Astros Sweep another Division Rival

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Created on Thursday, 13 May 2010 22:10

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 May 2013 07:51

Written by Travis Pulver

The Houston Astros got just such a chance when looked to get their second series sweep of the season against the division leading St. Louis Cardinals. The first one came against their fellow cellar dweller, the Pittsburgh Pirates (April 23-25).

Bud Norris showed why he has a bright future as a Major League pitcher; it helps that he also seems to have the Cardinals number. In his short career, the young pitcher is 8-7 with a 5.1 ERA; against the Cardinal he is 4-0 with a .35 ERA.

Cardinal hitters have only managed one earned run over 28 innings against Norris.

Norris had undergone some rather bad luck in his most recent starts. He had a streak of three losses going into the game against the Cardinals and had given up 16 earned runs over 13 2/3 innings.

With one of the stronger pitchers in the league taking the mound against him in Chris Carpenter, it was Norris that appeared to be the veteran ace today. Norris would last 8 innings, striking out 8, giving up only one run on six hits before giving the game over to the Astros reliever, Matt Lindstrom.

All of Houston’s offense came in the third inning. Chaos almost ensued when Chris Carpenter and Carlos Lee had some words; both teams emptied their benches onto the field. Nothing happened and the game continued.

Lance Berkman continued his offensive surge with three hits during the game; his single in the third knocked in the first run. A three run homer by Hunter Pence finished the scoring for the Astros.

Chris Carpenter would throw a pretty good game as well with the exception of the 4-run fourth inning. He would go 8 innings, like Norris, with 5 strikeouts and 3 walks. The Cardinals would score one run in the seventh, ending Norris’s streak of scoreless innings against the Cardinals at 24. However, that would be the only run the Cardinals would generate all day.

The loss made it seven for the last nine for the Cardinals, 3 at the hands of the Astros. However, the Cardinals still lead the National League Central Division with a 20-15 record, a half game over the Cincinnati Reds. Houston sits at 13-21, last in the division, a game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates and 6 ½ behind the division leading Cardinals.