The White Sox prevailed in a game that didn't seem to be as close as it was. Joe Crede and Bobby Jenks have the early lead in our POTG poll, I thought Contreras was only average, while Neal Cotts was outstanding.
Some random thoughts:
The Sox had ten hits and received five free passes, and left nine men on base. the Astros had seven hits and no walks, but were hit three times, leaving six on base. Astros pitchers threw 169 pitches over eight innings, or 21 per inning. Sox pitchers threw 112 pitches over nine innings, or just over 12 per inning. Some of the differential is due to Clemens being unable to put hitters away, and Rodriquez being a bit wild, but you can see through the pitch totals that the Sox hitters were more patient last night.
Clemens didn't have it from the start yesterday. I have not seen much second guessing of Phil Garner today but I question the decision to start Clemens in game 1. Clemens was not in top form in his last start in the division series. In that start his velocity was down, as it was yesterday, and he only recorded one strikeout. In retrospect, Clemens should have been held back to at least game three and Backe could have started in Chicago. Either Roger misrepresented his status to go, or the Astros brass let sentimentality get in the way of their decision making, but I cannot believe that the Astros would let Clemens start if they didn't think he was in better shape than his last start.
Clemens injury puts the Astros in a bind for game five, their choices to start are Wandy Rodriguez or Ezequiel Astacio. Rodriguez had a 5.53 ERA in 22 starts this year, and Astacio had a 5.67 ERA in 14 starts. Neither choice inspires confidence.
Neal Cotts did an outstanding job in the eighth inning when it was still a one run game. He did allow a Berkman single to put runners on first and third with no-one out, but his strikeouts of Ensberg and Lamb were key to keeping the Sox ahead. Cotts throws about 91-92 but he must hide the ball well as the hitters seemed to be late on their swings.
I watched the Sportsnet feed last night, which showed the international broadcast with Dave O'Brien and Rick Sutcliffe, I am suffering from over-exposure to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Which one did you watch?
I have to give the edge tonight to the Sox, Buehrle was outstanding in his last start but got downplayed due to the Pierzynski incident. Pettitte allowed ten baserunners in 6.1 innings in his last start on Monday. Although Houston lost the game last night I don't think they will be down coming into tonight's game. The Astro hitters hit some hard shots that were turned into outs, if one of those had gone through it could have been a different game. Who do you think will win tonight?
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