The Rocket bounced back from being thrown out of his kid’s youth league game and pitched the Stros to a 3-2 win over the Braves straight win in the first game of their three game set at the Juice Box. It was the Stros’ third straight win.
Clemens was magnificent, giving up one earned run on four hits in seven innings while walking three. The Braves’ Russ Ortiz was almost as good, giving up two runs in seven innings while torturing the Stros’ hitters with his array of drop balls and change-ups. The Stros finally pushed across runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth to take the lead, including Bidg‘s solo yak and a key pinch hit by Lamb to set up the go ahead run in the eighth. Lidge was overpowering in saving the win as he K’Oed the side in the top of the ninth.
Inexplicably, the Stros trot Tim Redding out again on Wednesday to provide the Braves with some extended batting practice in between walks. The Stros’ hitters better gut up because they will likely need to score a bunch of runs to have a chance to win this one.