The Houston Astros bullpen showed up once again, and once again, the results were not encouraging. Derek Lowe and Wandy Rodriguez traded zeros up until the seventh inning, when Brett Wallace’s opposite field home run untied the game. Houston had a few other opportunities to add to the lead but squandered a bases loaded opportunity in the eighth.
Rodriguez threw eight shutout innings, allowing just five hits and two walks, before turning the ball over to Mark Melancon in a 1-0 game. Melancon allowed a pair of hard-hit balls to third base and right field before pinch-hitter Brian McCann uncorked a two-out, two-strike solo homer to send the game to extra innings and get Lowe off the hook.
The Astros loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eleventh, but J.R. Towles grounded into a double play. Eric Hinske walked with one out in the eleventh, and then Brian McCann took Jeff Fulchino out of the ballpark for a walkoff home run.
The Astros will try again to pick up the pieces on Wednesday as they head straight to St. Louis for a two-game set with Mr. Shingles and the Cardinals.