After being tied at three for much of the game, the Astros were able to take advantage of a leadoff walk in the seventh inning and added two more runs on a solo homerun in the eighth inning to defeat the Giants 6-3. Giants batters struggled to perform in the twelve clutch situations they were given, going only one-for-twelve with runners in scoring postion. Half of their runners left on base were stranded at third.
Pat Misch got off on the wrong foot, allowing three runs in the first inning, two of which came on a Lance Berkman homer. After the first inning Misch settled down, pitching five scoreless innings and striking out six Astros hitters. Jack Taschner pitched for two-thirds of an inning, allowing a leadoff walk in the seventh that would eventually score to give Houston the lead. Billy Sadler was required to get the Giants out of the seventh inning and pitched into the eighth. He gave up another two-run shot to Brad Ausmus in the eighth before Vinnie Chulk finished off the inning. Keiichi Yabu pitched a perfect ninth inning to keep the Giants within three runs, but they were unable to produce Astros closer Jose Valverde.
Missed opportunities were the story of the Giants offense tonight. They were able to get fourteen runners on base, but eleven were left there. After falling behind 3-0, the Giants bounced back in the second inning with a three-run inning of their own, a two-run homer by centerfielder Aaron Rowand this time brought the Giants closer. First baseman John Bowker followed him with a single, and then scored on a double by third baseman Jose Castillo. The third inning was all the scoring the Giants would get in this game. Second baseman Ray Durham looked to have something going when he led off the fifth inning with a single, but tried stretching it into a double and was thrown out, ending any threat.
If Tim Lincecum can keep pitching the way he has this season, the Giants should come away with a series split on Thursday. He will be opposed by Astros starter Chris Sampson at 12:45 p.m. In other related Giants news, managing general partner Peter Magowan may be stepping down, leaving the organization in somebody else’s hands.
