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Jessica Avila
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Monday, 05 May 2008 |
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It was a hot day in Minute Maid Park Sunday afternoon. And it seemed to get off to a depressing start for the Houston Astros as they attempted to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers for a third time in a row. In just 3 ½ innings, the Brewers had managed nine hits and five runs off starter pitcher Chris Sampson. Chris struggled to heighten his pitching game but manager Cecil Cooper did not give him a chance to throw the rest of the game away and replaced Sampson with Dave Borkowski. At the end of the fourth inning the Brewers had a 6 -2 lead over Houston but the Astros managed to keep getting back in the game.
Things really became interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning where the Astros were down by one, had two outs and bases were loaded. Berkman came to the plate and all the fans knew this was going to be the play to get the win. Or was it? Berkman was walked and the Astros managed to tie the game 6 – 6. Carlos Lee did not get to be called the hero coming up to bat after Berkman. So the Astros moved on to their first game over nine innings this season.
The tenth and eleventh inning passed by scorelessly, and in the twelfth inning we had some action. The Brewers managed to load the bases but Tim Byrdak was able to get himself out of the jam as he retired J.J. Hardy. Now with the Astros turn to bat, Hunter Pence attempted to get some action going with Berkman on base. He had not been very successful at the plate that day and was ready to let one explode. And he did just that. Mitch Stetter threw a forceful one to Pence and that was all he needed to get the home run and run around Minute Paid Park celebrating the Astros sweep against the Brewers with a win of 8 -6. It definitely was a team effort with the bullpen doing a great job of closing the game, Berkman’s four runs and help from Tejada.
The Astros will have one day of rest before starting their next series against the Nationals on Tuesday.
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Jessica Avila
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Monday, 21 April 2008 |
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Every player who goes against his previous team the first time is ready to show them what they lost, right? Well Kazou Matsui did not get to do that the night he was featured for the first time. But he was able to give his old teammates a good show before sending them back home. Although the Astros had been able to take the lead in the fifth inning by a run, they were not able to maintain it. Before the fifth, the Astros only were able to get five hits against Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez.
Just when it looked like the Astos were going to be swept in this game series, the eighth inning turned it around. Relief pitcher Brian Fuentes , who had pitched flawlessly, was facing his old teammate and thought he had him figured out. But all Matsui needed was that fastball that slipped from Fuentes’ hand and he was able to get the ball deep in the field to bring Hunter Pence and Mark Loretta home. Shortly after, Miguel Tejada had a double and that brought Matsui home. The pitching did not create major problems in this game for Houston as starter Shawn Chacon, another previous Rockies player, pitched well. It was a great ending to a series with a not-so-good start, and the Astros were able to get a 6-4 victory at Minute Maid Park.
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Jessica Avila
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Friday, 18 April 2008 |
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Who said stealing does not pay off? Outfielder Michael Bourn was born to steal -- steal bases, that is. Even when Rockies pitcher Brian Fuentes did all he could to prevent Bourn from stealing base, Bourn still did! After Miguel Tejada grounded into a double play, Bourn was able to make it home. But the Astros needed more momentum to get a win out of this game, especially after starter Wandy Rodriguez was forced to take an early exit after four innings due to a sore left groin. The Rockies stepped up their game and did well infield and outfield, and made Oscar Villarreal look helpless as they got a walk, a single and a base hit off him. It did not help that the Rockies’ pitching was superb with starter Aaron Cook tossing seven great innings. Brian Fuentes and Manny Corpas came in after Cook, wrapped the game up and put a bow on top.
There was a glimpse of hope for the Astros when Geoff Blum hit a double in the top of the seventh. Ryan Spilborgh reached high in the air for the ball and fell to the ground where the ball clearly came out of his glove. Yet it was still ruled a catch and the Astros had to suck it up. That was a bit difficult for manager Cecil Cooper whose fury at the ruling of the catch had him ejected from the game. In the end, the Astros could not get enough done on the field and lost to the Rockies for the second night in a row with the score being 3-2.
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Jessica Avila
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Thursday, 17 April 2008 |
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The Colorado Rockies sure had their way with the Houston Astros on Friday night. Even after their busy schedule and little sleep, the Rockies were ready to take on and pounce on the Astros. The Astros’ pitcher Chris Sampson did not play like his usual self, giving up six runs on six hits. He faced a total of ten batters that night and two were walks and only two were struck out. Sampson, 0-2, did not have any explanations on his poor game other than it was not his night. As for the Rockies , their starter Franklin Morales got off to a weak start but he was able to adjust those pitches and keep the game going for his team. Things looked good to the Astros fans as Berkman, Pence, Lee and Towles each got a hit off Morales but that was when the switch was flipped and left hander Morales, 1-1, pitched scoreless before being replaced.
Astros manager Cecil Cooper highlighted on Hunter Pence’s performance and mentioned his self-esteem should rise. Something else that needs to rise is the number of runs the Astros bring in. The Astros were humiliated in an 11-5 loss on a night when the Rockies were facing their old teammate Kazuo Matsui for the very first time. Matsuis did well, getting on base twice and scoring one run. But the Astros still have to figure out how to strengthen their lineup.
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The Venue SportsCast
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Monday, 14 April 2008 |
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In his final edition of the Venue Sportscast, Jeremy Foster discusses the Rockets road trip out West and their preparation for the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. As usual, news, highlights and interviews.
Click here to play
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