Daily Archives: September 19, 2004

The Rocket steps up

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With the Stros knowing that the Giants and the Cubs had already won their games on Sunday afternoon, Roger Clemens threw eight innings of two hit ball in leading the Stros to a 1-0 win over the Brew Crew on Sunday night at the Juice Box.
In sweeping the Brewers in the three game weekend series, the Stros kept pace in the National League Wild Card playoff race in which they trail the Giants by a game and the Cubs by a half game. The Stros are off on Monday as they travel to San Francisco for their big three game series with the Giants beginning on Tuesday.
Clemens was magnificent in winning his 18th game of the season, tying teammate Roy O for the most wins in the National League, striking out 10, and walking two. Brad Lidge struck out the three Brewer batters in the ninth in gaining his 25th save in 29 attempts.
Carlos Hernandez will pitch the first game for the Stros in the Giants series, and then it’s anyone’s guess who the Stros will pitch in the next two. Keep your fingers crossed that Roy O’s rib cage feels good enough for him to pitch one of those final two games of the Giants series.

2004 Weekly local football review

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Lions 28 Texans 16. “Uh-oh” is the barely audible sound that you will hear emanating from Reliant Park this week. Not only did the Texans lose their second straight, but they once again showed the inconsistency that could really make this a long season. The offense — particularly QB David Carr — was horrible in an excruciating first half that mercifully (for the fans, anyway) ended with the Lions ahead 7-3. Then, in the second half, Carr played reasonably well and threw his first two TD passes of the season only to have the Texans’ defense go into the tank and the kickoff return team give up a 99 yard kickoff return for a Lions’ TD. Given that the Texans play the Chiefs, Raiders, Vikings and Titans in the next four games, a 1-5 or 0-6 start is looking quite likely. My sense is that the Texans’ honeymoon with Houston is quickly coming to an end.
Cowboys 19 Browns 12. Incredibly, the Cowboys turn it over four times and still win, primarily because the Browns’ QB Jeff Garcia was 8-28 for 78 yards passing. I’m glad I resisted the urge to take him as my reserve QB in my Fantasy Football League draft.
The Texas Longhorns were idle this weekend, and most of the Horn players were probably here.
Texas Aggies 27 Clemson 6. The Ags finally won a game under Coach Franchione against a reasonably tough opponent, although Clemson does not appear to be comparable to top Big 12 caliber opposition. However, the Ags rolled up over 500 yards total offense, committed no turnovers, and held Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst to under 200 yards passing. Certainly progress for a program that has been in steady decline — much to the consternation of its rabid fan base — for the past four seasons. The Aggies have an off week before taking on Big 12 North rival Kansas State on October 2 in College Station.
Houston 35 Army 21. Coogs finally get their offense cranked up and pull out the win after the Cadets tied it at 21 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. UH should be about a 60 point underdog in this Thursday evening’s ESPN game at Reliant Stadium against Miami.
Rice 41 Hawaii 29. I don’t know why, but I always enjoy it when a triple option team such as Rice beats a Run ‘n Shoot team such as Hawaii. The Owls now try to beat a spread that will be around 35 next week in Austin against the Longhorns.