The Houston Astros are now 71-66, courtesy of a very encouraging weekend sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. The 'Stros beat the Cardinals 3-2, 8-5 and 3-0.
This last win, obviously, was a shutout, led by lefty Wandy Rodriguez' 5.2 innings of 7-hit, no run baseball with four strikeouts. Rodriguez is now 8-6 on the season with a not-bad 3.76 ERA. I say not bad because Wandy pitches in a hitter friendly park. Let's face it: Minute Maid Park isn't the Astrodome, a place where countless home runs died and became downgraded to warning-track fly ball outs.
Jose Valverde, for all his throwing-gasoline-onto-the-fire relief appearances, closed this game out with a perfect, uneventful ninth inning with a strikeout. He has a 3.75 ERA on the season and has compiled 37 saves.
This must've been an especially tough loss for the venerable Cardinals, who outhit Houston 9-5. However, none of their hits went for extra bases while Houston had two doubles and a homer. The four-bagger was the 21st on the season for Ty Wigginton, to match his jersey number.
But still, we must employ reverse psychology: Houston has no chance of the post season. None.
Next up for Houston are the first-place Chicago Cubs, who are 85-52 on the season. The Cubs actually have the best record in baseball. Honestly, I hope the Cubs finally end their drought and win their first World Series in 100 years.
