My son Cody, my buddy Sage and I are at the Juice Box reporting live on the Stros-Rangers Saturday evening game using the Stros new WiFi internet service. So far, so good.
The top of the first was uneventful as newly-acquired Jeremy Griffiths got three ground outs without throwing ten pitches. In the bottom of the first, Bidg led off with an infield hit and Viz had a single to right before the first instance of managerial malpractice occurred. Jimy Williams had Carlos Beltran — arguably the hottest hitter in baseball — attempt to lay down a sacrifice bunt on the first pitch. Beltran fortunately fouled it off, then laced a stinger foul down the first base lane before being called out on strikes. Berkman then drew a walk to load the bases before Bags dutifully hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
That’s a capsule of the Stros’ season so far.
Griffiths returned to form in the top of the second by walking the lead off batter. Mench generously went after a bad pitch and popped to second, but the Rangers are clearly measuring Griffiths. Delucci flied to center on a bad pitch and then Ardoin struck out. So, Griffiths is doing his best Clemens and Roy O imitation, but my sense is that next time through the lineup for Griffiths is not going to be as pleasant.
Stros coming to bat.
Arnie the Peanut Dude, who has been a fixture throwing and selling tickets at Stros’ games for about 15 years, came by in between innings and chatted with Sage and me. Arnie is a great guy and a fine golfer, and he just returned from a golfing trip to Scottsdale where he played several of the great courses out there. After playing well out there, he returned to rain-drenched Houston and could only shoot 90 at Houston Country Club yesterday where the unmowed rough is still at U.S. Open heighth.
In the meantime, Ensberg walked and Everett had an infield single to lead off the Stros’ second, which brings up Raul Chavez, who is starting his second straight game at catcher for I believe the first time this season. However, the Stros’ catcher position is a black hole, as Chavez grounds into an easy DP, moving Ensberg to third. Griffiths is up, and promptly scared Ricardo Rodriguez, the Rangers journeyman pitcher, into a balk, scoring Ensberg with the Stros first run. After Rodriguez walked Griffiths in disgust, Bidg flied tepidly to left.
As Sage noted, with two outs, the Stros called for the “balk play” and scored a run. Stros lead 1-0, but not for long.
Griffiths mowed down Matthews and Rodriguez to start the third, making it ten straight Rangers down to start the game. But this mixture of 86 mph fastballs and nickel curves will not hold the Rangers down for long. Young promptly singled to center to start Griffiths second time through the Rangers lineup, and now Blalock is looking like a hungry tiger over his prey at the plate. Incredibly, Griffiths freezes him with 89 mph heat. How long can this last?
While Cody cruised the Web for awhile, Viz grounded out and Beltran struck out again before Berkman laced a gapper for a double. Berkman came over to third on a wild pitch as Bags walked, and Ensberg has worked a 3-1 count and should get a good pitch to hit. He did, and whiffed, now a 3-2 count. Ensberg then grounded out to short to end the inning. Stros still lead 1-0.
Sage and I went up to the club level in the top of the fourth to check out the Mahi Mahi at the club buffet, but the Rangers continue to scruff against Griffiths. Three up and three down. The Stros continue not to do much better against Rodriguez, as both Everett and Chavez ground out meekly and Griffiths fans in the bottom of the frame.
This game ought to be extended batting practice for both teams and its only 1-0 through four. As they say, “that’s baseball.”
While waiting for our Mahi Mahi, Sage and I saw John Sorrentino and chatted with him awhile. John is the Stros’ Vice-President of ticket services and is a longtime Stros’ executive. We complimented him on how good the bunting looks inside the Juice Box as the Stros are getting ready for the All-Star game on July 13th. John is a good guy, and the Stros’ strong gate this season (averaging about 35,000 a game) could not happen to a nicer guy.
Meanwhile, Griffiths is starting to struggle in the top of the fifth. Delucci walked, Ardoun got on, and light hitting Gary Mathews hit a three run dinger. Batting practice is beginning. Rangers lead 3-1.
Things are going from bad to worse. Young got on, and Blalock singled him around to third. Jimy’s hook is quick tonight as Griffiths is already history. Bullinger is warming up.
Ouch. Soriano greets Bullinger with a long three run dinger. It’s now 6-1 Rangers. However, the Mahi Mahi is quite good.
After what seems like an eternity, Bullinger finally coaxes the last two outs and the Stros wander into their side of the fifth down 6-1.
Bidg starts the rally with a strike out in the bottom of the fifth. Viz gets on, then Beltran gives one a ride to deep center, but Matthews makes a nice nab. Berkman takes his obligatory walk, and now Bags is up with a chance to get the Stros back in it. Bags hits an easy grounder to short, which Young boots, so now Ensberg has a chance to do some real damage with the bases loaded.
And he did! Ensberg blasts a grand salami to deep left center. Incredible. He wins the game for the Stros last night with a two run yak and now he gets the Stros back in this one with a grand slam. It’s now 6-5 Rangers.
And the Stros may not be finished. The Rangers bring in ex-Stro Doug Brocail, and Everett and Chavez greet him with singles. Lamb pinch hits for Bullinger, and Brocail uncorks a wild pitch to move the runners to second and third. Lamb promptly singles to right and scores both Everett and Chavez, and Chavez looked like a locomotive coming home and beat the throw. It’s now 7-6 Stros!
And the Stros may not be finished yet. Young boots Bidg’s grounder to short for another error, and Brocail promptly balks Lamb to third and Bidg to second. Viz then brings Lamb home on an infield hit, bringing up Beltran. It’s 8-6 Stros. Beltran then absolutely schorches a liner at Brocail, who protects himself by batting the ball down with his glove and then remarkably recovers to throw Beltran out.
The fifth inning is finally over. It took over an hour, there were 13 runs, 10 hits, two errors, and I don’t know how many walks. In the end, it’s 8-6 Stros. Whew! Gotta eat Mahi Mahi whenever the Stros get down big.
Chad Harville is now pitching for the Stros in the top of the sixth, and he is clearly juiced by the Stros big fifth. He’s throwing smoke consistently in the mid 90’s. And wouldn’t you know it — the second off speed pitch that Harville throws Young jacks a two run yak into the Crawford Boxes. It’s 8-8 and time for more Mahi Mahi.
Brocail is back out on the hill for the Rangers in the bottom of the sixth. Berkman whiffs, Bags walks, and the Hero of the Fifth Ensberg is now up again. Brocail is careful with the red hot Ensberg and walks him to get to Everett. One positive note: at least Jimy doesn’t have Everett sacrificing. Brocail walks Everett to load the bases for Chavez with still just one out. This is getting interesting. Pinch hitter Lane on deck to hit for Harville. Chavez is battling, fouling off five pitches. He works the count to 2-2.
Uh, oh. Chavez hits a grounder to deep short. Young to Soriano at second for the first out, relay to first — Chavez head first slide — he’s safe!! Bags scores. Ball gets away at first. Ensberg tries to score. It’s a close play. He’s safe! Stros lead 10-8! Unbelievable. The Juice Box is going nuts.
Lane then absolutely smokes one to just in front of the 436 sign in deep center. The sixth is over, it’s 10-8 Stros! Gotta love that Mahi Mahi.
David Weathers is now pitching for the Stros in the top of the seventh, and Soriano greets him with a single. The dangerous Teixeira lines out to Berkman, and Mench flies out to Berkman, bringing up Herbert Perry to pinch hit for Brocail. Perry is one of those guys who either cranks a yak or strikes out, so Weathers needs to be careful. Weathers strikes him out on three pitches. Go figure. Stros still lead 10-8.
Brian Shouse, a left-handed submarine guy, is now pitching for the Rangers and walks Bidg on four pitches. The Stros need to be greedy here because a two run lead does not feel safe in this free for all, particularly with Lidge having pitched the three prior games and probably not available to close this one. Viz sacrifices Bidg to second, Beltran to the plate. Beltran’s buzzard’s luck continues as he lines to third on a nice play by Blalock. Berkman grounds out, so Bidg is left on. Stros still lead 10-8.
Weathers is still pitching for the Stros in the top of eighth, against catcher Ardoin, who promptly pops out to Berkman in right as the Juice Box’s retractable roof is opening. Matthews comes back down to earth after his three run yak earlier in the game and whiffs for the second out. But then, Bidg misplays a fly ball by LF Conti for a three base error, so the Rangers have a man on third and the top of their order coming up. Young walks and now Astro-killer Blalock is coming up. Jimy’s not going to risk having Weathers pitch to Blalock, so he brings in Miceli. The capacity crowd at the Juice Box is in deep prayer.
Deep gulp. Blalock fouls out to Ensberg. Stros maintain their 10-8 lead.
A hyperactive Juice Box crowd is now doing the wave. Gotta work off that excess energy before the fireworks show.
Frank Francisco is now pitching for the Rangers and he faces the punchless Bags, who either gets a single, grounds out, walks, or strikes out these days. He strikes out this time. Francisco then fans Hero Ensberg on three smokin’ fastballs, the slowest of which was 96 mph. Everett fouls out to first. Stros take their 10-8 lead into the top of the ninth. Hold on to your seats.
Miceli still pitching for the Stros as Soriano leads off the ninth. 3-2 count. Foul ball. Soriano bloops out to Berkman. Teixeria is up, and he laces the first pitch to right for a single. Mench is up with one out and a man on first. Mench flies out to Berkman. Two outs, Miceli vs. Young. The Juice Box crowd is up. Young singles hard to left. Rod Barajas bats for Ardoin with runners on first and second. The Juice Box crowd is still up. Miceli gets up 1-2, the Juice Box crowd is howling. Foul ball.
Whiff! Stros win 10-8! It’s time for fireworks. That’s it from the Juice Box. Over and out.