A 4-1 win in which the Astros become the last team to score in the 1st or 2nd inning. Then they went ahead and scored in the 3rd, just for Ken Rosenthal.
Cooper:
“It takes a little bit of the pressure off. It was certainly nice to get some clutch hits early in the game to get us off the (losing streak) and get us going a little bit.”
Berkman:
“We got what we needed. We got out of the chute early offensively and it always helps when your pitcher throws six shutout (innings). Mike threw a great game, and really that combination is what we needed because we haven’t been scoring any runs, particularly early.”
Cooper on Hampton:
“Great effort by Hampton to keep them at bay early in the ballgame. He did a great job, and a lot of times when you’re struggling you need to score early and you need to have a pitcher go out and shut them down. I thought that’s what he did tonight. If he pitches like that, I’ll be a happy camper.”
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Chuck Finder:
Pitching on six years' rest against the Pirates, Mike Hampton last night showed that at age 36, with just 13 starts over the previous three years because of various maladies, he hasn't forgotten how to beat them.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
