Brutal. Astros get shutout again, 1-0.
*The Astros were shutout for the second time in a row. It's the second 1-0 game the Astros have lost this season, and the eighth time they've been shutout this season.
*The last time they were shutout in back-to-back games by the same opponent was - crazily enough - July 3-4, 2009 at San Francisco.
*Incredibly, the Astros have scored two runs or less in 34 of their 82 games, and are 2-32. They've allowed two runs or less in 19 games, and are 13-6.
*It's a shame for Bud Norris, who truly deserved better. In his second start after coming off the DL, Norris threw 7IP, 3H/0ER, 5K:3BB. It's just the second time he's allowed 0ER in an outing in 2010, and the first time he's allowed fewer than 2ER against an opponent not based in St. Louis.
*G82 was ties the longest outing of Norris' young career that he has thrown a shutout (the first - August 2, 2009...against St. Louis).
*Norris' 113 pitches are the second highest of the season, while his 69 strikes are a season-high.
*Norris did walk three batters. He has walked 3+ batters in eight of his eleven starts.
*Hunter Pence was ejected in the 7th inning for the first time in his career, and the 3-4-5 of Berkman-Lee-Pence went a combined 1x10, 4K:1BB. Jason Michaels came in to replace Pence, and was 1x1.
*Chris Johnson was 3x3 with two doubles. On this road trip, Johnson has made eight starts and posted a .452/.485/.613 line (14x31) with 3K:2BB. In 15 starts, Johnson has hits in eleven games, and six multi-hit games.
*The Astros were 0x6 w/RISP, and only got nine balls out of the infield all night.
Pitch Count Hero: Lance Berkman (0x3, 1BB) - 23 pitches in four PAs.
Pitch Count Punk: Michael Bourn (0x4) - 9 pitches in four PAs.
Man of the Match: Toss-up between Bud Norris and Chris Johnson. Let's go with Norris.
Goat of the Game: Carlos Lee. 0x4, K, GIDP.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
