SB Nation Houston - J.A. Happ Gives Up One Earned Run, Drives In Two In Astros Victoryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2011-04-11T04:53:31-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18627752011-04-11T04:53:31-05:002011-04-11T04:53:31-05:00Clint Barmes' Recovery From Broken Bone In Hand Going Well
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> shortstop <span>Clint Barmes</span>, who has been out since nearly the end of spring training with a broken bone in his hand after getting hit by a pitch, is looking like he’ll be able to come back in four weeks rather than six. According to Zachary Levine of The Houston Chronicle, Barmes <a href="http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2011/04/09/astros-notes-barmes-progressing-with-broken-hand/" target="new">was cleared to play catch</a> and did so on Saturday.</p>
<p>Barmes will likely take dry swings today, which will be the next step in his recovery process.</p>
<p>While he’s been out, <span>Angel Sanchez</span> has taken his starting role with the Astros, showing some good and some bad. Sanchez is hitting an unsustainable .364 with a stolen base through Sunday’s action, but he’s also already committed three errors in just nine games. He was given a very poor defensive score by the Fangraphs <span class="caps">UZR</span> method last season, and he certainly continues to look the part on the field.</p>
<p>The Astros would definitely benefit from Barmes returning to the lineup, and if he hits the four week target on the dot, then he’d be available for the series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> that starts April 26th.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/4/11/2103603/clint-barmes-recovery-from-broken-bone-in-hand-going-wellRivers McCown2011-04-10T17:35:57-05:002011-04-10T17:35:57-05:00Astros Crush Marlins 7-1 For First 2011 Home Win
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<p>Final Score: Houston 7, Florida 1</p>
<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Michael Bourn and Humberto Quintero had four of the Astros' six doubles while J.A. Happ went 7 2/3 innings in a solid outing, as Houston avoided a three-game sweep with a 7-1 win over the Florida Marlins.</p>
<p>Happ (1-1) gave up one run on four hits while striking out five batters for the Astros, who recorded just their second win in nine games. The starting pitcher also helped his own cause with his first-career two-hit and two-RBI game.</p>
<p>Hunter Pence finished 3-for-5 with a run batted in for Houston.</p>
<p>Logan Morrison knocked in the lone run for the Marlins, who had won the first two games in the series. Starting hurler Anibal Sanchez (0-1) was roughed up in 4 2/3 innings of work for 13 hits and six runs.</p>
<p>With the game tied at one, Houston used back-to-back doubles to take the lead in the fourth.</p>
<p>Brett Wallace started it with a bloop single over shortstop Donnie Murphy's head. Two batters later, Quintero doubled and Happ followed with a two-run double down the left field line to give the Astros their first lead of the game.</p>
<p>Houston then tacked on three runs in the next inning to take control.</p>
<p>Angel Sanchez started the frame with a single, moved to second on Pence's single and scored on Carlos Lee's grounder through the right side of the infield. Wallace grounded into a double play to score Pence and clear the bases.</p>
<p>Bill Hall, though, ripped a two-out triple to center and scored on Matt Downs' double into right to finish the inning.</p>
<p>The Astros got another run in the seventh when Quintero hit a deep ball into left-center that clipped off Chris Coghlan's glove. Hall scored from second before Quintero was tagged out while trying to stretch the hit into a triple.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Marlins couldn't get any offense going after starting the game with an Omar Infante one-out double and Morrison's line drive RBI single.</p>
<p>Houston got the run back during their half of first, which was ignited by Bourn's double. He moved to third on a Sanchez single and crossed home on Pence's liner to right field.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Florida pitcher Edward Mujica's first pitch in the seventh drilled Hall and he was ejected immediately by home plate umpire Jim Joyce. Hall took out shortstop Hanley Ramirez with a hard slide during Friday's game...Astros reliever Aneury Rodriguez was tossed after pegging Gaby Sanchez in the ninth...Bourn received his Gold Glove Award before the game. Bourn has won a Gold Glove in each of the last two seasons, making him the first Astros outfielder to win it in consecutive seasons since Cesar Cedeno won five straight from 1972-76...Happ is 5-1 in nine career starts at Minute Maid Park.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/4/10/2102801/astros-crush-marlins-7-1-for-first-2011-home-winHoustonDiehards2011-04-10T11:20:02-05:002011-04-10T11:20:02-05:00Astros Try For First Home Win Today Against Marlins
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<p>(Sports Network) - Right-hander Anibal Sanchez can pitch the Florida Marlins to a three-game road sweep today when they visit Minute Maid Park for the finale against the Houston Astros.</p>
<p>Florida's Greg Dobbs was a triple short of a cycle and batted in three runs as the Marlins came from behind to win, 7-5, on Saturday. Omar Infante and Logan Morrison each had two hits for Florida. while starting pitcher Javier Vazquez (1-1) got the win in six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits.</p>
<p>The win secured Florida's first series victory in Houston since 2004 and another victory this afternoon would give the Marlins their first ever three- game sweep on the road over the Astros.</p>
<p>Fernando Abad (1-1) was tagged with the loss. He didn't last an entire inning, allowing two runs on three hits during the seventh.</p>
<p>Sanchez, a 27-year-old Venezuelan, is unbeaten in four career starts against Houston, having won three decisions and posted a microscopic 0.70 earned run average in 25 2/3 innings.</p>
<p>He's allowed just 18 hits and two runs in those outings, walking eight batters and striking out 11 while allowing an opposition batting average of .202.</p>
<p>The veteran of 83 big-league appearances got a no-decision in his first mound start of 2011, scattering seven hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings of Florida's 3-2 win over Washington on April 5.</p>
<p>Sanchez was a 10-game winner as a rookie with the Marlins in 2006, then was limited to just 2, 2 and 4 wins in the next three seasons before bouncing back with 13 wins in 32 starts in 2010.</p>
<p>Taking the mound for the Astros will be lefty J.A. Happ, who was roughed up for seven hits and seven runs in four innings in an 8-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on April 5.</p>
<p>The 28-year-old product of Northwestern University was 12-game winner for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009 and began 2010 with them before heading to Houston in the deal that sent Roy Oswalt to Philadelphia.</p>
<p>Happ completed the season with five wins in nine decisions over 13 starts with the Astros and has a career mark of 19-10 in 61 career big-league appearances.</p>
<p>Happ is 1-1 with a 5.24 ERA in 22 1/3 innings against the Marlins in six appearances - three starts. He's walked six batters and struck out 20 while allowing a .279 opposition batting average.</p>
<p>Florida split its six meetings with the Astros.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/4/10/2102192/astros-try-to-salvage-a-win-in-disastrous-home-opening-series-withHoustonDiehards2011-04-09T21:35:17-05:002011-04-09T21:35:17-05:00Astros Falter Late, Dobbs Nearly Hits For Cycle As Houston Falls To 1-7
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<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) – <span>Greg Dobbs</span> was a triple short of a cycle and batted in three runs as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins">Florida Marlins</a> came from behind to win, 7-5, against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> in a game that saw 11 doubles.</p>
<p><span>Omar Infante</span> and <span>Logan Morrison</span> each had two hits for Florida, which have taken the first two of the three-game set. Starting pitcher <span>Javier Vazquez</span> (1-1) got the win in six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits.</p>
<p><span>Hunter Pence</span> had two hits and two <span class="caps">RBI</span> for the Astros, who fall to 1-7 on the young season.</p>
<p><span>Fernando Abad</span> (1-1) was tagged with the loss. He didn’t even last an entire inning, allowing two runs on three hits during the seventh.<br>
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<p>The Astros will try to salvage a win from the Marlins—and get their first win at home on the season—tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM CT. <span>J.A. Happ</span> (0-1, 15.75 <span class="caps">ERA</span>) will try to rebound from a rough first start in Cincinnati and the Marlins will throw <span>Anibal Sanchez</span> (0-0, 3.18) as they look for the sweep.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/4/9/2101537/astros-falter-late-dobbs-nearly-hits-for-cycle-as-houston-falls-to-1-7Rivers McCown2011-04-09T10:33:05-05:002011-04-09T10:33:05-05:00Astros Hope To Stop The Bleeding, Turn To Bud Norris Tonight Against Marlins
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<p>(Sports Network) - Veteran right-hander Javier Vazquez makes his second start in a Florida uniform tonight when the Marlins continue a three-game weekend series with the host Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.</p>
<p>Vazquez, who's pitched for Montreal, the New York Yankees (twice), Arizona, the Chicago White Sox and Atlanta in a 13-year major-league career, joined the Marlins in the offseason when he signed a one-year, $7 million free-agent contract.</p>
<p>The 34-year-old won 15 games for the Braves in 2009 and went 10-10 in 31 appearances last season in his second stint with the Yankees.</p>
<p>He began his tenure with the Marlins on a sour note on April 3, allowing six hits and seven runs - with five walks - in just 2 1/3 innings of a 9-2 loss in Miami.</p>
<p>He's made 14 lifetime starts against the Astros and is 4-5 with a 4.37 earned run average in 90 2/3 innings with 24 walks and 80 strikeouts.</p>
<p>Houston sends 26-year-old righty Bud Norris to the mound, also for his second start of 2011.</p>
<p>In his season debut on April 3 at Philadelphia, Norris was touched for six hits and five runs in four innings of a 7-3 loss while walking one and striking out seven along the way.</p>
<p>The California native was 6-3 in 11 starts in his initial trip to the majors in 2009, then went 9-10 in 27 starts as a full-timer last season.</p>
<p>He's faced Florida three times in 39 career outings, going 1-1 with a 6.89 ERA across 15 2/3 innings while walking four batters and striking out 15.</p>
<p>In Friday's series opener, Ricky Nolasco worked eight innings and Chris Coghlan's ninth-inning solo home run was the difference as Florida got past Houston, 4-3.</p>
<p>Coghlan knocked in two runs, while Logan Morrison added three hits and an RBI for the Marlins, who have won three of four and overcame the loss of shortstop Hanley Ramirez to a left leg contusion.</p>
<p>Nolasco (1-0) allowed eight hits and two runs with two strikeouts and Leo Nunez worked around a Brett Wallace homer in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his second save.</p>
<p>Wallace went 3-for-4 and scored twice for the Astros, who couldn't come up with a victory in their home opener.</p>
<p>Wilton Lopez (0-1) took the loss and blown save, charged with two runs and four hits in the eighth inning.</p>
<p>Florida split its six meetings with the Astros.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/4/9/2100524/astros-hope-to-stop-the-bleeding-turn-to-bud-norris-tonight-againstHoustonDiehards2011-04-08T22:29:05-05:002011-04-08T22:29:05-05:00Chris Coghlan's 9th Inning Blast Proves To Be Difference, Astros Lose 4-3
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<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) – <span>Ricky Nolasco</span> worked eight innings and <span>Chris Coghlan</span>’s ninth-inning solo home run was the difference as Florida got past Houston, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.</p>
<p>Coghlan knocked in two runs, while <span>Logan Morrison</span> added three hits and an <span class="caps">RBI</span> for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins" class="sbn-auto-link">Marlins</a>, who have won three of four and overcame the loss of shortstop <span>Hanley Ramirez</span> to a left-leg contusion.</p>
<p>Nolasco (1-0) allowed eight hits and two runs with two strikeouts and <span>Leo Nunez</span> worked around a <span>Brett Wallace</span> homer in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his second save.</p>
<p>Wallace went 3-for-4 and scored twice for the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a>, who couldn’t come up with a victory in their home opener.</p>
<p><span>Wilton Lopez</span> (0-1) took the loss and blown save, charged with two runs and four hits in the eighth inning.</p>
<p>Wallace doubled with one down in the seventh and <span>Chris Johnson</span> singled him home for a 2-1 Houston edge. After <span>Bill Hall</span> singled, his takeout slide at second on a <span>J.R. Towles</span> grounder caused Ramirez to writhe on the ground in pain for several minutes before being escorted from the game by team personnel.</p>
<p>The Marlins later said Ramirez was day-to-day.</p>
<p>It fired up the visitors, who forged ahead in the eighth on Morrison’s <span class="caps">RBI</span> double and <span>Donnie Murphy</span>’s run-producing infield single.</p>
<p>Coghlan’s two-out solo blast in the ninth gave the Fish a two-run edge, but Wallace greeted Nunez with a homer to make it 4-3. Johnson lined out then Hall fanned, but Towles singled. <span>Jason Bourgeois</span>, pinch-running for Towles, was caught stealing second to end the game.</p>
<p>Towles’ leadoff homer in the third put the Astros on the board, and the Marlins finally countered in the seventh on Coghlan’s fielder’s choice <span class="caps">RBI</span>.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Florida has taken four of the last seven meetings with Houston…Towles went 3-for-4…Gaby Sanchez collected three hits and scored once for the Marlins.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/4/8/2100024/chris-coghlans-9th-inning-blast-proves-to-be-difference-stros-lose-4-3Alex Cohn2011-04-08T20:42:00-05:002011-04-08T20:42:00-05:00Hanley Ramirez Leaves Game With Leg Injury
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<p>Star Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez had to leave Friday’s game against the Astros in the seventh inning with an injury to his leg. He was the victim of a Bill Hall slide to break up a double play, and had to be carried off the field.</p>
<p>It was announced both on TV and by the Houston Chronicle’s Zachary Levine that <a href="http://twitter.com/zacharylevine/statuses/56530044310392832" target="new">the injury is just a knee contusion</a>. If so, the Marlins really were fortunate to escape, because that looked much worse on the field. Juan Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun Sentinel says that <a href="http://twitter.com/JCRMarlinsbeat" target="new">Ramirez will be day-to-day</a>.</p>
<p>Should Ramirez miss any games, the Marlins would likely use Donnie Murphy at shortstop. They have two more games with the Astros in Houston before heading out to Atlanta to start a three game series against the Braves. It sure would be fortunate for the Astros if Ramirez had to miss the next couple of games before Florida left.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/4/8/2099840/hanley-ramirez-leaves-game-with-leg-injuryRivers McCown2011-04-08T15:05:22-05:002011-04-08T15:05:22-05:00Michael Bourn To Return To The Lineup
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<p>Astros center fielder Michael Bourn will rejoin the lineup after getting a day off yesterday with tightness in his groin. He’ll be back in the leadoff spot as the Astros take on the Marlins in Houston’s home opener.</p>
<p>Groin injuries can be long-term things, so don’t be completely surprised if Bourn cuts down on his base stealing a bit until it completely heals. It’s clear that he wants to be out there. If you’re considering him in a fantasy league, you may want to see just how he runs before you make the move to start him again.</p>
<p>Jason Bourgeois filled in for Bourn yesterday afternoon and went 1-5 with a run and three strikeouts. The Astros are 1-5 after running into two of last year’s NL playoff teams on the road in their first two series of the year: the Phillies and the Reds. The Marlins should be a much fairer test.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/4/8/2099251/michael-bourn-to-return-to-the-lineupRivers McCown