The Stros’ listless offense once again doomed the club to a loss as the Dodgers crusied to victory in the first game of their four game pre-All-Star game series on Thursday night, 7-2.
After their relative offensive explosion of scoring five runs on Wednesday, the Stros were back to their normal performance levels on Thursday with a total of five hits. The only extra base hit was Bidg‘s 13th yak in the third. The Stros’ overall display of offensive incompetence was punctuated by the eighth inning when the Dodgers’ Darren Dreifort walked the bases loaded with one out and Berkman coming to bat. Berkman promptly imitated Ausmus and grounded into a DP.
Brandon Duckworth started the game for the Stros after a month-long demotion to AAA New Orleans and served up his usual dose of mediocrity, allowing three runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Although he did not give up a yak, Duckworth has now given up 16 earned runs and 24 hits over 16 innings in five starts this season. Given Duckworth’s dismal performance this season, it is yet another example of the Stros’ futility that they keep trotting him out there to pitch this season.
Andy Pettitte, the Rocket and Pete Munro pitch the final three games of the Dodger series for the Stros, who are now nine and a half games behind the Cards and sinking fast in the NL Central.