Boxscore

After scoring 15 runs after 7 innings (5 in the sixth and 6 in the seventh), the Phillies obviously were tired. How else do you explain them being blanked for the final two frames?

It was an ugly day at Minute Maid for the Astros pitching corps. Chris Sampson was bad, but not nearly as bad as losing pitcher Fernando Nieve, who came in with a two-run lead in the 6th and left after recording no outs and turning that lead into a two-run deficit. A well-deserved loss, any way you look at it.

The Astros have been playing well, this game notwithstanding. They currently are in third place, one game behind the Cardinals and Cubs. After a day off, they travel to St. Louis to try and change all that. Shawn Chacon will start against Braden Looper tomorrow at 8:15pm EDT.

Boxscore

The Cubs continue to search for a fourth and fifth starter for their rotation. Sean Gallagher was up for the audition today, and things looked promising when Derek Lee homered in a three-run top of the first. Of course, Gallagher hadn’t pitched yet.

Actually, Gallagher did fine until the third when Carlos Lee homered and gave the Astros the lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. The Astros moved a game closer to the Cubs and are now only 1.5 games back.

The Cubs have a day off, hoping to regroup after losing yet another series to a team in their division. The Astros host the Phillies with Kyle Kendrick starting against Roy Oswalt at 8:05pm EDT.

Boxscore

Sure Ryan Dempster had only one bad inning. Sure there was just one pitch he would like to do over. But when I saw Hunter Pence drive one deep with the bases loaded, I couldn’t help but smile.

Things don’t seem right with the world when Dempster pitches well. Earthquakes, famines, long lines for gas–all those things because Dempster hasn’t been Dumpster so far this year. Okay, the latter wasn’t his fault. The two-mile long line for gas I saw on my drive home was thanks to a radio station having a gas sale. The savings? 88¢. And people were waiting in line with their cars running. *cough*morons*cough*

Anyway, back to the game. Pence’s grand slam was all that the Astros would score, but that’s all they needed. Chris Sampson scattered hits around, but pitched into the seventh allowing just two runs. The bullpen took over, and Jose Valverde turned in another lights out performance for the save. Ever since a game in April where he completely sucked, he made an adjustment and has been one of the best closers in the league. Good for him.

The two play again tonight when the Cubs send Sean Gallagher against Shawn Chacon at 8:05pm EDT.

Boxscore

Before the season began, the predictions for the Astros went along the lines that they had a solid offense, but suspect pitching. During the April, of course, the opposite held true. The Astros had very good pitching performances and little to no offense.

Yesterday’s game against the Giants fell into the pre-season prediction as Chris Sampson started and allowed 7 runs (5 earned) in his six innings. But that was okay, because Houston had its homer hitters ready. Carlos Lee, Darin Erstad, and, yes, Lance Berkman all powered the Astros to victory. Berkman’s knock in the 9th proved to be the game winner.

So for once, it looks like a pre-season prediction came true. So far.

Houston now travels to Texas to play the Rangers at 8:05pm EDT. Shawn Chacon starts against–holy crap!–fat Sidney? Yes, indeedly. Sidney Ponson, sporting a 2-0 record and an uncharacteristic 3.16 ERA goes for the Rangers. I had no idea he was still in baseball.

Boxscore

The Astros kept pace with the Cubs and proved that they, along with all the other NL Central teams, are better than the San Francisco Giants. (With the possible exception of the Reds. I think they lost the series to San Fran, but I’m too lazy to look it up and will simply assume that the lost. With the Reds, it’s the safe assumption to make.)

Houston got on the board early, thanks to Lance Berkman hitting another homer. There was a runner on, but it wasn’t Michael Bourn. Like many other teams, the Astros don’t seem to realize that leadoff hitters with speed have to get on the bases to have that speed be an asset. Instead, Bourn, like Corey Patterson and Alfonso Soriano, loves to make outs. He makes an out 73% of the time. Ouch.

But the Astros won anyway, thanks to the rest of the offense and decent pitching. They sit in third place, 1.5 games behind Chicago.

This afternoon Chris Sampson battles with Tim Lincecum at 3:45pm EDT.