Carlos Beltran went nuclear on the DBacks and Roy O pitched seven solid innings as the Stros won over the DBacks for the second game in a row, 10-3. The loss gave the DBacks their second 11 game losing streak this season. Geez, and we thought the Stros were having a tough stretch.
Beltran drove in three runs with his two yaks and Adam Everett tied his career high with four RBI. Beltran now has 10 homers in 23 games with the Stros, and 25 overall. This game was his third multi-homer game of the season, and he now has 11 in his young career. Man, I wish there was some way that Drayton could figure out a way to keep him around past this season.
Everett had a two-run tater and a two-run single before getting spiked in the eighth inning, which required him to leave the game (the injury did not appear serious). Mike Lamb replaced Everett and promptly hammered a two run yak in the ninth. Must have been something in the air around shortstop today.
Incredibly, the DBacks are now winless since the All-Star break and have lost eight straight at home. They have now lost 16 of their last 18 games. The 2001 World Series Championship is a distant memory.
Roy O picked up his fifth win in his past seven starts with a five-hit, seven K, seven-inning effort. He was dusted up by only a two-run yak that he gave up to Shea Hillenbrand in the sixth.
Finally, in personnel news, the Stros picked up Darren Oliver today from the Marlins’ scrapheap to add another limp arm (at least he’s a lefty) to the bullpen. After 4.66 ERA/-2 RSAA and 5.04 ERA/-5 RSAA seasons (RSAA explained here), Oliver is off to a 6.44 ERA/-15 RSAA start in his first 18 games (8 starts). This essentially means that the Stros are adding a lefthanded Tim Redding or Brandon Duckworth to the pitching staff. Oliver is one of those guys who has made a career out of being a mediocre lefthander. Good work if you can get it, but not exactly the shot in the arm that this Stros club needs.
The Stros now return from their quick trip to the desert with a weekend series against the Brew Crew at the Juice Box. The pitching lineup is the Rocket, Tim Redding, and then probably Pete Munro.