One hit is a good hit

Edinson Volquez ended the Astros' domination against Cincinnati at the Great American Ball Park. Volquez threw a one-hitter. Its games like that, that remind me of Carlos Zambrino's NO-Hitter, remember that? me too. He gave up nothing but Miguel Tejada's first-inning double off the wall, He sat down 17 straight. Although Houston has won 16 of its last 18 in Cincinnati, last nights game made fans change the channel to swine flu coverage on Fox News. My National Leauge suprise player comments on Paulino's preformance Wedesday night.

"I didn't think he was on the top of his game," Houston center fielder Michael Bourn said following the Astros' 3-0 loss on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park. "I think he was OK. He left some balls over the plate for us. Some people made some good swings. I didn't make any good swings, but on a regular [day], we'll get to him. He has good stuff, no doubt. But I'm not going to say he was at his best."

Chris Sampson and The Astros take on Derek Lowe and the braves tonight at Turner Field, 6:30. As much as I would hate to bring it up because I think I am a man of optimisim but the Stros are dead last in the National Leauge Central with 9 glorious wins and 13 good-try loses. Let us pray, Go Stros.

Stros beat Cincy, what else is new?

If the National League lost every team to the swine flu except the Stros and the Reds Houston would have another ring on their finger. The Houston Astros haven't lost a game against the Cincinnati Reds in 11 games and last night things did not change. Although the Reds made three errors, Wandy Roudriguez allowed one run in seven innings and Ivan Rodriguez homered and doubled last night. The 11-game streak started in 2007 and is the longest current run of dominance in the majors. I know what your thinking "Astros? dominace? win streak?"

Like I said yesterday, Wandy is on the first train to cy-young city, knock on wood. Wandy has given up only two runs in his last three starts in 20 innings. He shut-out the Reds 7-0 last April at miniute maid, allowing two hits in seven innings. He was nearly as good in the rematch, giving up seven hits. I see the pattern! do you?


In other news, the ecletic Jose Valverde is on a 15-day DL due to his swollen calf that FSN illistrated in slow motion at the end of Monday's gamecast. Michael Bourn was walked twice and stole a base but went hitless, ending his career-best hitting streak at eight games. Let me remind you, he still got on base.

Astros look for a sweep and a 4-game win streak tonight in the Great American Ballpark @ 6:10

How to put "Astros" and "playoffs" in the same sentence.

As the Astros can never break the two-game-win-streak seal, Richard Justice from the Houston Chronicle has found a word that Houston sports have never seen, optimism. When Drayton McClain traded Brad Lidge to win the World Series with the Philidelphia Phillies, in return the stros' revived 26-year-old Michael Bourn. Last season's plan fell apart when Bourn didn't hit. He ran, but didn't hit. He finished the season with a .229 batting average and 111 strikeouts. Quote me if you have to, but Michael Bourne is this years Dustin Padroia, Wandy Roudigouez is this years Cliff lee. and once again I expect the Houston Astros to wild enough to choose the card to put them in the the playoffs.