Say what you want about these Astros, but the fact is, these are the type of games they are going to play this season. As potent of an offense as they have, you'd think that the best chance for success rides on winning a bunch of slugfests. Not true. Now that baseball has mostly/somewhat rid itself of steroids, teams can't sit around waiting for the proverbial 3 run bomb. The key to winning in today's game is having solid starting pitching, with a lights-out bullpen. Lineups that 10 years ago you could've penciled in for 5 runs a game, are not going to produce that kind of scoring.
As for tonight, I think this was a huge win. As huge as a win on the 2nd day of the season can be, anyway. You get a really strong performance out of Wandy (who deserved a win, by the way), key hits from the guys you need, capped off with the new guy getting the winning hit. And don't underestimate the bullpen's contribution. Without one bad pitch from Hawkins (Oswalt made the same mistake last night), the hometown fans go home a winner after an electric performance by Jose Valverde. Instead it took an extra frame. That being said, a win is a win. Just be happy this one didn't go 16 innings.
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