Wandy: Ay-yi-yi
(c) Associated Press
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Carlos Zambrano had his own sort of flashback on Monday. He reverted back to the dominant righthander that so menaced opponents when he was with the Cubs this past decade instead of the erratic and sometimes manic headache that caused the Cubs to unload him on the Miami Marlins.
Zambrano spun a three-hit complete-game shutout, using 109 pitches. He walked one, struck out nine and plunked two. All the Houston hits were singles (by Travis Buck, Jose Altuve and Brian Bogusevic) and three runners were erased on double plays.
Had the Marlins been at home, they would have delighted fans by setting off the giant water sprinkler in center three times. All their runs came by the long ball. Giancarlo Stanton (whom you may remember as Mike Stanton) hit a two-run shot off Wandy Rodriguez in the fourth. John Buck and Hanley Ramirez later took Rodriguez deep with solo shots.
Other than the home runs, it wasn't a bad outing for Wandy. He pitched eight innings, allowing six hits and walking two. It was his misfortune to do so on a night where the Marlins had vintage Z.
Houston will call up Aneury Rodriguez on Tuesday from Oklahoma City to be the fifth starter in a duel with Anibal Sanchez (2-0) at 7:05 Central. The Astros will need to send somebody down, probably a reliever, before the game.
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