Boxscore

We caught most of this game in the hotel after some vacationing fun around downtown Houston. The first 7 innings flew by thanks to the lack of scoring, and I found myself thinking, “Self, this game is boring.” By then it was the hotel’s complimentary happy hour, so we headed down to the bar to enjoy ourselves.

Somehow during the elevator trip, the Astros (3-5), who had been boringly leading since the 7th, decided that was no way to stage a home opener. So shiny new closer Jose Valverde (2-0) coughed up the lead so Miguel Tejada could win the game in walk-off fashion. Nothing like saving the incompetence and excitement for the end, I guess.

Kyle McClellan (0-1) gets the loss, although I still like the kid. He could have a very bright future.

The two teams play the second game of their series, where we’ll be in full attendance, tomorrow at 7:05pm EDT. The marquee matchup is Brad Thompson versus Shawn Chacon.

Boxscore

Houston (2-5) closed out their series against the Cubs (3-3) with a loss.

Brandon Backe held his own against Carlos Zambrano (1-0). Back provided a quality start with 6 innings, 2 runs, and 7 strikeouts. Zambrano outlasted him and the Cramps to get the win, while the Astros bullpen allowed a run in the 7th, with Oscar Villareal (0-2) picking up his second loss on the young season. Kerry Wood (S 3) showed he could pitch a lot in a short number of games by getting his 3rd save.

The Cubs fly to Pittsburgh to play in beautiful PNC Park against the Pirates today at 1:35pm EDT. Ted Lilly (0-1) for the Cubs and Tom Gorzelanny (0-1) for the Pirates.

Boxscore

The mismatch I mentioned earlier wasn’t as much of one as I expected.

Despite giving Roy Oswalt (0-1) an early lead, the Cubs (2-3) battled back to defeat the Astros (2-4). However, the game wasn’t the exact opposite of what I expected. Jason Marquis continued to embrace the Marquis de Suck appellation by allowing 4 earned runs in 5 and 1/3 innings. Despite the win and the almost flirtation with .500 for the first time this season, the Cubs still have a huge rotation problem. (Seriously. Was the GM too close to the situation to realize that Dempster and Marquis were not viable options? Or could the team not afford Kyle Lohse without renaming Wrigley Field to Viagra Ball Park?)

Roy O. took the blame for sucking, which was manly and, ultimately, unhelpful. Just pitch better. And maybe strike someone out sometime, like Derrek Lee.

Kevin Hart (1-0) got the win with Kerry Wood (S 2) getting the save. And his arm didn’t even fall off! Way to go, Kerry!

The two play again Sunday at 1:20pm CDT when Brandon Backe (0-1) pitches against Carlos Zambrano (0-0).

Boxscore

The Astros (2-3) added to the Cubs (1-3) 100th season of futility by breaking a tie-game against Chicago’s Jon Lieber (0-1) in the 8th.

The poor Cubs. They are going to be the brunt of so many century of losing jokes this year. I wonder, will that make it easier or harder to win once they reach the 101st or 102nd?

Miguel Tejada drove in the go-ahead run to make a winner of Rule V draftee Wesley Wright (1-0). Jose Valverde picked up his first save as an Astro. Mark DeRosa hit a solo shot for the Cubs in the 9th (Dusty Baker was smiling somewhere), but it wasn’t enough to keep them from settling into last place in the central.

The two face each other again Saturday at 12:05pm CDT as Roy Oswalt (0-1) takes on Jason Marquis (0-0), an even match-up if ever I saw one.

Boxscore

The Astros (1-3) proved themselves unable to split the series with the Padres (3-1).

Shawn Chacon actually pitched decently as a started, despite the fact that in his career he’s been a much better reliever than a starter, and he’s only been an average reliever. He left with the game tied, leaving it to the Astros’ bullpen and Oscar Villarreal (0-1) to lose. For the Padres, Enrique Gonzalez (1-0) got a blown save and a win, with Trevor Hoffman picking up his 2nd save on the young season.

The Astros moved on to Chicago where Chris Sampson would take on Rich Hill.