Jason Lane‘s pinch-hit double drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and Chad Qualls came in with two on in the bottom of the 10th and induced a dramatic game-ending double play for his first career save as the Stros, held hitless by the Pirates Dave Williams for six innings, rallied in the late innings to beat the Pirates 5-4 Sunday night at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
How’s that for an opening sentence? Whew!
By winning this “must” game following three losses in four games in Pittsburgh, the Stros stayed a game behind the Giants in the NL wild-card race. The Giants beat the Diamondbacks 5-2. Even after losing three of five games over the weekend to the Pirates, the Stros have won 22 of 28 and 15 of 20 overall, and still finished 12-5 against the Bucs this season.
Roy Oswalt left with a 4-2 lead after seven innings and was in position to become the NL’s first 18-game winner, but the Pirates rallied for two runs against Brad Lidge, who had previously converted 21 of 24 save opportunities. The Stros trailed 2-0 and had only a walk through six innings against the left-handed Williams until breaking through for two runs in both the seventh and eighth.
After a well-deserved day off on Monday, the Stros gear up for a key three game series with the Cards on Tuesday in St. Louis. The Rocket starts the first game of the series, and then its almost anyone’s guess who Manager Garner will trot out for the next two games. The Stros return to the Juice Box this Friday for a weekend series against the Brew Crew before taking off for San Francisco for the season’s biggest series to date next Tuesday-Thursday against the Giants.

The Stros hitters continued to scruff this afternoon in Pittsburgh against someone named Ryan Vogelsong as he limited the Stros to one run over six innings in the Pirates’ 5-2 victory at PNC Park. It was the Stros’ third loss in four games following their 12-game winning streak that got them back in the race for the Wild Card playoff spot.
Bidg homered on the second pitch of the game and drove in both Houston runs. but the rest of the Stros’ hitters managed only two doubles and five singles. Biggio’s homer was his 22nd, which tied his season high and extended his National League record to 40 homers leading off games.
Roy O needs to play stopper on Sunday night in the final game of this disappointing series. The Stros get an off day in St. Louie on Monday before beginning their three game series with the Cards on Tuesday with the Rocket pitching the first game.

The Stros are starting to scruff in Pittsburgh as Pirates rookie John Van Benschoten won his first major league game in allowing only five hits in eight innings as the Bucs beat the Stros 6-1 Friday night at PNC Park.
Stros starter Pete Munro (4-6), who beat Van Benschoten at the Juice Box last Sunday, allowed four runs and nine hits in five innings. The only positive out of this rather dreary Stros performance was Brandon Duckworth, who pitched two innings of scoreless relief while giving up only one hit and no walks. Given the way that Duckworth pitched earlier in the season, that is a major accomplishment.
It appears that the Stros’ bats are cooling off a bit. After averaging almost 10 runs a game during their recent winning streak, the Stros have now scored just 11 runs and had just 19 hits in their last three games. While not as bad as some earlier droughts during this season, the Stros’ hitters will probably have to get back to producing at a considerably above-average level for the remainder of the season for the Stros to have a reasonable shot at the Wild Card playoff spot. The backend of the Stros’ pitching rotation requires a rather large run buffer to have a reasonable chance of winning games in which any member of that group is pitching.
Surprising Brandon Backe pitches the fourth game of the Pirates series on Saturday and Roy O goes for his 18th win during the Sunday matinee. Sure would be nice to lock those two games up with wins.

The Stros magic winning streak ran into the buzzsaw of the Pirates’ Oliver Perez, but the Stros rebounded to win the second game as they split their doubleheader with the Pirates this evening at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, 3-1 and 9-2.
Perez is one of the best young pitchers in baseball, so the Stros loss was not particularly surprising. The Stros could manage only three hits off of him and they whiffed 14 times. I’m not sure that the Padres made such a good move in giving up Perez for what appears to be a fading Brian Giles. Carlos Hernandez was only marginally effective again in taking the loss as he continues to rebuild arm strength from his shoulder surgery of last year.
The Stros cranked it back up in the second game, peppering various Pirate pitchers for 10 hits, including five doubles and a triple. That was good enough to gain the win even though Tim Redding pitched ineffectively again after his exile to AAA New Orleans. Having to pitch Redding at the backend of the rotation is a big impediment to the Stros winning the National League Wild Card playoff spot.
Pete Munro takes the hill in the Friday game in Pittsburgh as the Stros attempt to start another streak to keep pace in what is going to be a tight Wild Card race with the Giants, Cubs, and Marlins.

Roger Clemens won his 326th career win as the Stros cranked four first-inning yaks to beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 Wednesday afternoon and tie a club record with their 12th straight win.
The Stros have now won 13 of their last 14 games, 20 of their last 23, and have, with the Cubs’ loss to the Expos, taken at least a share of the lead for the National League Wild Card playoff spot. The Stros have also won eight straight against the Reds while outscoring them 68-25 in those games.
Clemens (16-4) won his fourth straight start, allowing only four hits in seven innings. He gave up his only run in the first on a sacrifice fly, and the Reds could manage only three singles over Clemens’ next six innings. The Rocket finished with six strikeouts and two walks.
After three of the Stros AAA relief corps pitched in the eighth, Brad Lidge pitched the ninth to gain his 21st save in 24 chances. With runners at the corners and two outs, Lidge struck out Juan Castro to end the game as the Juice Box crowd went nuts.
After the Reds scored their only run off of Clemens in the top of the first, Bidg led off the bottom of the frame with his yak, then Bags and Berkman hammered back-to-back taters, JK walked, and Mike Lamb hit a two run round tripper for his third home run in the past three games. Although the Stros did not score again, they cranked out 11 hits against seven Reds’ pitchers.
So now its off to Pittsburgh for a twinbill tomorrow and then three more over the weekend before the club moves on to St. Louis for a three game series with the Cards early next week. Looks like Carlos Hernandez and either Tim Redding or Brandon Duckworth will get the starts in the doubleheader tomorrow. Bullpen, get ready.

Carlos Beltran cranked a triple and a mighty upper deck yak, Mike Lamb chipped in with another two run tater, and new Daddy Roy O hurled 7 2/3rd’s strong innings as the Stros continued their utterly incredible late season surge by pounding the Reds again at the Juice Box on Tuesday night, 9-7.
The Stros have now won 11 straight games, 13 of their last 14, 19 of their last 22, and now trail the Cubs by a half game in the National League Wild Card playoff race. The Stros have also won seven straight against the Reds while outscoring them 63-23 in those games.
The Stros again took extra batting practice on the pathetic Reds’ pitching staff, cranking out 11 hits for 23 total bases and enjoying 8 walks in between. Meanwhile, Roy O did his usual number on the Reds, controlling the game efficiently until he left with two outs and two on in the eighth. Springer‘s three run gopher ball after relieving Oswalt and Lidge‘s uncharacteristic two run gophie in the ninth made the score of the game closer than it really was.
The Rocket goes for the Stros 12th straight and his 16th win of the season in Wednesday afternoon’s Businessman’s Special before the Stros take off for a six game swing through Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Right now, this club will not even need an aircraft to fly into those cities.

Brandon Backe hit his first Major League yak and allowed only one run in seven innings to keep the Stros in the thick of the National League wild-card chase with an 11-5 rout of the Reds at the Juice Box on Monday afternoon.
The Stros have now won 10 straight games, 12 of their last 13, 18 of their last 21, and now are only 1 1/2 games behind the Cubs and Giants for the National League Wild Card playoff spot. The Stros have also won six straight against the Reds while outscoring them 54-16 in those games.
Making only his fourth career start, Backe (3-2) virtually shut down the Reds after giving up three hits and a run-scoring single in the first inning. He gave up only four singles and a walk from that point on, and finished with a career-high eight strikeouts. Backe’s unlikely two-run yak prompted a stancing ovation from the Juice Box crowd of 40,581 that did not cease until Backe re-emerged from the dugout to take a bow.
Bags, Berkman and JK also cranked taters for the Stros, who peppered the horrendous Reds pitching for 12 hits. The Stros have averaged nearly 10 runs a game during their streak.
If Roy O can get take a break from a new baby watch, then he will pitch the Tuesday night game against the Reds with the Rocket following in Wednesday afternoon’s Businessman’s Special. After the Reds close the homestand, the Stros travel to Pittsburgh and St. Louis for a key six game road trip as the Wild Card race approaches the home stretch.

After creating the go ahead run in Saturday night’s game, Mike Lamb went nuclear on the Pirates on Sunday afternoon at the Juice Box in leading the Stros to their ninth straight win, 10-5.
The Stros have now won 11 of their last 12 games, 17 of their last 20, and now are only 1 1/2 games behind the hurricane idled Cubs for the National League Wild Card playoff spot. The Stros have also won 10 of their last 11 games against the Pirates and 19 of 21.
Lamb went 4-for-5 with a yak and four RBIs. Carlos Beltran added three hits as the Stros are now on their longest winning streak since the club won a franchise-record 12 straight from September 3-14, 1999. Pete Munro (4-5) allowed five runs and four hits in five innings to gain the win, as the suddenly steady Stros relief corps of Chad Qualls, Mike Gallo and Dan Wheeler finished up with four scoreless innings of relief.
What a difference twos weeks can make! Our periodic review of the Stros hitters’ runs created against average (“RCAA”) and the Stros pitchers’ runs saved against average (“RSAA” and RCAA explained here) reflects the Stros’ incredible surge over the past two weeks into a legitimate contender for the the National League Wild Card playoff spot. Here were the Stros hitters’ RCAA numbers, courtesy of Lee Sinins, as of Sunday, August 22:
Lance Berkman 45
Carlos Beltran 12
Mike Lamb 6
Jeff Bagwell 5
Craig Biggio 5
Eric Bruntlett 2
Chris Burke -1
Jeff Kent -1
Jason Lane -2
Orlando Palmeiro -3
Richard Hidalgo -9
Jose Vizcaino -9
Morgan Ensberg -12
Adam Everett -12
Raul Chavez -14
Brad Ausmus -23
As of August 21, the Stros were 10th out of the 16 National League teams in RCAA and had generated 11 fewer runs than an average National League team would have generated up to that date in the season. Compare that with the following, which are the updated RCAA of the Stros hitters as of September 4:
Lance Berkman 58
Carlos Beltran 23
Jeff Bagwell 15
Craig Biggio 11
Mike Lamb 9
Jeff Kent 3
Eric Bruntlett 2
Chris Burke -1
Jason Lane -3
Orlando Palmeiro -3
Jose Vizcaino -5
Morgan Ensberg -9
Richard Hidalgo -9
Adam Everett -11
Raul Chavez -16
Brad Ausmus -21
In just two weeks, the Stros have jumped from 10th to 6th out of the 16 National League teams in RCAA and have now generated 43 more runs than an average National League team would have generated through September 4 this season.
I’m sure it has happened before, but frankly, I cannot recall a club going from a negative 11 RCAA to a positive 43 RCAA in a two week period. This is truly a streak for the ages.
The individual players’ improvement has been equally incredible. Bags has tripled his RCAA over the past two weeks and now is within shouting distance of equaling his performance from last season. Beltran and Bidg have doubled their RCAA, and Beltran’s combined RCAA from the Royals and the Stros would be a lofty 40. Moreover, Kent, Viz and Ensberg all have chipped in with substantial improvement in their respective RCAA figure, and even the woeful Ausmus has chipped in with a 10% improvement. Finally, Berkman continues to have one of the best seasons of any National League hitter as his 58 RCAA currently places him fifth among NL hitters, behind only Bonds, Edmonds, Pujols, and Helton.
As I noted several times throughout the season, it was going to take the type of improvement in RCAA that we have seen from the Stros over the past two weeks for the Stros to get back in the playoff hunt. I did not think they could do it, but the Stros have proven me wrong. You have to respect the heart of this club.
Meanwhile, the RSAA of the Stros’ pitchers has held reasonably steady during the Stros hitters’ streak, and that has been good enough. After topping out about a month ago in 3rd among the 16 National League pitching staffs in RSAA, the Stros’ pitching staff remains in fifth place now, but still have given up 28 fewer runs than an average NL pitching staff. Here are the individual RSAA of each Stros pitcher:
Roger Clemens 22
Brad Lidge 21
Roy Oswalt 18
Wade Miller 10
Octavio Dotel 5
Darren Oliver 5
Andy Pettitte 4
Dan Miceli 2
Russ Springer 2
Dan Wheeler 2
Brandon Backe -2
Chad Qualls -2
David Weathers -2
Mike Gallo -3
Jeremy Griffiths -3
Ricky Stone -3
Kirk Bullinger -4
Chad Harville -4
Pete Munro -5
Jared Fernandez -6
Carlos Hernandez -6
Brandon Duckworth -9
Tim Redding -14
Clemens, Oswalt and Lidge continue to have outstanding seasons, and the rest of the Stros bullpen meanders between slightly above and slightly below average. The negative 6 RSAA of Hernandez is a concern, but Backe‘s strong performances in three of his first four starts have been a pleasant surprise. The bottom line is that the Stros staff continues to be a well above average staff this season.
So, what do the Stros need to win the National League Wild Card playoff spot? Well, it is highly unlikely that they are going to continue hitting at the pace that they have over the past two weeks, although the upcoming series with the Reds’ abdominable pitching staff should help the hitters prolong their streak for awhile further. But I think its reasonable to expect Berkman and Beltran to continue their outstanding hitting, and that Bags and Lamb can continue to improve slightly throughout the remainder of the season. So long as Bidg and and the remainder of the hitters remain steady or improve slightly, and the pitchers hold steady or increase their RSAA just slightly, the Stros actually have a decent shot — although not great — at overtaking the Cubs for the National League Wild Card playoff spot. The Cubs pitching staff continues to be much stronger than the Stros, but the Cubs hitters have declined dramatically over the past month and that downturn could undermine them as the race comes down to the final weeks.
But the fact that the Stros are in the race at all, after being virtually out of the race a little over two weeks ago, is one of the more remarkable stories of this Major League Baseball season.
Brandon Backe takes the hill for the Stros in the Labor Day afternoon game at the Juice Box against the Reds, whose woeful pitching staff comes in to this series having given up 160 more runs than an average National League pitching staff would have surrendered up to this date in the season. That’s some seriously bad pitching, folks.

Mike Lamb hit the go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning and strong relief pitching propelled the Stros to extend their season-high winning streak to eight games with a 6-5 victory over the Pirates on Saturday night at the Juice Box. The Stros have now won 10 of their last 11 gaves and 16 out of their last 19 to pull within two games of the Cubs in the race for the National League Wild Card playooff spot.
Houston starter Carlos Hernandez struggled through three innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits, including Jason Bay‘s three run yak. However, Kirk Bullinger, Chad Harville, Chad Qualls, Russ Springer, and Brad Lidge gave up just one more run the rest of the way to secure the win. Lidge pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 23 opportunities.
The Stros’ Pete Munro tries to keep the momentum going in Sunday’s matinee against Baylor-ex Kip Wells. The Reds come to the Juice Box on Monday to provide more batting practice for the Stros’ hitters during a three game set.

Jeff Bagwell, Carlos Beltran, Craig Biggio and Jose Vizcaino homered and the Rocket won his 325th career win as the Stros beat the Pirates in the first game of their weekend series at the Juice Box, 8-6.
The Stros are in the midst of a major winning trend. They have now won seven straight, 15 of their last 18 games, and 10 of their last 11. They have closed to within 2Ω games of the Hurricane Frances-idled Cubs, who are the leader in the race for the NL wild-card playoff spot.
Clemens (15-4) won his third straight start, and moved into sole possession of 12th place on the career wins list. He took a 7-0 lead into the seventh inning but tired and wound up allowing four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. The Rocket even added an run-scoring single in the sixth for his seventh RBI of the season. Dan Wheeler pitched a perfect eighth and Brad Lidge worked the ninth for his 19th save in 22 chances.
By the way, General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, threw out the ceremonial first pitch as part of the Astros’ Military Appreciation Night. Turns out that General Myers is a former high school classmate Alan Hendricks, who represents Clemens along with his brother, Randy.
Carlos Hernandez takes the pill in Saturday night’s game against the Pirates Josh Fogg as the Stros attempt to pull within two games of the still idle Cubs.