Monday, October 11, 2004 |
Houston, We Have Liftoff: Astros 12, Braves 3
The Killer B's came to Turner Field to work tonight, as if to put an exclamation point on Ken Caminiti's death. You wouldn't have noticed it in the first few innings -- through Jaret Wright's rickety six-inning start that allowed four earned runs -- but the 'stros bullpen hasn't exactly shown itself capable of holding even a three run lead (witness Sunday's debacle) against Atlanta. So when Mike Gallo came in to give up two hits, a walk, and an earned run in the 7th, Phil Garner should have, by all rights, been rolling his eyes and thinking, "Not again."
Fortunately, by that point, it wasn't exactly a problem. The Astros got to the Braves' bullpen first, slamming reliever Chris Reitsma for four runs, and ex-Dodger Tom Martin for another run. Up 9-2, the Astros would spot the Braves one more, but would then turn around and score three more in the eighth against ex-Cub Juan Cruz. But that would be all, as the Astros pounded the Braves into submission in their own park, 12-3.
Speaking of the Ex-Cub factor, fear for your postseason, St. Louis: you have three ex-Cubs on your roster to the Astros' one. And the way the 'stros are hitting right now, I'm not sure I'd pick against 'em.
A lot is made or soon will be made of this being the first postseason series the Astros have won in their franchise history. Comparisons to the Angels abound: the first postseason series win ever, up against a team a lot of people expect crush them. The omens may be on their side. The precedent of the 2002 Angels and 2003 Marlins may be on their side. But I'm still picking the Cards. In war, God is on the side with the big battalions; in baseball, God favors Rolen, Pujols, Walker, Renteria, and Edmonds, i.e., the big sticks. (The prosecution, however, will allow that the Astros were 5-1 against the Cards in September, and there I will leave the matter without checking to see whether the Cards ran out their A lineup during those games.)
Congratulations, Astros. It's been a long time coming.
Incidentally, when did 1-2, 6.86 ERA Brandon Duckworth get added to the postseason roster?
Update: Send your congratulations to Astros blogger Throws Like A Girl. Incidentally: the Astros radio broadcast team was very competent and listenable. Also, I was quite surprised and pleased to hear Rich Aurilia on the ESPN radio broadcast of the game perform admirably in the color role. I presume, as with Karros, he's hoping to pick up a job in the broadcast booth. I would call his maiden outing a success, for the most part smooth and interesting.
-vishal
: 10/12/2004 11:53:00 AMNewer› ‹Older
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