Astros have their Mojo Working

I have been having an awesome time in Houston, and yes as Lisa pointed out - it has been opressively hot - but that brings into focus another great feature of Minute Maid - the roof and the air conditioning.  I am told that during the cooler months they open the roof (all 18 million pounds) during the 7th or 8th - unfortunately that has not happened while i have been around - however here is what has happened.

The third game of the Phillies series had Roger going for the sweep - and he pitched like he has all year - picking up his 9th win after allowing 2 runs over 7 innings.  In the post game arena it was revealed he was almost scratched because of back spasms - and yet he goes out and pitches like a genius against a lineup that can put some hurt on the opposition (Abreu, Utley and Burrell).  Another note about this game was that it was the first appearance of Brad Lidge for me - and can i tell you to atmosphere goes nuts when he comes to the mound.  I though the pop that Roger was getting was huge but its nothing like lidge.

So if your keeping track thats three astros games and three wins.

So lets move to Thursday night and the entrance of the Man who provided so many moments last October - my personal favourite was the homer of Tavarez and his eventual reaction when back in the dugout.  I felt kind of sorry for him to be honest - he really copped it from the announcement of the lineup to every time he stepped to the plate and even to every time he took a step towards a fly ball - but what i can say is that this is how much they would have cheered for him had he stayed.  Anyway - the stros are getting better production out of Willy Tavarez for minimum salary anyway. 

The atmosphere is absolutely incredible - unlike any other ballgame i have been to so far - even if many people are just there to boo Beltran.

On paper this is not a matchup that the Astros are supposed to win Pedro Martinez - one of the best pitchers in recent times - against an unknown rookie with 1 career win.  The prize - an equal share of the Wild Card lead after Washington's loss to Atlanta.  Zeke Astacio matched Pedro for 6 innings allowing just a first inning run that while called "earned" was possibly not.  There was sort of an uneasy feeling in the park being down 1-0 against pedro - given his previous performance (a 2 hit game back in June) - However that all changed when Everett sent a long drive (well long for Minute Maid) to the Crawford Boxes to tie the game up in the 5th inning.  All of a sudden - new ballgame.

Qualls comes in to start to 7th Inning facing Miguel Cairo - who promptly takes the lead back with a ball that cleared the yellow line by 8-10 inches.  But the Standing room only crowd did not give up but rather cheered louder and were, for the 2nd night in a row, rewarded with a Brad Ausmus squeeze bunt to tie the game at 2.

After 8 innings and 115 odd pitches pedro was spent - and in trots Roberto Hernandez from the Mets Bullpen.  First batter up is Orlando Palmiero who slaps a ball to right field - after an Everett Sacrifice up steps the 7th inning hero Brad Ausmus.  Who lines a ball in to the right centre field gap as the Astros win in Walk off Fashion for the 2nd time in 3 games.  Something that maybe not many people noticed - beltran was left holding the ball (kind of ironic) as astros streamed onto the field congratulating Orlando and Brad on delivering a 5th straight victory and 11th in 12 games - and a share of the Wild Card lead.

Astros are now 4 for 4 in games that i have attended.  I don't want to suggest that i am the reason - but theres something special going on here.   

The real key here is that these are the game that the Astros were not winning at the beginning of the year - and the games that they won last year.