Recap for G112 - Astros @ Marlins

Not going to go to the playoffs like that. But hang on, listen to what Coop said, in ESPN's game recap, after the Marlins had taken a 7-2 lead, on their way to an 8-6 win:

"We're not built to fight back like that. We did give it a pretty good go. We got to two runs down, but we've got to shut it down once we do get back in the game there. We got back in the game 4-2, but we just couldn't close the door and shut them off."

Just let that soak in. For a moment. I'll put it in again, just because it needs to be fully comprehended:

"We're not built to fight back like that."

Moehler let the Marlins get out to a 4-0 lead in the first, and the Astros fought back, and then gave it right back. Let's just do the thing:

Moehler: 5IP, 5H/4ER, 3K:3BB, 15/23 first-pitch strikes, 20/49 non-contact strikes (15 called:5 swinging)
Sampson: 2IP, 4H/3ER, 0K:3BB, 7/11 FPS, 7/18 NCS (6c:1s)
Arias: 1IP, 1H/1ER, 1K:1BB, 3/5 FPS, 5/9 NCS (5c)

Alright, I'm not done with Moehler's first inning, and then I'm coming after you, Chris Sampson. Moehler walked the first batter he faced, and then gave up a single. Hanley Ramirez flied out to center, but then there were three hits in a row, and a sac fly. There's your four runs, and ol' Henricus struck out with the bases loaded - so it could have been a lot worse coming out of the first.

A 2-run Erstad homer cut that in half, and then everything stayed pretty much together after that, except for the Astros offense. In the five remaining innings in which Moehler pitched, the Astros stranded five runners, including 0x5 with RISP. And that's just in innings 2-6. Ahh, the 6th.

Chris Sampson came in, gave up a single, a walk, a move-da-runners ovah groundout. Ross Gload was intentionally walked to load the bases, and then in comes Baker on a balk by Sampson. Coghlan singled in Cody Ross - Gload was thrown at home, and then Nick Johnson was intentionally walked...to reach NL batting leader Hanley Ramirez (hmmm...), who prompty singled in Coghlan, and just like that, it's 7-2, and God forbid you ask the Astros to come back from a 5-run deficit with nine outs remaining. You can only ask the Astros to lead a game wire-to-wire. That's how the Astros were built.

Erstad came through with an RBI double in the 8th, and Arias gave it back on a wild pitch. It got a little interesting in the 9th. Carlos Lee doubled in Matsui and Tejada, Lee later scored on a balk of Florida's own, and Pence struck out to end the game. Tejada, Lee, Pence, Pudge, and Erstad had all the Astros' hits.

Pitch Count Hero: Hunter Pence, 25 pitches in 5 PAs
Pitch Count Punk: Miguel Tejada, 13 pitches in 5 PAs (though it's hard to question him, he got three hits)

Man of the Match: Darin Erstad. Three RBIs including a monster two-run shot.

Goat of the Game: It's not going to Moehler. This Goat's for you, Chris Sampson. Seven baserunners (two of the intentional variety) in 2IP and a balk. 37 pitches, and the Marlins swung and missed at one. On July 9, Sampson's ERA was 2.68. Eight appearances, 7.2IP and 12 earned runs later, and it's sitting at 4.36.

Matchup for G112 - Astros @ Marlins

The Astros make their first trip to south Florida this week to face the hot/cold Florida Marlins. Who knows what to expect out of the Marlins in this game. Since the All-Star Break, they got swept at home by the Phillies, then swept the Padres. They won series against the Dodgers, Braves, and Cubs, and then got swept by the Nationals. And then they just finished a sweep of the Phillies. Whatever, they're 12-9 since the All-Star break, and are playing at home for the first time since August 2.

The Astros are 24-28 on the road, while the Marlins are 29-26 at home.

Brian Moehler
I just don't even pretend to know what to expect from Moehler. He's 7-7 with a 5.23 ERA, and has not won a game this season in which he has given up more than 3ER. Only once has he thrown a quality start and lost. But he does have six Disaster Starts, including two of his last three starts (though, to be fair, two of those Disaster Starts were pre-known injury Brian Moehler).

Last three starts:

Date-Opp	IP	H/ER	K:BB	GB/FB	Pit/Str
7/26 vNYM	4.2	8/5	2:2	11/10	89/57
7/31 @StL	6.2	7/2	5:1	11/10	98/66
8/5 vSF	6	9/6 (7 tot)	5:1	7/15	89/59

2009 road record: 5-1 (8 starts), 3.91 ERA/1.37 WHIP, 46IP, 31K:15BB
Career @ Whatever that Stadium is called: 5-11 (35 games/25 starts), 4.91 ERA/1.47 WHIP, 152IP, 91K:45BB

Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: .361/.400/.619, 37K:16BB
vs Lefties: .230/.297/.387, 40K:20BB

When swinging at the first pitch (52): .429/.440/.776, 9XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (228): .279/.314/.465, 45K:10BB
After First-Pitch Balls (179): .271/.360/.458, 23K:21BB

RISP: 32x102, .314/.398/.500, 13K:15BB
Runners on: 55x183, .301/.368/.497, 28K:19BB
2OwRISP: 8x44, .182/.265/.295, 8K:5BB

Henricus VandenHurk

Rick - as he is known to teammates - VandenHurk, who, with LaTroy Hawkins, leads the league in random capitalizations (I know, he's Dutch. That's their national pastime). He'll take the hill for his 5th start of the season, and just his second at home. He's 1-1 with a 4.29 ERA, only joining the Marlins this season on July 20.

Last three appearances:

Date-Opp	IP	H/ER	K:BB	GB/FB	Pit/Str
7/25 @LA	5	5/1	3:3	7/8	92/55
7/30 vATL	6	4/2	9:1	7/6	95/69
8/5 @WAS	4	7/5	4:1	7/8	77/47

He has never faced Houston before.
@ Dolphin Stadium (car): 2-4, 6.00 ERA/1.75 WHIP, 66H/38ER, 69K:34BB

Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: .219/.265/.500, 7K:1BB
vs Lefties: .286/.375/.633, 13K:6BB

When swinging at the first pitch (9): .667/.667/1.333, 4XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (39): .171/.256/.371, 12K:2BB
After First-Pitch Balls (42): .243/.333/.595, 8K:5BB

RISP: 5x21, .238/.333/.333, 3K:2BB
Runners on: 6x28, .214/.313/.357, 4K:3BB
2OwRISP: 1x10, .100/.250/.100, 1K:2BB