SB Nation Houston - Sad Sack Astros Lose 7-4 To Mets, Drop To NL-Worst 15-25https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2011-05-15T18:54:00-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19336652011-05-15T18:54:00-05:002011-05-15T18:54:00-05:00Astros Lose Home Series To Mets, Prove They Are Undoubtedly The Worst Team In NL
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31pUoLi4JWTyFcdN7Qz5cKCdRMg=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828119/large_houston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Final Score: New York 7, Houston 4</p>
<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Justin Turner hit a three-run homer and knocked in a career-high five runs, as the New York Mets defeated the Astros, 7-4, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.</p>
<p>Jason Pridie added a run-scoring single and stole home for the Mets, who have taken three straight series and have won seven of 10 games overall.</p>
<p>"He loves to play. Here's his chance. He has his opportunity and he's making the most of it," Mets manager Terry Collins said about Turner.</p>
<p>Chris Capuano (3-4) tossed five effective innings to pick up the win and snap a three-start losing streak. The left-hander yielded six hits, two runs, struck out six and walked three. Francisco Rodriguez locked the game down with a perfect ninth to earn his 12th save of the season.</p>
<p>Clint Barmes had a solo homer, while Jason Michaels doubled twice and drove in a run for Houston, which has dropped eight of its last 11 contests.</p>
<p>Aneury Rodriguez (0-2), making his third big-league start, was touched for seven runs -- five earned -- on five hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts in five-plus frames.</p>
<p>Chris Johnson's RBI single in the second and Michaels' run-scoring double off the center-field fence in the fourth gave Houston the early lead, before the Mets answered with four in the fifth.</p>
<p>Jason Bay reached on an error leading off and Daniel Murphy singled for New York's first hit of the game. Turner then brought in both with a double down the left-field line and Pridie followed with an RBI single.</p>
<p>Later in the inning, with runners on the corners and two away, Jose Reyes stole second base and as J.R. Towles' throw went down to second, Pridie swiped home to put the Mets in front 4-2.</p>
<p>Bay singled and Murphy walked to start the sixth and both came around to score on Turner's blast to left -- his first career homer. Barmes got one back for Houston in the home half on a solo shot to make it 7-3.</p>
<p>Downs' RBI double to center in the eighth off Jason Isringhausen drew the Astros a run closer, but it could have been more. With runners still on second and third, and one out, the veteran right-hander beared down to retire Michael Bourn on a pop up and Towles on a fly ball.</p>
<p>Francisco Rodriguez worked a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to close out the victory.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Houston took two of three when these teams met at Citi Field in late April...Capuano improved to 6-4 in 14 lifetime games -- 11 starts -- against the Astros...Houston stranded 10 runners on base, while New York left only three.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/5/15/2172696/astros-lose-home-series-to-mets-prove-they-are-undoubtedly-the-worstHoustonDiehards2011-05-15T10:24:07-05:002011-05-15T10:24:07-05:00Astros Take On Mets In Final Game Of Homestand
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31pUoLi4JWTyFcdN7Qz5cKCdRMg=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828119/large_houston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>(Sports Network) - The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> will try to win the season series from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> this afternoon when the two teams play the rubber match of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.</p>
<p>Houston took two of three from the Mets in April, but New York answered with a stunning come-from-behind win in Friday's opener of this series. The Astros responded on Saturday, though, as Carlos Lee recorded the 2,000th hit of his career in the first inning and added a solo home run later in the game to help Houston take a 7-3 win.</p>
<p>"Anytime you accomplish something, it's always better when you win. You can celebrate and you can have fun. It's a lot easier," said Lee about his milestone.</p>
<p><span>Bill Hall</span> added a solo home run and two RBI while <span>Matt Downs</span> also hit a solo home run for the Astros, who won for only the second time in their last seven games. <span>J.A. Happ</span> (3-4) went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts to get the win.</p>
<p><span>Jose Reyes</span> had an RBI and a run scored, <span>Daniel Murphy</span> hit a solo home run and <span>Justin Turner</span> drove in the other run for the Mets, who had a three-game winning streak stopped. <span>R.A. Dickey</span> (1-5) was tagged for six runs on 11 hits in just 5 1/3 innings for the loss.</p>
<p>Houston will pin its hopes today on 23-year-old righty <span>Aneury Rodriguez</span>, who will be making his third big league start. After getting a no-decision despite five scoreless innings of one-hit ball against Cincinnati in his first start, Rodriguez was shelled by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> on Monday for five runs in five innings and got the loss.</p>
<p>"They weren't letting him get ahead," Houston manager <span>Brad Mills</span> said. "That was one of the biggest things last week was that he was getting ahead. They made a comment that he was [effectively wild in his last start] there and he was able to get himself back in the count with some pretty good pitches. That was probably the biggest thing. There were some pitches that kind of leaked back over the plate on him tonight that they were able to get the barrel of the bat on."</p>
<p>Rodriguez gave up three unearned runs in a two-inning relief stint against the Mets earlier in the year.</p>
<p>Getting the call for the Mets this afternoon will be lefty <span>Chris Capuano</span>, who has lost his last three starts. Capuano, though, has been the victim of poor run support his last two outings, as the Mets have produced just one run for him.</p>
<p>Capuano's latest setback came on Monday in Colorado, as he allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings, dropping him to 2-4 on the year to go along with a 4.93 ERA. Capuano didn't help his cause any at the plate, striking out three times, including once with the bases loaded.</p>
<p>"We work on that stuff," Capuano said. "As a pitching staff, we don't want to be an automatic out up there. When we've got runners on base with a chance to help ourselves, we should at least be able to put the ball in play."</p>
<p>Capuano's last win came against the Astros back on April 21 and he is 5-4 lifetime against them with a 3.32 ERA in 13 games (10 starts).</p>
<p>Houston took two of three when these teams met at Citi Field in late April.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/5/15/2171989/astros-take-on-mets-in-final-game-of-homestandHoustonDiehards2011-05-15T00:55:23-05:002011-05-15T00:55:23-05:00Astros Power Past Mets 7-3, Carlos Lee Collects 2000th Career Hit
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31pUoLi4JWTyFcdN7Qz5cKCdRMg=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828119/large_houston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Carlos Lee recorded the 2,000th hit of his career in the first inning and added a solo home run later in the game to help Houston take a 7-3 win over New York in the middle portion of a three-game set.</p>
<p>Lee came into the game needing just one hit to reach the plateau and his first inning single accomplished that.</p>
<p>"Anytime you accomplish something, it's always better when you win. You can celebrate and you can have fun. It's a lot easier," said Lee about his milestone.</p>
<p><span>Bill Hall</span> added a solo home run and two RBI while <span>Matt Downs</span> also hit a solo home run for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>, who had dropped five of six. <span>J.A. Happ</span> (3-4) went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts to get the win.</p>
<p><span>Jose Reyes</span> had an RBI and a run score, <span>Daniel Murphy</span> hit a solo home run and <span>Justin Turner</span> drove in the other run for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>, who had won three straight coming into the contest. <span>R.A. Dickey</span> (1-5) was tagged for six runs on 11 hits in just 5 1/3 innings for the loss.</p>
<p>Houston jumped on top with a four-run first inning. <span>Michael Bourn</span> led off with a triple and came home when <span>Clint Barmes</span> followed with a ground out. Back-to- back singles by <span>Hunter Pence</span> and Lee was followed by an RBI double from <span>Brett Wallace</span>. A single from <span>Chris Johnson</span> scored another run and Hall singled in another for a 4-0 lead.</p>
<p>The Mets got one back in the third as Reyes led off with a double and came home on a Turner single to make it a 4-1 game.</p>
<p>A leadoff homer from Murphy in the fourth made it a two-run game, but the Astros added to their lead in the sixth.</p>
<p>Hall led off the frame with a shot to right for his second homer of the season. Two batters later, Downs knocked a pinch-hit home run for a 6-2 advantage.</p>
<p>"When that six inning came, Bill [Hall] got a pitch up and away that he hit a home run on, and then another two-strike home run on a change-up down that was a pretty good pitch...You just have to fight," said Dickey.</p>
<p>The seventh inning see Lee club a leadoff home run for hit No. 2,001 and a 7-2 lead.</p>
<p>An RBI single from Reyes in the ninth accounted for the final score.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Happ went 1-for-2 in the game to raise his batting average to .462 on the season...Houston has won three of five from New York this season...Since winning his first start of the season, Dickey is 0-5 in his past eight starts and saw his earned run average move to 5.08 on the season.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/5/15/2171752/astros-power-past-mets-7-3-carlos-lee-collects-2000th-career-hitHoustonDiehards2011-05-14T11:17:07-05:002011-05-14T11:17:07-05:00Astros Take On Mets Knuckleballer Dickey After Yet Another Meltdown Loss
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31pUoLi4JWTyFcdN7Qz5cKCdRMg=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828119/large_houston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>(Sports Network) - <span>R.A. Dickey</span> tries to avoid a fifth straight loss this afternoon when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> continue their three-game series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> at Minute Maid Park.</p>
<p>Dickey won his first start of the year, but the knuckleballer has since gone 0-4 and was beaten by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> his last time out. Dickey gave up four runs (three earned) and a season-high 10 hits in seven innings of that one.</p>
<p>"Today, I think I gave up nine singles and a home run late in the game," said Dickey, who's pitched to a 4.50 earned run average on the season. "Against San Francisco last outing, same thing ... I have to always weigh the ways I'm giving up runs, and I can't be too disappointed. I'm confident, having been on the other side of the coin, that things are going to turn."</p>
<p>Dickey lost to the Astros on April 20 and is 1-1 lifetime against them with a 2.49 ERA in five games, three of which have been starts.</p>
<p>Houston, meanwhile, will counter with lefty <span>J.A. Happ</span>, who is 2-4 with a 5.75 ERA. Happ did not get a decision on Sunday in Pittsburgh, as he surrendered two runs and six hits in six innings. He also walked four batters in his team's 5-4 loss.</p>
<p>"I felt like I was making good pitches," Happ said. "I just definitely tried to battle the best I could. That's all you can do."</p>
<p>Happ was hit hard by the Mets earlier in the year, allowing six runs in just 4 2/3 innings and is 1-2 in seven games (five starts) against them with a 5.17 ERA in his young career.</p>
<p>The Astros will be trying to bounce back tonight after a stunning loss in Friday's opener, as <span>Fernando Martinez</span> and <span>David Wright</span> clubbed two- run homers in the eighth inning to help New York rally for a 6-4 win. <span>Jason Bay</span> also went deep for the Mets, who scored all their runs from the seventh inning on to win for the sixth time in eight tries.</p>
<p>Houston, which had a pair of runners thrown out at the plate, suffered its seventh loss in nine contests. The NL-worst Astros also left nine men on base.</p>
<p>"It wasn't just one thing," <span>Michael Bourn</span> said of the loss. "You can go back and it could be anything. Mistakes happen."</p>
<p>On the milestone watch, Houston outfielder Carlos Lee is one hit shy of 2,000 for his career. He was 2-for-4 in Friday's loss and extended his hit streak to seven games.</p>
<p>Houston took two of three when these teams met at Citi Field in late April.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/5/14/2170882/astros-take-on-mets-knuckleballer-dickey-after-yet-another-meltdownHoustonDiehards2011-05-13T22:22:44-05:002011-05-13T22:22:44-05:00Late Game Homeruns From Bay, Wright, And Martinez Bury Astros
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31pUoLi4JWTyFcdN7Qz5cKCdRMg=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828119/large_houston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) – <span>Fernando Martinez</span> and <span>David Wright</span> clubbed two- run homers in the eighth inning as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> rallied for a 6-4 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>.</p>
<p><span>Jason Bay</span> also went deep for the Mets, who scored all their runs from the seventh inning on to win for the sixth time in eight tries.</p>
<p>The Astros, who had a pair of runners thrown out at the plate, suffered their seventh loss in nine contests.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/5/13/2170387/late-game-homeruns-from-bay-wright-and-martinez-bury-astrosAlex Cohn2011-05-13T13:21:41-05:002011-05-13T13:21:41-05:00Astros Play Host Against Last-Place Mets
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/31pUoLi4JWTyFcdN7Qz5cKCdRMg=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828119/large_houston.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial; line-height: normal;"> </span></p>
<p>(Sports Network) - <span>Carlos Beltran</span> tries to follow up one of the best days of his career this evening when the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Mets</a> play the first of three games against the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Astros</a> at Minute Maid Park.</p>
<p>Beltran hit three two-run home runs to help New York take a 9-5 win over the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Colorado Rockies</a> on Thursday in the rubber match of a three-game series at Coors Field.</p>
<p>"Being able to do something like this, I feel like a little kid," said Beltran. "Honestly. I never smile a lot, but I was smiling."</p>
<p>Beltran became the eighth Met in club history to have a three-homer game, hitting them from both sides of the plate to help the Mets win for a fifth time in the past seven games.</p>
<p>"What a day he had," said <span>Willie Harris</span>, who was on base for each of Beltran's homers in the first, seventh and ninth innings.</p>
<p><span>Jose Reyes</span> hit a two-run single while <span>Jon Niese</span> (2-4) got the win as he was charged with five runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.</p>
<p><span>Dillon Gee</span> gets the call tonight in place of the injured Chris Young, who is likely done for the season with a shoulder injury. Gee started on Saturday against the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> and pitched well, but did not get a decision, as he allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 frames.</p>
<p>Gee, who has won two of his three starts this season, has never faced the Astros.</p>
<p>Houston, meanwhile, will be trying to make it two wins in a row tonight after salvaging the finale of its three-game set with the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Reds</a> on Wednesday. <span>Hunter Pence</span> doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Astros to a 4-3 victory.</p>
<p><span>J.R. Towles</span> drew a one-out walk off Cincinnati's <span>Mike Leake</span> (3-2) and Pence followed by lining a double into the right-field corner. Pence enters tonight's tilt with a 15-game hitting streak.</p>
<p><span>Michael Bourn</span> hit a two-run single for the Astros, who snapped their losing streak at four games. <span>Mark Melancon</span> (3-1) earned the win after recording three groundouts in the top of the ninth.</p>
<p>Hoping to keep the momentum rolling for Houston tonight will be right-hander <span>Bud Norris</span>, who is 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA. Norris was charged with the loss on Saturday in Pittsburgh, as he allowed three runs and seven hits and struck out nine in seven innings. He has fanned 20 batters in his last two starts.</p>
<p>Norris did not get a decision against the Mets back on April 20 and is 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA in three starts against them.</p>
<p>Houston took two of three when these teams met at Citi Field in late April.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/5/13/2335117/astros-play-host-against-last-place-metsAlex Cohn