Bags singled in the go ahead run and Berkman doubled in Bags with the insurance run in the seventh inning as the Stros beat the Cards 6-4 on Wednesday night at a rollicking Juice Box. The win completed an unlikely Stros sweep of the Cards, who sport the best record in Major League Baseball. The Stros have now won a record 15 straight at the Juice Box and are 33-10 over the past month and a half. What a ride it’s been!
With the Cubs blowing another one on Wednesday afternoon to the Reds and the Giants losing to the Padres late Wednesday, the Stros have now moved into sole possession of the lead for the Wild Card playoff berth, a half game ahead of both the Cubs and the Giants. The Cubs play the Reds and the Giants play the Pads again on Thursday, which is an off day for the Stros, so the worst shape that the Stros will begin play on Friday is that they will be tied for the Wild Card lead.
The Rocket gave yet another remarkable performance, going six innings and giving up 4 runs on 4 hits while striking out 8 and walking only one. The big blow was Scott Rolen‘s two out, two run yak in the sixth after Clemens thought that he had struck out the hitter before Rolen (that hitter eventually walked). Clemens had some choice words for the home plate umpire as he walked off the field at the end of the sixth.
Qualls, Miceli, and Lidge were again money for the Stros in relief, although the entire Juice Box crowd audibly gasped when Mabry toyed with a game tying yak while flying out deep to right with one on to end the game. When Berkman caught Mabry’s fly, I couldn’t tell whether the resulting Juice Box roar was one of joy or relief. The Stros hitters also battled gamely against tought Cards starter Suppan and managed 9 hits, including a two run Ensberg yak and Kent‘s solo shot.
The Stros have a well deserved day off on Thursday before the Rockies come in for the final weekend series of the season. Pete Munro and the rest of the bullpen pitches in the Friday game, Roy O comes back for the Saturday game, and then I would not be surprised if Clemens comes back on three days rest to pitch on Sunday if the Stros still have a chance. The upcoming weekend is shaping up to be a wild one, something that I had discounted as recently as a few days ago. I am thoroughly enjoying being wrong on that one!