The Stros opened their first interleague series of the season in particularly unimpressive style as they made Seattle Mariner rookie Clint Nageotte look like the Rocket in losing to the Mariners on Monday evening, 5-0.
Brandon Duckworth was the worst he has been in an awful season for him, exiting after giving up three runs and getting only one out in the first inning. Given Duckworth’s incompetence, one can only imagine what it takes to get released from the Stros’ generally underperforming pitching staff this season. Probably the only thing that has saved Duckworth is that the Stros’ AAA club does not really have a good replacement for him at this stage of the season. Newly-acquired Pete Munro relieved Duckworth and at least battled over the next five innings, giving up the other two runs.
Meanwhile, the Stros’ hitters took a powder against Nageotte and his reliever, Julio Mateo, slapping out seven impotent singles and a double. At least the Stros’ Propoganda Department will be happy as Jeff Kent‘s single extended his hitting streak to 22.
Even Jimy Williams continued his dubious managerial moves. Playing in Seattle allows Williams to use the designated hitter in the Stros’ lineup. So, does he use one of the team’s best hitters to date, Mike Lamb? Or underutilized potential slugger, Jason Lane? No, Jimy uses one of “his guys,” Jose Vizcaino, who continues to be — along with another one of Jimy’s “guys”, Brad Ausmus — one of the most unproductive hitters in baseball.
Finally, consistent with the sense of doom around the Stros right now, Andy Pettitte will miss at least another start and probably more as a result of his recent “forearm” (psst – it’s really his elbow) injury.
The Stros are now 10-15 in their last 25 games, three and a half games behind the Reds in the NL Central, and sinking slowly into oblivion. This team needs a serious jolt, and perhaps Clemens can give it to them this evening as he takes the hill against the Mariners’ forgettable Joel Pineiro (negative 14 RSAA).