2005 SEASON
SEPTEMBER 5-7: HOUSTON @ PHILADELPHIA
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2005 (Game 137) – HOUSTON @ PHILADELPHIA
Houston 4, Philadelphia 3
I hated this game. Well, I hated it as much as I can hate a game that the Astros won, bringing them back into the NL Wild Card lead.
But I really hated watching it. After working on Labor Day, and drinking a pot or two of coffee, to keep myself revved up enough to work, it was hard to stop and relax for a ball game. So with my rasam and hotdog dinner (!), I had a shot of bourbon, or two, or maybe even three, to relax and get in the mood.
When the Astros kicked off this game scoring 4 runs before the first out, I thought that it was going to be another blowout, like the last time Pettitte pitched – 10-0. In the top of the 1st, Taveras got on, due to a fielding error, then stole second, Biggio walked, Ensberg got an RBI single to score Taveras,k and Berkman knocked in the rest with a big fat homer. Pettitte got it off to a great start, mowing down the side in the first 3 innings, and everything looked hunky dory until the 6th. But by then: (a) Ensberg was hit on the hand by a pitch and was pulled, (b) Pettitte was pulled with 2 outs in the 6th for undisclosed reasons, and (c) the Astros relievers started leaking runs, but… the Astros never managed to score another run after their first out of the game!
The leaking continued right up to the last batter of the game, with Lidge doing his “it’s more fun if it’s closer” thing. He came in with the score 4-2, let a couple of guys get on base, let one score. And then finally – after a single, an error, a wild pitch, a walk and a double -- it was 4-3, with 2 outs, and runners on 2nd and 3rd. Hey Brad, is that exciting enough for you? Is your adrenalin pumping yet? It was way too exciting for me, in my semi-inebriated state. By that point, I had to leave the room, close the door, and lie down with tachycardia and a bad case of dread. And then I couldn’t stand it, and snuck back in for a peek, just as Lidge stuck out the batter to end the game.
I really hated this game. I had hoped to go to Philly for this one, but I had to work today. Now I’m glad I didn’t go -- I probably would have had a heart attack.
On the other hand, the Good Guys won. The other bad guys lost, and the Astros finally regained sole possession of the NL Wild Card race. And it was the Astros 10th consecutive win over the Phillies; the last time the Phillies beat them was in May 2003.
The Astros wore road greys.
In other news, Bagwell took regular BP with the team before the game, for the first time.
High points:
- Pettitte was awesome, again. He pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings, giving up only 3 hits and no BBs, with 5 Ks. Knocked his ERA down to 2.42, and about a full run less than that since mid-June – maybe 1.40 or so. His 4th K of the game was his 1500th career strikeout. And he even got a hit, a single in the 2nd.
- Berkman’s homer in the 1st was his 4th in the past 5 games, and 17th of the year.
- Taveras finally got a hit – for the first time in 4 games. It was a cheap one – he just barely ran out a ground ball (classic Willie T), his major-league leading 64th infield hit of the season. His stolen base in the first inning was #32 for the year.
- Ensberg’s RBI in the 1st inning was #96 for the year, setting a new Astros club record for season RBIs by a 3rd baseman. The previous record was held by Sean Berry back when he was one of the Killer Bees back in 1996. Ensberg was hit on the hand in his second at-bat, in the 3rd inning. After striking out in the 5th, he was pulled from the game. He’s listed as day to day.
- Wheeler was the perfect reliever tonight – he pitched 1 1/3 innings, coming in to the game in the bottom of the 7th, with the bases loaded, and saving the day. Then he pitched a 1-2-3 8th inning. Wheeler is sure looking like a baby Lidge (when Lidge isn’t trying to scare us). I hope that doesn’t mean that the Astros will trade him to a team with a surplus of hitters and a need for a closer…?
- He took a damned circuitous route to get there, but Lidge got his 33rd save of the season.
- Billy Wagner pitched against the Astros in a regular season game for the first time since he was traded from Houston to Philadelphia. He pitched the 9th in a non-save situation, and struck out the side – with a single (Everett) and a walk (Ausmus) in the middle.
- Luke Skywalker didn’t get a hit, but he had some good at-bats. In the 3rd he hit a long fly ball that turned into an out only due to a leaping catch at the warning track. And in the 6th, he lined out with a very hard hit, unfortunately straight to the first baseman. As any real estate salesperson could tell, location is everything. I’m looking forward to his first HR, any game now.
Disappointments:
- Ensberg and Pettitte both left the game suddenly. I hope that there’s nothing wrong with them.
- Qualls relived Pettitte in the 6th, when he inexplicably was pulled with 2 out and a runner on 2nd (a very funky “double”). He got the next batter out on a single pitch. But in the 7th he got into all kinds of trouble. After getting out the first batter, he gave up 4 consecutive hits, allowing 1 run to score. Garner brought in Gallo with the bases loaded and one away. Gallo stuck out the next batter – 2 outs. But then he walked the following one to force in the run. Luckily, Wheeler came in and saved the day.
Notes on the Other Good Guys:
- The Nats beat the Marlins, 5-2. Livan Hernandez took the Nationals into the 9th inning, pitching 8 plus innings of shut out ball before giving up a home run. Another win, and Washington getting kicked out of the Other Good Guys section again. Too close for comfort…
Notes on the Other Bad Guys:
- The F-ing Mets lost to Atlanta, 4-2.
- The Cards beat the Cubs, big deal.
Final 123456789RHEHouston 400000000461Philadelphia 000000201391W: A. Pettitte (14-9) L: B. Myers (12-7) S: B. Lidge (33)
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2005 (Game 138) – HOUSTON @ PHILADELPHIA
Houston 2, Philadelphia 1
Another total down-to-the-very-last-pitch nail biter. (Since I don’t bite my nails, I keep the nail clippers next to the computers, and I just clip them down to the nubs.)
Roy Oswalt was a machine, whacking down the Phillies at his usual fast pace. He gave up only one run on Big Ryan Howard’s solo homer in the 5th. In 8 innings, he gave up 6 hits and 3 BBs, and struck out 8, for his 17th win. In the first 3 innings Oswalt was just untouchable: He rolled through the entire Phillies lineup in 22 pitches, only 2 of them balls. Through the 5th, he only had thrown 51 pitches. By the 7th, he slowed down somewhat, allowing runners to get in scoring position, but pitched out of it. In the 8th he loaded the bases, before again pitching out of trouble to end the inning. Cool character. Overall, another great Oswalt performance.
Unfortunately, after Craig Biggio’s solo home run (#19) in the first inning, the Astros didn’t score again through the 8th. It looked like Oswalt was going to walk away from another amazing start without a win, especially with Billy Wagner coming to the mound in the 9th.
That’s when things got interesting. Luke Skywalker opened the inning by striking out, as he did last night against Wagner. (One wonders if he ever had batted against the likes of Wagner before?) Then Wagner, aware of Berkman’s recent home run derby (3 in the last 3 games), walked him on 4 pitches. Garner then put on a base running blitz: He brought in Bruntlett to pinch run for Berkman. With Jason Lane (0 for 3 for the night) up to bat, Bruntlett stole 2nd, and then 3rd on consecutive pitches. When Lane plunked a hit into left field, Bruntlett scored easily. Garner then brought in Gipson (one of his fall freshmen) to run for Lane, with Vizcaino at bat. Gipson stole 2nd, and then attempted to steal 3rd, but was caught. Vizcaino doubled on the next pitch. Everett struck out to end the inning. But the damage was already done, and the Astros run was on Oswalt’s account. Lidge came in to close; he had great control tonight, and that was the game.
The Astros wore road greys.
In other news, the reason that Pettitte was pulled out of last night’s game had to do with the liner that he fielded off of his foot. His foot was bruised and swollen, but he’s treating it and doesn’t anticipate any down time. Ensberg was also pulled from the game due to an injury – a knock to his right hand when he was hit by a pitch. Garner’s sitting him out to recuperate for a couple of games. That’s probably not a bad idea anyway; he’s in a hitting lull and could probably use the rest. Meanwhile, Brandon Backe appears to be healthy and ready to pitch tomorrow night. In case he’s not up to a long outing this time, it’s good that most of the bullpen had a rest tonight. And last, but not least, in the rehab department, Jeff Bagwell might be off the DL when the Astros go to Milwaukee this weekend. He’s not sure if he’s really ready to take an at-bat in a game situation, but he’ll be BACK!
High points:
- Another game with last inning heroics from Eric Bruntlett: Stealing 2nd, 3rd, and scoring the winning run all within a few pitches. He hasn’t had much opportunity to play this year, but he sure has come through under pressure.
- Lidge threw 17 pitches in the 9th inning – only 3 of them balls. He had great control tonight: The only hit off of him was an infield single; he had 2 Ks and a fly ball to save the game (# 34).
- Taveras made a fantastic flying catch, complete with a sprint from center field, a big dive, and a crash landing that seemed to shake him up a bit.
- Billy Wagner claimed that he was “nervous” pitching against his Astros buds for the first time yesterday. But he wasn’t so nervous that he couldn’t strike out the side. This time, however, he had a bad hair day (actually, having seen Wagner at Spring Training without a hat, it’s more like a no-hair day): He lost the game.
Disappointments:
- With Jon Lieber pitching, Garner started lefties: Scott batting 3rd, and Lamb. Luke Skywalker says that he was really nervous when he came up last spring, and that’s why he didn’t do well. He claims to be less nervous now, but he doesn’t look it: He constantly is wiping his brow when he’s up to bat. He was 0 for 4 tonight. I told Mike Lamb, when he was up to bat with a chance to be a hero, that I’d stop complaining about him for the rest of the season if he’d just hit a home run. He doesn’t listen to me.
- Still really under par in the run-scoring department. The tide has just got to turn soon. Right? RIGHT?
Notes on the Other Good Guys:
- The Red Sox won and the Yankees lost.
Notes on the Other Bad Guys:
- The nice thing about the end-of-season schedule is that the teams mostly are playing their own division rivals. All of the NL West teams are losers (literally, losing seasons), and all of the NL East teams are Wild Card rivals. With the NL East teams mostly playing each other, whoever loses is a good thing for the Astros. If they’d only split all their series, that would be perfect. So tonight…
- The Marlins beat the Nationals, 4-2, as Washington tried out a new pitcher, Darrell Rasner, fresh up from the minors.
- In Atlanta, John Smoltz beat Pedro Martinez, as the F-ing Mets lost to the Braves, 3-1. I’m cheering hard for Atlanta this week. With the Braves the likely NL East winners, they aren’t in the Wild Card race, so this is a good chance for them to put the Mets in a big hole.
- The Cubbies beat the Cards, 5-2.
- The Reds beat the Brewers, 2-1, in 10 innings. Milwaukee is the next city on Houston’s schedule…
Final123456789RHEHouston 100000001270Philadelphia 000010000170W: R. Oswalt (17-11) L: B. Wagner (4-2) S: B. Lidge (34)
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2005 (Game 139) – HOUSTON @ PHILADELPHIA
Houston 8, Philadelphia 6
After two nights of nail-biters, with the Astros protecting tenuous leads to the very last pitch, this game went all the way to “hopeless”: Ninth inning, two away, Astros behind 6-5 after Wheeler had blown a 2-run lead in the 8th, and Phillies closer Billy Wagner on the mound. Things looked pretty grim. Even I, eternal optimist, was resigned to the inevitable loss.
Vizcaino came to the plate. He hit the first pitch to third, and the game was over… but the 3rd baseman made a fielding error and Viz was safe at first. Taveras was up to bat next: Foul, swing, foul, foul, foul, … Then a little slow ground ball, and the game was over… but Willie T beat the throw, for his millionth infield hit of the season.
Then Biggio, who had never actually ever batted in a regular season game against his long-time friend Wagner, stepped up to the plate. One day earlier Bidge had said, “We know Wags. We love him like a brother. We played together with him for almost 10 years, but when you're competing, you're competing. That means he wants to get you out and we want to win a ballgame." Wagner, on the mound in the 9th for the 3rd night in a row, really wanted to get him out. And Biggio really wanted to win a ballgame.
Wagner threw a fast ball; Bidge swung and missed. Another fast ball, inside; Bidge takes. One ball, one strike. Wagner threw a third blazer, and Bidge swung again. Wham! This one ended up in the left-field stands. The Astros were ahead, 8-6. Happily, Biggio wears that gigantic filthy batting helmet, so he did not incur any brain damage when the boys engaged in the obligatory ritual head thumping ceremony in the dugout. One of those guy things. For someone who must have been ecstatic, Biggio perhaps experienced just a tiny case of mixed feelings about ruining the night for his good friend Billie: "It would have been nicer if it was off someone else, I can tell you that.”
Of course, the game was not over. There was still the bottom of the 9th to get through. Garner called in Lidge for the save, for the third night in a row. Lidge might not have been too sharp on Monday, and he wasn’t perfect on Tuesday. But this time, he was at his best, facing the top of the Phillies batting order. After the Phillies leadoff batter grounded out, Lidge struck out the next two batters on just 6 pitches.
The Astros wore road greys, as they completed their 12th win this season against the Phillies – the second year in a row that they swept the entire season against Philadelphia.
High points:
- It was Biggio’s 20th home run of the season, and his second in two games. Biggio has now has 6 hits this season against Phillies pitchers – and 5 of them are home runs.
- Biggio’s heroic home run wasn’t the only Astros long ball in this game. Berkman put the Good Guys on the board first with a monster homer to center field in the 2nd inning. It was his 18th home run of the season, and his 5th in the last 7 games. Berkman also had a double and walked, and scored three runs.
- At the beginning of the game, when I saw that Garner was starting Lamb again, I sighed. I told Lamb (not that he listens), “If you hit a home run tonight, I won’t badmouth you again for the rest of the season.” In the 6th inning, Lamb hit a 3-run homer to put the Astros ahead 5-3, a lead that they took all the way until the fateful 8th.
- In addition to his contribution to winning the game in the 9th, Willie T did his base-running magic in two other at-bats. After a bit of a recent slump brought his batting average down from over .300 to .289, Taveras went 3 for 5 in this game, and got his 33rd stolen base.
- Bruntlett got in on the action again – for the second game in a row, Garner brought him in to pinch run (for Viz) in the 9th. And for the second game in a row, he scored a game-changing run.
- Backe is back! With all the excitement, his first start in 6 weeks doesn’t even make the first page of my game report. But it’s good news for the Astros, who have relegated the rookie starters, Wandy and Zeke, to the ‘pen. Backe managed to last only 71 pitches in 4 innings, giving up 3 ERs on 3 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Not a quality start, but not a shellacking either.
- Except for Wheeler, who had an uncharacteristically bad outing (see Disappointments), the Astros relievers were wonderful. Six of them combined to keep this game in reach. Wandy pitched a scoreless 5th, then Springer took the 6th and most of the 7th. Garner took him out with 2 outs, nobody on, to let Gallo pitch to switch hitting leadoff batter Jimmy Rollins, who was 3 for 3 by then. Gallo threw just one pitch to get him to ground out. Then Wheeler in the 8th (see Disappointments), until Qualls rescued him with 2 runs in, the bases loaded, and 1 out. One of the inherited runners scored, but Qualls got forced outs at home on the two batters he faced to end the inning. And then of course, after the Astros miraculously regained the lead, there was Lidge being Lidgerly. Qualls got the win.
Disappointments:
- Wheeler, who has been a junior Lidge for most of the season, had a bad day. Coming into the 8th with a 2-run lead, the 5th Astros pitcher of the game, he just needed to be solid, not perfect. But instead, he was uncharacteristically sloppy, quickly giving up 3 runs on 3 walks and 3 hits, including a home run. With the sweep apparently swept away, Wheeler felt bad, but not for long: "I went from feeling [terrible], blowing a chance to sweep these guys and get a 2½-game lead on them, to who cares? Lidge is coming in and we're about to win this game. All that matters at this point is wins and losses. I'm just happy that we won this game. That's all that matters right now."
Notes on the Other Good Guys:
- The Red Sox won again, maintaining a 4 game lead over the Yankees.
Notes on the Other Bad Guys:
- The Marlins trashed the Nationals, 12-1, with Dontrelle at the helm for his season win #20.
- In Atlanta, the Braves pulled a fast one on the F-ing Mets, 4-3 in 10 innings. After the Astros game ended, I watched this one on mlb.tv. Rookie Brave Ryan Langerhans tied the game, in the bottom of the 9th, 2-2, with an RBI double against Mets closer Looper. The Mets regained a one-run lead, 3-2, in the 10th. Then, in the bottom of the inning, Looper loaded the bases with no outs, on a single, a HBP, and a BB. With rookie sensation Jeff Francoeur up to bat, the Mets brought in Shingo Takatsu (the save king of Japan) to save the day. Francoeur’s fans (dressed as hotdogs) screamed and danced, but he fouled out. Then McCann popped out, bringing up Langerhans again. The count was 3-2 when he hit a 2-RBI single. The requisite brain thumping was performed. Luckily they don’t allow the Braves to use real tomahawks.
- The Cubbies beat the Cards for the second game in a row, 2-1. Too little, too late.
- The Reds stomped the Brewers, 14-5. That’s fine: Let them get it all out of their system before Houston gets there on Friday.
Final123456789RHEHouston « 010103003890Philadelphia 021000030681W: C. Qualls (5-4) L: B. Wagner (4-3) S: B. Lidge (35)
