[And1pg2]

April 10th, Game One of Three Vs. St. Louis
Russ Ortiz (N/A) Vs. Joel Pineiro (N/A)

Top First: Michael Bourn, digs in to lead off and he continues to make Astro fans wish he was never born (Kidding of course) as he strikes out for the fifth time in thirteen at bats. Matsui and Berkman decide striking out is great as well, we go down 1-2-3 K!

Bottom First: Nothing exciting going on for St. Louis either as 3 ground outs on eleven pitches ends their half of the first.

Top Second: Carlos Lee, continues to impress lowering his batting average to .083 on the season. As, Lee heads to the dugout cheering because his batting average keeps getting lower and lower, Lance Berkman reminds him the higher the better for batting average, citing his .143 average on the year.. Hunter Pence (Underpants, if said fast) and Geoff Blum make it 5 of 6 for Pineiro as he strikes them out on 7 pitches.

Bottom Second: Rick Ankiel leads off with a single, that anyone other than the 300 pound left fielder that we have would of caught. Ryan Ludwick, then singles to center making it first and second with 1 out. Ortiz, manages to get the ground out he needs but Geoff BUM, I mean Blum, can only get one as his throw to second was wide, making it first and third with 2 outs. No harm done, Ortiz gets another groundball to Berkman to end the threat.

Top Third: Fahey, fits perfect with the team as he goes down looking, as does J.R. Towles. Figures, our first hit would come off the bat of Russ Ortiz, a 2 out Double. Bourn, then singles but with the pitcher running no runs are scored, leaving it up to Kaz, but he flies out.

Bottom Third: Russ Ortiz makes quick work of Joel Pineiro, Colby Rasmus and Skip Schumaker with 2 ground outs and a fly out to left.

Top Fourth: Berkman and "El Caballo", continue to compete for worst batting average. Lee, continues to suck more with his .077 batting average, as he flies out to the left, on a ball he would have never been able to get to as it went 2 feet to the left of the left fielder, Ludwick.

Bottom Fourth: Another three up, 3 down inning for Russ Ortiz.

Top Fifth: Blum, leads the inning off with a single to left, his first of the season. Nothing comes of it though, as we can't get a damn single with anyone when we need it!

Bottom Fifth: Another quick inning as St. Louis only manages a single and three ground outs.

Top Sixth: I wonder when this team will collect it's first homerun? The furthest ball hit this inning was pop up to short from Kaz Matsui.

Bottom Sixth: Inning starts with another ground out to short by Colby Ramus, then a walk to Skip, bring up Albert. I'm going to take a guess that he tags a 1 out bomb. Hmm he struck out and is 0-3 today, maybe it is our day?? And then I spoke to early as a walk to Ankiel and a Three Run Homerun by Khalil Greene makes it 3-0, Cardinals after 6.

Top Seventh: We have nine outs left, lets see how fast we can get them. Three ground outs that inning, including another one from Carlos Lee, wow does he suck or what?

Bottom Seventh: We start to get the bullpen going as Tim Byrdak and Doug Brocail begin to loosen. Neither are needed that inning as Russ Ortiz, continues to cruise.

Top Eighth: After two outs in the inning, Ortiz, is lifted for pinch hitter Darin Erstad. All he can do is strike out though..

Bottom eighth: Tim Byrdak, makes his season debut. He promptly gives up a leadoff double to Colby Rasmus. Well we know Byrdak sucks as he gives up an RBI Single to Skip Schumaker. We quickly remove him from the game and bring in Doug Brocail.He cleans things up and now we need 4 runs in the top half of the ninth, highly doubt that one..

Top Ninth: We don't score anything and Berkman continues to suck mightily at the dish.

Season Records: Astros, (1-3) Cardinals, (2-3)

Astro's Batting Stats:
Michael Bourn, 1-4, K
Geoff Blum, 1-3, K
Russ Ortiz, 1-2, 2B

Astro's Pitching Stats:
Russ Ortiz, (0-1), 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K's
Tim Byrdak, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER
Doug Brocail, 1 IP

Player of the Game: Joel Pineiro, 9 IP, 3 H, 8 K's