Roy O chose a bad time to have his worst outing in two years as the Brewers jumped on him for six hits and five runs in the fifth inning in coming back to beat the Stros on Saturday night at Miller Park, 7-4.
Oswalt allowed six earned runs — the most in an appearance since July 16, 2002 against Pittsburgh — and couldn’t make it out of the fifth inning for the first time in 2004. In 4 2/3 innings, the right-hander surrendered nine hits, one walk, two hit batsmen and struck out four. It was only the third time Oswalt had permitted six earned runs in his career.
Meanwhile, the Stros eked out only six hits, the only one of consequence being Jason Lane‘s three run double. They were the seldom-used Lane’s first RBI’s of the season.
To make matters worse (if that is possible), Lance Berkman flew back to Houston on Saturday afternoon to attend the funeral of his grandfather, did not play in Saturday night’s game, and will not play in Sunday afternoon’s game. Berkman is expected to rejoin the team in Houston on Monday. Richard Hidalgo also sat out Saturday’s game with a sore neck, which it probably the product of having his head snap back around looking at all the pitches that he is missing while batting over the past month and a half.
The Stros might as well mail it in on Sunday as journeyman Pete Munro makes the start in place of Andy Pettitte as the sacrificial lamb for Astro-killer Ben Sheets. Expect the Stros to limp back to the Juice Box in fourth place in the NL Central to begin their 11 game homestand on Monday against the Cubbies.