The Stros glided into Atlanta and easily took the first game of their National League Divisional Series with the Braves 9-3 behind Lance Berkman, Carlos Beltran, Jason Lane, and Brad Ausmus‘ yaks and the gutty pitching performance of Roger Clemens.
The Stros won this one with a solid hitting display as they cranked out nine hits in addition to the four above-mentioned taters, including run scoring doubles by Bags and JK. A four run uprising in the third and then three more runs in the fifth put this one away.
Unfortunately, the Stros’ strong hitting display prompted Braves reliever Juan Cruz to nail Beltran in the ribs with a pitch in the seventh, and Lane replaced Beltran in the field for the final two innings. Post-game x-rays on Beltran’s ribs were negative, but the contusion restricted the his arm’s range of motion, so it is unclear whether he will be able to play in today’s game. If Beltran cannot play today, Lane would replace him in the lineup.
Inasmuch as Cruz clearly was throwing at Beltran on purpose (although the umps did not issue any warnings), the bottom half of the frame provided one of the comic moments of the season. With two outs and nobody on, the Braves’ centerfielder Andruw Jones came to the plate against Clemens, who is notorious for being “old school” with regard to retribution for one of his teammates being hit by a pitch on purpose. Inasmuch as Jones is the Braves’ centerfielder and Beltran is the Stros’ centerfield, there is logic in a baseball sense for Clemens to throw at Jones in response to Cruz throwing at Beltran.
At any rate, Clemens worked the count to two strikes against a very antsy Jones. Clemens then started a two strike curveball at Jones that broke over the plate but in the dirt. Jones took the worst swing at the pitch that I’ve seen since I coached my last T-Ball game in striking out, and looked like the most relieved person in the ballpark as he tossed his bat, grabbed his glove and retreated to the relative safety of centerfield.
According to the ESPN reporter near the Stros’ dugout, Clemens’ directive to his teammates as he left the dugout for the clubhouse after finishing seven innings: “Keep kickin’ their ass.”
Clemens showed the effects of the stomach virus that knocked him out of the final game of the regular season. He walked six, which is the most he has given up in a game in over five years. However, Clemens was the quintessential gamer, stranding nine Braves runners in the first four innings. The Rocket lasted seven innings, throwing 117 pitches while giving up two earned runs and striking out seven.
The Stros now hand the ball to Roy O in Game 2 against former Stro Mike Hampton, who has been an average National League pitcher this season. However, Hampton is a gamer just like Clemens and Oswalt, so do not expect another easy game like today’s. But it sure would be nice to steal two games in Atlanta before the series returns to the Juice Box on Saturday afternoon.