A visit to Houston last summer convinced us that it's not a place worthy of a return trip. The Astros probably feel the same way after dropping their 10th straight game last night. Norris Hopper, a man who has no need for first names, went 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot and scored two runs. Houston's offense, on the other hand, needs fewer goldfish and more sharks. The AP article on the 4-3 Reds win begins "Aaron Harang was not the ideal pitcher for the Houston Astros to face as they to tried to end a losing streak Wednesday night." Sadly the ideal pitcher for them to face is starting for the Kingsbridge Little League later this afternoon.
- Randy Johnson came back from tendonitis with six innings of one-hit baseball and Ryan Howard failed as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning in Arizona's 4-3 win in Philadelphia. It's seven straight for the Snakes who got two homers from Eric Byrnes to build a 4-0 lead before Brandon Lyon and Jose Valverde tried thier best to give it away in the ninth. The Phils rallied for three runs but Howard, still bothered by a balky quad, lined into a game-ending double play.
- The rookie Scott Baker got strafed for 10 hits and six runs in three innings of work but the Twin bats woke up and brought them back for a 7-6 win over the White Sox. Chicago has dropped four straight and lost last night when David Aardsma, first in your encyclopedia but last in your heart, walked Torii Hunter with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Ozzie Guillen, your time is almost up.
- I'm not sure where Daisuke Matsuzaka slept Tuesday night but the dust seems to still be affecting his pitching. The Indians pounded him for 12 hits and six runs en route to a sweep-averting 8-4 victory at Fenway. Paul Byrd didn't walk any Boston hitters, extending to 43 innings his free passless string, but left after loading the bases in the seventh. The Sons of Geronimo got out of the inning by whiffing Kevin Youklis, who brought his hitting streak to 22, and retiring David Ortiz.
- The King was in a giving mood last night and the Angels took advantage to grab their second straight from the Mariners. Gary Matthews and Casey Kotchman hit back-to-back jacks in the first inning and Vlad Guerrero connected for his 11th with two on in the fifth to provide the runs in an 8-6 win. Hernandez was shaky and Jered Weaver wasn't much better, ruining an anticipated pitching duel, and the surging Mariners fell back to five and a half games behind the Halos.
(AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
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