In his first game off the disabled list, Andy Pettitte threw six innings of one hit ball as the Astros took the second and final game of their weathered shortened series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-0. Dan Miceli, Brad Lidge, and Octavio Dotel followed Pettitte and secured the win, facing a total of 11 batters over the final three innings and striking out six of them.
The Stros return to Houston this afternoon to begin a seven game homestand at 12-9 and a game back of the Cubs in the NL Central. My prediction about this team is proving correct as, despite several games in which they have scored over 10 runs, the club struggles mightily at the plate at times. For example, in Roy O‘s last three starts, the Stros have scored a total of five runs. In the last three games of this road trip, the club scored a total of five runs. Bags, Kent and Bidg all cooled off considerably on the road trip.
The Rocket pitches the first game of the series at the Juice Box on Friday evening.