Houston Astros Struggling to Break Even before the All-Star Break

When the Astros headed west for this past week’s seven-game road trip, they had only one thing on their mind: .500, as in breaking even. The Astros finished the month of June with a 16-11, fourth best in the majors during that time frame, as they climbed to within two games under the .500 mark, something that they hadn’t accomplished since mid-April. It also saw resurgence in the play of fan favorites Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman, both of whom have performed well under their normal capacity thus far.

With a four-game series against the Padres and a three-game set with the Giants looming, the Astros knew they had a good chance of breaking even on this road trip and that they would need a 5-2 record to accomplish that feat. For the month of June, Astros starters had posted a nice 3.46 ERA and were beginning to show some signs of life. Before the series began in San Diego, Astros starters were confident that they could continue their recent success in the expansive alleys of Petco Park, and they did exactly that. In the series against the Padres, Astros hurlers yielded only eight runs for the entire series, with the starters going 3-0 with one no decision. The starters in the series (Oswalt, Mike Hampton, Brian Moehler and Wandy Rodriguez) hemmed in the Padres offense, allowing only four runs for a collective 1.28 ERA for the series. Had it not been for the poor performance of one reliever, Chris Sampson (who allowed three runs on four hits during his one inning of work in the series, effectively whitewashing Hampton’s strong start), the ‘Stros would have swept this four-game set and gone into the series with the Giants as the owners of an even record. Instead, the Astros left San Diego one game below their targeted .500 mark.

Whatever success that the Astros starters had carried away from Petco Park and over the past month was left at the entrance to AT&T Park when the Astros faced off against the Giants. In the first two games of the series, Astros starters Paulino and Ortiz, both of whom were coming off of strong outings, got hammered in their starts as the Giants offense feasted on Paulino and Ortiz’s offerings. The Giants offense erupted for 17 runs on 18 hits through 7 2/3 innings’ work from Paulino and Ortiz, but it was the Giants tandem of Tim Lincecum and Ryan Sadowski who were the real stars for the first two games. Both pitchers were on top of their game, and both stymied the Astros offense for the first two games in the series as the Astros were outscored 22-0. If the Astros had any chance of leaving this West coast trip with a winning record, it would fall on Oswalt’s shoulders to deliver, and he didn’t disappoint.

Oswalt, building on several continuous strong outings, thoroughly manhandled the Giants hitters, leaving them dazed and confused and wondering where their offense had gone. Oswalt, who is finally beginning to look like his old self again, asserted himself from the first pitch of the game and never looked back. Oswalt would hold the Giants offense to one run out-dueled Randy Johnson, who left the game in the fourth inning after taking an ugly swing at an Oswalt offering. The Astros won the game but would lose the series 2-1, keeping the Astros two games under the .500 mark and in search of answers.

The quest for those answers will begin tonight at Minute Maid Park when the Astros take on the Pirates. Will the Astros finally make it to the .500 mark? Only time will tell, and if this season is any indicator, the Astros can rely on history to help settle this question. Against the Pirates this season, the Astros have posted a 6-3 record with three of those wins belonging to Mike Hampton, who will start tonight. The Astros have six games left before the All-Star break, three against the Pirates and three with the Washington Nationals (the Astros and Nationals also have to finish out their May 5 game that was rained out). They have a golden opportunity to finish above .500 for the first time this season and enter the All-Star break just a little bit closer to the division lead.

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NEWS AND NOTES:

Miguel Tejada and Hunter Pence were named to the NL All-Star team, a well-deserved honor for both. Rumors are still circling around the Astros organization concerning the availability of Tejada and Oswalt, among others. Owner Drayton McLane, known in many circles as a bit of an optimist, has made it clear that if the right trade comes along and it makes the organization a better one, he will make the trade. Just one thing, Drayton: don’t kill the farm system to do it … The third base job has been the topic of many conversations lately, and with both Geoff Blum and Jeff Keppinger having a hard time trying to lock down the position with any sense of consistency, the Astros may be looking to the farm system for some support. Tommy Manzella and über-prospect Chris Johnson have performed well at Round Rock, and one or the other may be getting a call to pack their bags for Houston for the second half of the season. For the season Astros third basemen are hitting .265 / 5 / 34.

By: Jordan Fleck
MLBcenter.com Houston Astros correspondent

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