Roy Oswalt is now 20-1 in 24 career starts against the Cincinnati Reds, courtesy of his rust-shaking win against the Reds. The Houston Astros won 5-4, perhaps Oswalt's only blight was a third-inning two-out grand slam by Adam Dunn (who got his 30th home run on the season). Astros third baseman Geoff Blum answered in the bottom of the third with a two-out home run of his own--this one a two-run shot that turned out to be the go-ahead runs for Houston.
Oswalt, who had been on the 15-Day Disabled List with a strained left hip abductor (don't ask, I'm neither an orthopedist nor a hipologist), threw 74 pitches over five innings. I like to think his pitching woes this season have stemmed from poor mechanics from injuries like this. His line on the night: 5 innings, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 1 walk and five strikeouts and 1 home run. His season ERA is 4.67.
If there's encouragement, 'Stros fans, it's in the walks-to-strikeouts ratio. Very impressive. If Roy O can pitch this well fresh off the DL, I wonder how he'll do once he's healthy. Hopefully we'll see him return to the days of the 2005 NLCS when he left the St. Louis Cardinals clueless at the plate (no small task, especially when you consider Albert Pujols).
I know Cincy is only 50-57 on the season, but I found it encouraging that Jose Valverde was able to pitch a perfect ninth for his 27th save on the season.
Tonight, 5-4 Brian Moehler takes the mound for Houston against 9-7 Bronson Arroyo. No, curious fans, Bronson Arroyo isn't related to Bronson Pinchot or to Charles Bronson.
Keywords: Astros, Brian Moehler, Geoff Blum, Reds, Roy Oswalt
