Wandy Rodriguez Outduels Josh Johnson; Catches Up In Cy Young Race

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Houston Astros did what they needed to in order to stay in the postseason chase and that was to win the series against the Wild Card contending Florida Marlins.

The Astros usually get dominated by the Marlins. Not this year. The Astros took this series and finished 3-4 against them on the year. You'd think with Josh Johnson pitching, it was going to be an easy Marlins win, right? Wrong.

Maybe Wandy Rodriguez will stop being underrated after this performance. Rodriguez was dazzling, snapping the Marlins' consecutive streak of reaching double digits in hits per game.

In eight innings pitched, Rodriguez yielded only one unearned run over four scattered hits. Trouble was abrewing in the ninth inning, but Jose Valverde came in a struck out two to get the save. Rodriguez also struck out seven and only walked two.

Johnson on the other hand ran into some serious trouble. He only lasted 4.1 innings, yielding four earned runs over seven scattered hits. He gave up the long bomb to Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence. More troubling was the RBI-double he gave up to Rodriguez.

So, Rodriguez has now caught up to Josh Johnson in the Cy Young race (or Johnson has fallen to where Rodriguez was wherever in the top-ten). Their numbers are comparable:

What's more impressive for the Astros is that this is their third win over a 12-game winner this month. The other two being Matt Cain and Adam Wainwright on Aug. 2 and 3.

The Astros face the Diamonbacks in the next series at home. The Astros already won the previous series between them 2-1. However, if the Astros want to stay alive, they must sweep Arizona. They get to avoid Dan Haren meaning the pitching matchups will be in favor in Houston.

The Astros are continually, and quietly making noise, and a sweep of the Diamondbacks will get them back into the thick of things.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?