Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Recap for G3: Astros v. Giants

Before we all get twisted up, this was an ugly game. Ugly. The Astros actually made a late-inning rally, getting a big hit from Cory Sullivan to tie it at 4-4 in the bottom of the 7th. But the Giants rattled off six runs for a 10-4 win. Out of 27 innings of 2010, the Astros have not yet finished an inning with a lead.

Why They Lost
The Astros got shut down by a starting pitcher - again. Couldn't get anything - going. And this time, the bullpen completely failed.

Myers wasn't great, either, throwing 100 pitches (73 for strikes), allowing 12 hits, four earned runs, striking out three and walking one. What's more, according to MLB At Bat Myers only threw 22 fastballs.

The Astros also recorded just seven hits, with Feliz recording the only multi-hit game, and Myers adding one of his own. Once again, RISP was a problem, the Astros going 3x8 w/RISP, meaning the Astros were 4x21 against the Giants.

Gervacio and Fulchino accounted for six of the runs, though Gervacio, who was placed on the DL threw a pickoff attempt up the left field line, therefore not getting charged with one earned run since he committed the error.

Astros Pitching








NameIPH/ERK:BBPit-StrGB/FB
Myers612/43:1100-73 (73%)9/6
Byrdak10/00:112-7 (58.3%)2/1
Gervacio0.12/10:09-6 (66.7%)2/0
Sampson0.20/00:116-9 (56.3%)0/2
Fulchino0.14/40:116-10 (62.5%)1/0
Moehler0.21/00:08-4 (50%)1/1


Let's recap - Giants' bullpen: 2.1IP, 1H/0ER, 1K. Astros bullpen: 3IP, 7H/5ER (6 total), 0K:3BB.

Another troubling trend: Astros pitchers threw a first-pitch strike in 32 of 49 plate appearances, yet only recorded three strikeouts - all Myers'.

Ultimately, the Giants were 5x19 with RISP and left 12 on base. It's unbelievable that they still came up with 10 runs.

Astros hitting

Big Hit goes to Cory Sullivan, who hit a fly ball deeeeep to Aaron Rowand, who thankfully dropped it. Runners were going, since there were two outs, and ultimately scored. Bourn scampered out an infield hit to tie the game up.

All of the starters now have at least one hit, except for Mr. Hunter Pence, who wrapped up another 0x4 day.

Pitch Count Hero: Blum (1x4) and Keppinger (1x4) - 18 pitches in four PAs
Pitch Count Punk: Pence (0x4) - 10 pitches in four PAs

Man of the Match: Cory Sullivan. Someone had to get a big hit, and it was Sullivan coming through with a 2-run triple.

Goat of the Game: I'm not going to give it to Pence everytime he goes 0-fer. So this goes to Jeff Fulchino, who allowed a homer, double, single, and single (and a walk) to give it to the Giants.