If there’s something we could have presumed to happen after the incident in which Phil Garner was ejected, after a heated argument with the homeplate umpire, it was that it could represent a very long ballgame for Wandy Rodriguez.

But good pìtching prevailed in the end, and Houston, despite a scare near the game’s conclusion, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2. And it only took 2 hours and 30 minutes.

  Rodriguez (3-0, 2.52 ERA) was solid in 6 innings of work, in which he allowed a run (solo shot by Jason Bay), 2 walks and fanned 4, for a total of 22 batters faced.

Wandy got some offensive help, and it all came shaped as homers: Morgan Ensberg reached a new franchise record, going for the longball for a sixth consecutive game; courtesy of Pirates starter Zach Duke, who carried with the loss. This is been a monumental April for Ensberg, who is batting an impressive .411.

Jason Lane also went yard in the sixth frame, his fourth in the tournament.

After rare efficient relief performances from Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler, the stage was set for Brad Lidge. The Astros closer had a scare and almost blew his save opportunity: after a single by Jack Wilson, Bay gets a Walk; and Craig Wilson follows with an RBI single. Lidge got away with it in the end, after a grounder by Jeromy Burnitz and a strikeout from Jose Castillo. Lidge finally broke the threat of two men in scoring position, and earning the save.

It was a great ballgame, in which we saw good moments in all aspects of the game. More than once we saw beautifully executed doubleplays from the Astros. This is a ballclub that looked like a fine-tuned piece of machinery tonight; and it speaks volumes about Lidge’s condition and resilience the fact he was able to get out of the jam by himself.

Tomorrow (6:05 CT) is Taylor Buchholz’s turn of once again making a case for a permanent spot on the rotation.