Well, that didn't go quite as expected. Happ gets rocked and the Astros' 7-game win streak is over 8-4.
*Happ didn't make it out of the second inning, giving up 6H/7ER, 1K:3BB. This was the shortest outing Happ has made in a start in his career. On October 4, 2009 Happ went 2IP, 4H/2ER - throwing 39 pitches for strikes. Tonight, he needed 49 pitches to record three outs. Only 23 of them were for strikes.
*The previous shortest outing by an Astros starter this season was on May 31, when Roy got ejected after 2.1IP. Otherwise, Brian Moehler (May 29) got pulled after recording eight outs.
*The big problem was the middle of the order. The 3-4-5 of Pujols, Holliday, and Allen Craig went a combined 6x13 with 5RBI against the pitching staff.
*However, the bullpen at least gave the Astros a fighting chance, holding the Cardinals to 6H/1ER, 6K:0BB in 7IP. Nelson Figueroa was the workhorse, throwing 3IP, 1H/0ER, 3K:0BB - and seven fewer pitches than Happ.
*The Cardinals were 7x14 w/RISP. The Astros got seven hits total, spread out among seven players. But the big hitters were Chris Johnson (two-run HR), Jason Castro (1x3, 3B, BB, RBI), and Geoff Blum (pinch-hit RBI)/
*Castro has a four-game hitting streak going, going 6x16 in that span.
*Jeff Keppinger was 0x4 on the night. When Keppinger doesn't get a hit (starts only), the Astros are 9-19. When he does get a hit, they're 35-32.
Pitch Count Hero: Michael Bourn (1x3) - 17 pitches in three PAs
Pitch Count Punk: Angel Sanchez (1x4), Carlos Lee (0x4), Jason Castro (1x3, BB) - 11 pitches in four PAs
Man of the Match: Chris Johnson!
Goat of the Game: J.A. Happ - as if you needed help...
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
