Jonathan Sanchez no-hit the Astros through the first five innings of tonight’s game, but they eventually got to him. San Francisco took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but it wouldn’t hold up and Houston would come away with a 3-1 win in the opening game of the four-game series.
Sanchez retired Houston’s batters rather easily, allowing no hits in the first five innings, and then he fell apart in the sixth. The Astros broke up the no-hitter and put two runs on the board in the sixth inning that scored on a single by Ty Wigginton that gave them the lead. Sanchez left the game after seven solid innings in which he gave up two runs on five hits while striking out just two hitters. Wigginton would strike again in the eighth inning with a solo homer off Billy Sadler to give the Astros an extra insurance run.
The Giants offense was weak today, only putting up four hits that resulted in just one run. Ivan Ochoa scored on a single by Fred Lewis in the third inning after reaching base on a double that gave San Francisco a temporary lead. Rich Aurilia had the other two Giants hits, both were doubles, he also reached base on a walk. Aaron Rowand had some trouble seeing the ball today, he was hitless in four at-bats, all plate appearances resulted in strikeouts.
Tim Lincecum will try to send the Astros back down below the .500 mark in the second game of the series at 5:05 p.m. tomorrow. Astros ace Roy Oswalt is set to start for Houston in an attempt to build on their 59-59 record.
