Astros Sign Clutch as a Relief Pitcher -- Wins Game!

No Joke -- It's in the Chronicle! Clutch won the game tonight against the Expos! I didn't even know Clutch played baseball. Congrats! Keep up the good work!

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/900616

Clutch pitching lifts Astros past Expos

MONTREAL -- As Shane Reynolds, Billy Wagner and Larry Dierker searched for words to describe the Astros' third straight victory Saturday night, they mentioned luck most often.

One would have to agree, but only to an extent. Clutch is probably more appropriate ..., especially considering the way the pitching staff handled the Expos.

... Matching the Expos' exceptional pitching, the Astros took advantage of a costly early error to beat the Expos 4-3.

"Today was a textbook situation," Wagner said. "Your starter goes seven. You get to use your setup man and then you get to go to your closer. That's a hard thing to do in this game.

"The pitching had kind of been going downhill, but here lately it seems like a couple of guys are starting to get hot and starting to pitch well. That's what it's about.


Notable Quotes:

Expos manager Felipe Alou -- "We found another way to lose."

Center fielder Richard Hidalgo ...is recovered from the slight groin strain that kept him out of the starting lineup for five games. "I feel real well today," said Hidalgo, who tested his groin Saturday ...

Biggio has secured the ball he hit for the milestone.


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