Astros 39-52/11.5
Cubs 46-43/3.5
POTG: SS Cesar Izturis (2 H, 2 R, BB)
Runner Up: 3B A Ram (2B, 3 H, 4 RBI, R), LF Soriano (HR, 2 H, 2 R, 3 RBI), SP Ted Lilly (8 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 7 K, W [9/68]; H, R, RBI), 2B/RF/3B Mark DeRosa (2 H, R)
I was at this game! Sitting down, even, once someone re-explained to me the concept of “aisle” row numbering. That was sorta sad, because we were actually ahead of schedule and navigating with a fair bit of accuracy up to that point.
This was a completely different game in the first 3 inning than the last 3. Burke’s leadoff triple was a fluke, a well placed bloop hit combined with a bad defensive left fielder making a bad decision. Cliff really should’ve played it safer and given up the single instead of the very low percentage dive play. Besides that play, it was looking to be an oddly pitching dominant game in windy conditions.
And then, Roy Oswalt lost the game on a ball 3 to Cesar Izturis. We were way up the third baseline, underneath the upper deck and kinda blocked by a pillar, so it’s not like we could accurate gauge pitch location, but it was borderline. There was no question it got to Oswalt, and got to him mroe when Cesar turned the next pitch into a single to end the 3 1/3 perfect game. Oswalt lost his composure at the wrong time. Lee and Ram made him pay, and Oswalt was like a different pitcher the rest of the game.
It still seemed like a unsure game, even with Lilly pitching very well, even past the 2 more runs in the 5th. Soriano’s home run ended it, ended the homerless streak and made me wonder if they’d empty the bench completely at that point. (They sorta did in the 9th.) The Cubs have been lacking the extra base hits to put games away, relying on wins of a thousand paper cuts instead, and getting the big home run here was pivotal for the weekend. I don’t think the Astros figured on having to get 2 2/3 out of their bullpen with Oswalt starting, and that extra work played into Sunday’s game.
Batting Izturis second was a stroke of genius. I have no idea why Lou put him there, and I don’t know if there was actually a reason behind it, but it worked beautifully. Any one who can get on base three times in front of Lee and Ram on a hot streak is a huge asset to this team. It was only for one day, but it was one fine day.
On the other hand, Fontenot and Bowen both looked awful. I think Koyie Hill is the one getting sent to AAA first of the three catches, and it makes tactical sense, since he’ll be less likely to be claimed. If you went strictly on performance, I think Hill might have a better case than Bowen, but both haven’t really shown much at the plate at all.
I had a hot dog, a Mountain Dew, a pretzel and then later ice cream at the game. It was all great. It was a nice day to sit outside – between the wind and the upper deck shade, it was as comfortable game to go to as I’ve been this season. On the way back, we listened to 620 AM, and it’s probably a bad sign that it’s July and I’m trying to get in the Milwaukee Brewers radio station to keep tabs on things, but pennant races are fun, and I guess the Cubs really are in one.