Craig's approaching a milestone...the 2nd one he hit tonight was the 249th on his career. Edit: Wow, the offense is trying to make up for screwing over Pettitte's record earlier in the year. I like it. (Pettitte's now up to 6th in the NL in ERA. Roger and Roy are 1st and 3rd.)
I can't help but think that if we hadn't had that 14-inning game yesterday - Andy would've come out after the 6th, instead of racking 120 pitches into the 7th - what with his recent arm troubles and such. But hey, another great start from our rotation.
With win today, we are in the lead for the Wild Card! I repeat: The Nationals will NOT be there at end. I like their story but the blue smoke and mirrors is gone and they will go nowhere but down in the standings.
I don't think we can underestimate what a big win that was yesterday. That game has season back-breaker written all over it for the Nats and should give the Stros even more confidence. The camaraderie shown after Bruntlett got back to the dugout was amazing---this team doesn't have the hitters from last year but they do have real chemistry. The Phils didn't show me much tonight.....maybe it was just an off night, but AP didn't have his best stuff, and they barely threatened. If they think it was tough tonight, just wait for the R & R boys.
Pitchers: 7-26 Roy Oswalt (13-8, 2.41) vs. Jon Lieber (9-9, 4.88) - 7:05 on KNWS 7-27 Roger Clemens (8-4, 1.40) vs. Vicente Padilla (5-8, 5.52) - 7:05 on FSSW
but they are there now, and until Atlanta knocks them down, we will be chasing them otherwise... i predict we take the lead for the wild card on monday, one week from today
Winning game one is huge, and puts the club in a good position to win yet another series. The Astros used to have problems with Lieber in the past... but this was when he was a Cub, and our nucleus was mainly Biggio/Bagwell/Alou/Berkman. We're a scrappy team now w/ two very hot hitters... and then Biggio loves that MMP porch.
And a leadoff hitter hitting over .360 at home. And the downright sickest front 3 staff in the league.
Am I the only one hoping that Zeke pitches on Wednesday so we can get a Roger-Pedro matchup on Thursday?
Check this out... I work for the law firm that had all the red shirts at the game tonight. My firm got free tickets for each employee and their whole family. Got a wife and 10 kids? You get 12 free tickets... and 12 free T-shirts. Oh, by the way, we got to eat all the food we wanted - for free. There were hot dogs, hamburgers, hot wings, taco thingies, etc. All the cokes we want (free) and two free alcohol drinks per adult. We got free bam-bam balloon thingies, and all the free popcorn, peanuts, and cookies we wanted. Later on we all got ice cream in the little plastic helmets........ . ....... . .. . .... free! I tried out against six other people to sing the national anthem, though I wasn't chosen. I believe my audition was better than the woman who sang (she was chosen by the astros). My buddy Chad threw out the opening pitch.
I remember a few years back when the M's had back to back twice by the same players. I believe it was the same game Mike Cameron hit 4 HRs.
HaHa . . . I'm just jealous. I moved out Houston 2 months ago . . . I remember the excitement last year. Instead I have to listen to 2nd grade talk radio guys cry about Phil Nevin and how cheap Moore is.
Baseball Tonight had a list - it happened last year with Matt Holliday and Jeromy Burnitz, in Coors of course - and the time before was with Bret Boone and Cameron.
