Man Bites Dog: Yorman Bazardo Beats Cole Hamels

Yorman Bazardo outpitched Cole Hamels.

I can't believe I am writing that, but it is true. So I am gonna say it again: Yorman Bazardo outpitched Cole Hamels.

Yorman threw 5.2 innings, gave up only TWO hits - a leadoff single to Rollins (which led to a run) and a double to Victorino which SHOULD have been an out, but it bounced off the first base bag and took a bad hop and Berkman couldn't get it (and it was a BAD night for Berkman all around, except for the walks...) And that odd hop eventually led to a run because Utley grounded out and Victorino went to third and then, with Howard at bat, Victorino, by dancing down the baseline, enticed Bazardo into a balk and there was his second run. He freaked out, walked Howard, and Clark pulled him at only 76 pitches with the Astros leading 3-2. He also walked 4 and struck out 4.

Bourn went 2-5, stole a base which sparked the Astros 5 run 7th with 2 out, none on. He also made an outstanding catch on Ibanez' FB in the 7th. Of course, Bourn makes so many outstanding catches, I think something is wrong with him if he doesn't make a catch. But just the same, he's still not as good a CF as Adam Everett was a SS and yet the media LUUUUVVVVS Michael and ignored Adam. Batting Average matters - they hardly noticed Michael last year either...

Miguel Tejada had a great night - went 4-5, drove in 1 and scored 3. No GIDPs, and, in fact, no ground balls at all. And no bad throws or crappy plays.

Lance - had 3 walks, 1 intentional. Besides the unfortunate "double" off the bag, he got caught stealing second and he failed to score a run because he pulled a Jeremy Giambi and didn't do his usual patented slide and touch the bag with his hand when the catcher blocked the plate AND he didn't try to evade the tag long enough to allow the other runners to advance. Just a bad night. Coop pulled him in the 7th and sent in Aaron Boone (and with men on first and second and 1 out - and yes, the Astros were leading 8-2 at that time, but this IS Philly and you can't assume a team like this can't come back.)

Carlos Lee went 2 fer 5, got his 101st RBI, giving him his 7th straight 100 RBI season when he drove in 2 in the 7th - Lance was IBB, Hamels pulled, and righty Tyler Walker sent in to get him out - FAIL.

Pence went 2-4 with a walk, scored 1 and drove in 1 (shoulda been 2, but Lance had that complete and total brain fart at the plate.)

Keppinger went 3 fer 5 with 2 RBIs, Kaz went 1-4 with 2 RBIs and even JR Towles managed an IF single (but he was in good company - it was the 4th IF single of the game and, in fact, of the Astros 15 hits, only 2 weren't singles and they were doubles AND Carlos' was the only one really well hit) and his batting average is still above MY weight.

One of the good things about this game is that Astros hitters went to SEVEN 3-2 counts, which is absolutely incredible for these guys. AND the Phils only went to four 3-2 counts.

Brocail mopped up the 9th inning. He gave up a single, then an easy grounder to second and Kaz didn't even try to turn the DP or get the lead runner. Brocail was NOT happy. He glared at Miggy and Kaz laughing and joking about it. Then Feliz hit a liner straight at Matsui, which he drops. Now Brocail is STEAMING mad and yelling non-family friendly kinds of words. Kaz doesn't laugh this time - Brocail is easily twice his size. And THIS time, when the pinch hitter hits a grounder straight to Kaz, he and Miggy do it right and get the 4-6-3 to end the game.

Astros can't beat the crappy Reds, but they beat Cole Hamels and the Phils by 6 runs. It's baseball and you REALLY neverknow.

Next, it's Wilton Lopez vs JA Happ, LHP. Happ is a tough lefty who has a 2.79 ERA/1.20 WHIP - only 7.5H/9 IP, 1 HR/9 IP, 3 BB/9 IP and 6.3 K/9.

Wilton Lopez, unlike Bazardo, wasn't even a good minor leaguer - never went above AA (well, 1 bad inning in AAA) and this year, started 15 games and relieved in 14 over 110 innings: 10.5 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 1.2 BB/9 IP and only 5.6 K/9 and a 4.73 ERA/1.32 WHIP.

Bazardo beating Hamels really was kind of miraculous - and Wilton Lopez beating JA Happ would be, well, almost beyond credulity. But it IS baseball and when it comes to baseball, youneverknow...