Adam Everett‘s eighth-inning suicide squeeze drove in the go-ahead run and Roy O beat the Reds again as the Stros came from behind to win 7-5 in Cincy on Sunday afternoon.
Morgan Ensberg had three RBIs for the Stros, including a sacrifice fly in the eighth that cut the Reds’ lead to 5-4. After Jeff Kent scored the tying run on John Riedling‘s (gotta love that Reds’ bullpen) bases-loaded walk to Bidg, Everett laid down a terrific bunt that plated Bags from third. Ensberg added an RBI double in the ninth to finish the scoring.
By the way, Riedling — who epitomizes the ghastly Reds’ pitching staff this season — gave up three hits, two walks and three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Appropriately, plate umpire Andy Fletcher ejected Riedling as he walked off the field after being relieved.
Oswalt was not particularly sharp, but he improved to 9-0 in 13 career appearances against the Reds, giving up five runs (four earned) and 10 hits in seven innings while striking out eight and walking two. Oswalt had a bad inning in the fourth as the Reds scored four runs. After that, Oswalt gave up just one hit in his final three innings. Dan Miceli worked a scoreless eighth, and Brad Lidge induced a game-ending double play in the ninth for his 11th save.
Meanwhile, our weekly review of the Stros hitters’ runs created against average (“RCAA”) and the Stros pitchers’ runs saved against average (“RSAA” and RCAA explained here) reflects the Stros’ current status in the National League — barely above average and holding on to a place in the wildcard playoff race by a thread. First, the Stros hitters’ RCAA numbers, courtesy of Lee Sinins:
Lance Berkman 37
Craig Biggio 11
Carlos Beltran 10
Jeff Bagwell 8
Mike Lamb 8
Eric Bruntlett 1
Jeff Kent 0
Chris Burke -1
Jason Lane -3
Orlando Palmeiro -4
Jose Vizcaino -5
Richard Hidalgo -10
Morgan Ensberg -12
Adam Everett -12
Raul Chavez -13
Brad Ausmus -23
The Stros continue to have only five players who are hitting above what an average player would generate. Berkman, Bidg, and Beltran are each having great seasons (Beltran would have a 25 RCAA if his numbers while playing with the Royals are included). Lamb is also having a solid season in part-time play, and it is indefensible to play Ensberg over Lamb while the club still has a chance at post-season play. And, as much criticism as Bags has taken this season, he is still the Stros’ fifth best hitter even though he now ranks toward the bottom of National League first basemen.
The big problems with the Stros are at catcher (Ausmus now has the worst RCAA among regular National League players and Chavez is not much better) and the left side of the infield (Ensberg’s -12 RCAA is depressing and Everett’s -12 number is defensible only because of his superb fielding) However, this team simply does not hit well enough to cover for both Everett and Ensberg in the lineup — the Stros’ are tied for ninth in team RCAA among the sixteen National League teams.
On the other hand, despite the ignorant mainstream media’s contentions that the Stros’ bullpen is primarily to blame for the club’s subpar season to date, the Stros pitchers are actually performing quite well. Indeed, the Stros pitching staff ranks third in the National League in total RSAA:
Roger Clemens 26
Brad Lidge 14
Roy Oswalt 13
Wade Miller 11
Octavio Dotel 5
Darren Oliver 5
Pete Munro 4
Dan Miceli 3
Andy Pettitte 3
Mike Gallo 2
David Weathers 2
Kirk Bullinger -1
Chad Qualls -1
Brandon Backe -2
Jeremy Griffiths -3
Ricky Stone -3
Chad Harville -5
Jared Fernandez -6
Brandon Duckworth -8
Tim Redding -11
Clemens, Oswalt, and Lidge are as good as any three pitchers on one staff in the National League. Oliver has been a nice pickup so far, and Munro has pitched far above expectations. With the exception of Redding and Harville, the rest of the current staff is either just above or just below average, which is fine. I do think it’s time to give a couple of other pitchers in the organization — one of whom should probably be Carlos Hernandez — a chance to replace Harville and Redding.
The Stros return to the Juice Box on Tuesday for a six game set against the Braves and the Virginia, er, I mean, the Montreal Expos. The Rocket takes on the Braves’ Russ Ortiz in the Tuesday night game, which should be a good one.