Roy O, Mike Gallo, and Dan Miceli combined on a five-hitter, and Raul Chavez hit an improbable three-run double as the Stros won their second straight 5-0 victory over the free-falling Phillies on Tuesday night in Philly.
Staked to an unusual big lead, Oswalt (13-8) was dominant, allowing five hits, striking out seven and walking two in 7 2-3 innings to win his fifth straight decision. Gallo got the final out in the eighth, and Miceli pitched a perfect ninth to gain only the Stros’ third win in their last nine games. It was the club’s 10th shutout this season.
The Phillies were shut out for the fourth time and fell to 1-7 on their current homestand. The loss did not go over well with the Philly faithful, who let the Phils know about their acute displeasure after each futile at bat.
By the way, just to show how bad the Stros are at the catcher position this season, Chavez’s big night now gives him 15 RBIs in 111 at-bats this season and he is still a better hitter statistically than the Stros’ regular catcher, the impotent Brad Ausmus. Ugh!
The Rocket takes the hill in the second game of the Phils series as Andy Pettitte goes to have his sore left elbow examined by Dr. Andrews in Birmingham. That is usually a precursor to surgery, so don’t expect to see Pettitte pitch again for a long while.