IGT 7/23/06 - Going for the Sweep vs. the Stros

[TransMonk]

Houston
W. Taveras cf
M. Lamb 1b
C. Burke 2b
L. Berkman rf
A. Huff 3b
P. Wilson lf
B. Ausmus c
A. Everett ss
R. Oswalt p

NY Mets
J. Reyes ss
P. Lo Duca c
C. Beltran cf
C. Delgado 1b
D. Wright 3b
C. Floyd lf
J. Valentin 2b
X. Nady rf
M. Pelfrey p

[TransMonk]

Pelfrey is wearing a mouth guard?

Strange.

[TransMonk]

Pelfrey with a 1-2-3 first...2 Ks.

[TransMonk]

Mets 1st:

LoDuca rakes a double...Beltran walks...Delgado goes KABOOM!

Mets up 3-0 early.

[Guest KC]

Carlos is teaching us to do the mamba!

[Elster88]

TransMonk wrote: Pelfrey is wearing a mouth guard? Strange.

Maybe to keep from sticking out his tongue?

[TransMonk]

Apparently he has TMJ and his dentist wants him to wear it while he plays.

It's working as he get the Stros 1-2-3 in the 2nd with another K.

[TransMonk]

Astros get a run in the 3rd on a HBP, a hit and run that worked and a sac fly.

3-1 Good Guys moving to the bottom of 3.

[Elster88]

Gary: Last player to hit 3 grand slams in a month (the ML record) was Mike Piazza in 1998.

[Elster88]

Keith thinks the radar guns to gauge pitch speed read a little faster than they did in the 80's.

[TransMonk]

Mets leave 'em loaded in the 3rd as Valentin pops out.

[TransMonk]

Stros leave 'em loaded themselves in the top of the 4th.

[Guest KC]

My favorite umpire has dicked us twice
this weekend ...

[TransMonk]

Tie game.

Oswalt singles, Taveras doubles, Lamb singles.

Still no outs in the Astros 5th.

[TransMonk]

Berkman doubles. Stros now lead 4-3.

Pelfrey looked great his first time through the lineup, but his weakness is exposed the second and third times through. His changeup and curve are not hitting the strike zone. Probably going to be the knock on Mike for a while...until he can command those secondary pitches to compliment his heat, he's going to get beat the 2nd and 3rd time through batting orders.

[TransMonk]

Pelfrey out, Oliver in.

[TransMonk]

Stros add another on a single by Mookie's kid.

Final line on Pelfrey: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HBP

Houston up 5-3 as we go to the bottom of 5.

[Guest KC]

Re: Pelfrey ... Darling commented several times about his form, shoulders
here and there, needs to be more liquid and free. I'm paraphrasing but a) I
dig listening to Ron break down the young pitchers and sounds like some-
thing that can certainly be overcome - this guy's got good stuff.

It was too much to ask both rooks to come out and wow us in one series.
Gotta be happy ... let's get the runs back.

[TransMonk]

Mets 5th:

LoDuca doubles again, Delgado walks, Floyd singles.

5-4 Stros after 5.

[Guest KC]

Who da man?

Aaron da man ... strands 'stros on second and stird wis sno snouts!

Meaty part of the order coming up after Lazy Mary is sung and clapped to.

[TransMonk]

True dat...Heilman is back.

5-4 Houston at the stretch.

[Guest GYC]

Trade Heilman NOW.

[TransMonk]

Game's falling apart now.

Stros score 2 insurance runs on some bad defense...LoDuca throws one into centerfield trying to throw out a basestealer...Heilman doesn't hustle to first to make the play on a comebacker. Heilman leaves to a chorus of boos.

7-4 Houston.

[metirish]

That was terrible from Heilman, Gary said all that needed to be said.

[Guest KC]

Heilman was da man for about a half hour ... now lolligagger boo inducing
yuckyuck get this load of crap of my team NOW!!!!

[Guest Iubitul]

I hope Willie buries his ass for good - wants to start my ass....

[TransMonk]

Yeah...not good. However, the replay shows he beat the runner.

[Guest Iubitul]

TransMonk wrote: Yeah...not good. However, the replay shows he beat the runner.

doesn't matter - if he runs hard there's no contest.

[metirish]

Heilman should have just thrown the damn ball to first.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Did you notice Delgado tapping first base with his foot while Heilman was ambling over? I wonder if he was trying to decoy the runner into thinking he was already out and thereby slowing down? If so, that's nice quick thinking on Delgado's part.