Myers: Nice threads, nice win
(c) Associated Press
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Face it. The Astros have an atrocious record in flashback uniforms or novelty caps and they aren't much better against Kyle Lohse, whose 2.81 ERA against Houston coming into Friday's contest was his best against any big league opponent.
So the Astros must really be living right when they can beat Lohse and the first-place Cardinals, 5-4, dressed in 1960s retro uniforms (which would be my choice to return as Astros regular attire in 2013, Jim Crane). It was the home-loving Astros' fourth straight win to push their season record within two games of .500.
Although it was only the bottom of the second, Jose Altuve struck what turned out to be the game-winning three-run homer into the Crawfords for a 5-2 lead that stood up through Lucas Harrell and a quartet of Houston relievers.
Mighty Mouse also singled and scored in the two-run first to give him two hits, two runs and three RBIs on the evening. Carlos Lee and Jed Lowrie also had two hits each, among them run-producing singles.
The Redbirds did not have Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman or former Astro Carlos Beltran in the lineup but they still pecked away at Harrell for four runs on seven hits, aided by an error by Chris Johnson that plated their first run and a balk that plated their second.
But after Wesley Wright gave up a hit in the sixth, Wilton Lopez, Fernando Rodriguez and Brett Myers tossed the final three innings of hitless relief with Myers notching his seventh save.
The low-power Astros have now homered in five straight games with three-run shots coming in the last three contests (none of these came from Lee or J.D. Martinez, the two acknowledged power sources in the lineup).
They will try to stretch the winning streak to five on Saturday when Bud Norris (1-1) squares off against Jaime Garcia (2-1) in a 6:05 Central Cinco de Mayo duel. There are special events planned around the game.
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