoon caught swordfish and the hand-harvested Peruvian quinoa”
Tags: Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates
McCutchen did indeed beat out a DP that would have had most mortals out by a foot.
Going out there to see for myself tonight, and they usually win when I go for some crazy reason. Even against the Rangers!
I used to live in Barre, MA. I’m telling you Sox fans aren’t quite *all there* when it comes to the Red Sox.
Martyr complexes are pretty common.
Just even the word “Yankee” gets them into a foam mouthed frenzy.
But I do feel for them. Bobby Valentine as manager ? Really ?
The Beckett quote was pretty hilarious though although you could apply that quote to Rhiner Cruz too.
Another blown save. Unreal.
Yeah, well….
blown saves 3 out of the last 4 games. which is worse, blown saves or being blown out by the second inning?
Blown saves for sure. That way the agony gets wrung out.
And when the Astros get blown out early there’s no emotion left to wrench at that point.