Tagged: Pirates
Complete control
Wel
l, well. After last night’s bitter time, Wandy Rodriguez comes up and pitches like never before.
A complete game shutuout nonetheless. 11 strikeouts, tying his season record, five singles and his first shutout since 2007. Only fitting considering that Wandy has become (for some people’s amazement) one of the most reliable pitchers for Houston in 2009.
It’s true the Astros have a negative record when it comes to shutouts (3-7). However, Wandy has started in each of those shutout games in which Houston has won.
That should tell you a lot about Rodriguez. It’s true he’s had his share of bad times. But this year he has been so much better than we all thought at first. It was a matter of time, wasn’t it?
We have to thank Wandy Rodriguez because he helped the ‘Stros to get something they have not achieved very often this year: Keeping a game under its control from start to finish.
Totally forgettable
Today was one of those days. One of those in which the Astros make the Pittsburgh Pirates (yes, the Pirates. Have we seen this movie before, right?) look like the New York Yankees. I still don’t know why this is a team which costs so much to beat.
If you know, please drop me a line.
Brian Moehler pitched a good ballgame tonight. He was fairly acceptable for 6.1 innings, except for that Jack Wilson homer. A dinger which didn’t represent too much of a problem, but Houston wasn’t able to capitalize. Pat Maholm got their number tonight.
So many promises of reactions which were left cold (Houston left 8 men on base). And how about that seventh inning: Right after Moehler left with men on, Tim Byrdak and Chris Sampson combined to let them all in, and also helped on that dubious feat by costly defensive miscues. The Astros melted faster on that seventh than an ice cream cone on a Texas summer.
The ‘Stros are near .500, but with displays like tonight’s remain on a mode of “one step forward, two steps back”. I wish I can forget this one pretty soon.
The Space Race 