The Pecan Park Eagle

Andy Goes 7 for Astros; Gets Help from 2-run HR shots by Lamb and Taveras to turn back Babies, 6-3, and tie Series at 1-1.

GAME TWO: BABIES @ ASTROS, SUNDAY, 10/16/05, 7:30 PM

MINUTE MAID PARK, HOUSTON, TEXAS

ANDY’S ARM AND ASTROS’ HOME RUN SWARM SPANK BABIES, 6-3

Andy Pettitte (1-0) didn’t have his best stuff for the Houston Astros in Game Two, but it was good enough to hold down the explosive offense that the Houston Babies’ other starting lineup showed in Game One. Pettitte went 7 innings, giving up 3 runs, but only 2 were earned. His 8 surrendered, but scattered hits came with no walks and 3 strikeouts before yielding the mound to closer Brad Lidge (Sv,1) in the 8th and 9th, an event that the cool Mr. Lidge celebrated by retiring all six batters he faced.

Babies starter Larry “Buffalo” Hajduk (0-1) didn’t pitch badly, but he was on the mound with a 3-2 lead in the 6th when he gave up the 2-run homer to Mike Lamb that recaptured a lead for the Astros that they never again surrendered. Marsha Franty pitched the bottom of the 7th for the Babies, but she also gave up a 2-run homer to Willie Taveras that took the score to its final count of 6-3, Astros. Patrick Lopez handled the bottom of the 8th for the Babies. Lopez gave up two hits, but no further runs. Concern exists that Lopez may have pulled something in the right shoulder of his pitching arm. He will be examined today and it is possible that he will be unavailable for further bullpen service.

Larry Joe Miggins was also unavailable today due to the pitch he took in the ribs in Game One, but he is expected back for Game Three. Deacon Jones was scheduled to start at 1st in Game Two, anyway, but he may now see additional service there, if Miggins isn’t good to go.

Things are what they are. According to Series rules, injured players cannot be replaced on the roster – and the 24-player Babies club already start with a two-player deficit to the 26-player Astros team. Babies manager Bob Dorrill is philosophical about any unfairness in the roster and injury rules. “If we survive this Series with nine players,” Dorrill Says, “the Babies’ will to win will have to carry us the rest of the way. – And that’s good enough an edge for me.”

On a lesser day of offense, Robert Pena and Deacon Jones both went 2 for 4 with a double each in Game Two, and Tom Murrah banged out the club’s second triple in the Series. Phil Holland got the first three-bagger in Game One.

The Series now moves to Constellation Field in Sugar Land, where the Houston Babies are borrowing the home of the Sugar Land Skeeters as their home field. The Babies first suggested the use of George Ranch as their home field, but the 2005 Astros quickly nixed that plan with an e-mail that simply read, “No way!” – So, Constellation Field, here we come. with Game Three, starting at 7:30 PM tonight!

Marie “Red” Mahoney, a Texas Baseball Hall of Famer and also a former player from the All Girls Professional Baseball League will take the mound for the Houston Babies in Game Three. She will be opposed by Roy Oswalt of the 2005 Houston Astros.

Now, let’s get into the scoring details of Game Two.

Here’s how the scoring went in Game Two by Inning (In these line summaries, each new batter is preceded by the “*” sign; outs (1) (2) and (3) are shown in parentheses as they occur; changes of pitchers are noted in bold type; and the new score is indicated in parentheses after each run crosses the plate and again, at the end of the half inning time at bat):

Bottom of First: Astros batting, Larry Hajduk pitching ~

* W Taveras flies out to CF (1); * C Biggio flies out to CF (2); * M Ensberg walks; * L Berkman doubles down RFL; M Ensberg scores from 1st; (Astros, 1-0); * J Lane laces a sharp single to RF; L Berkman scores from 2nd; (Astros, 2-0) as the ball is cut off by D Jones for a play on J Lane, trying for 2nd; J Lane is tagged out by J Disch (3); side retired; (Astros, 2-0).

Top of Third: Babies batting, Andy Pettitte pitching ~

* R Martin lines a single to RF; * L Hajduk sacrifice bunts R Martin to 2nd (1); * M Hudec grounds out on a 3-1 play (2); R Martin moves to 3rd; * R Pena smashes a double off LF wall; scoring R Martin from 3rd; (Astros 2 – Babies 1); Z Hajduk flies out to LF (3); side retired; (Astros 2 – Babies 1).

Top of Fourth: Babies batting, Andy Pettitte pitching ~

* D Jones beats out swinging bunt to right side for an infield single; * T Murrah triples to deep RF; D. Jones scores from 1st; (Astros 2 – Babies 2); Murrah tagged out by B Ausmus trying to stretch his triple into an inside the park homer (1); * A Schmelter flies out to CF (2); * B Dorrill grounds out 4-3 (3); side retired; (Astros 2 – Babies 2).

Top of Sixth: Babies Batting. Andy Pettitte pitching ~

* R Pena reaches 1st on bad throw by A Everett; E6; * Z Hajduk strikes out (1); * D Jones doubles to RCF; R Pena scores from 1st; (Babies 3 – Astros 2); D Jones thrown out 3rd, trying to stretch double into triple (2); * T Murrah hits long fly ball out to CF (3); side retired; (Babies 3 – Astros 2).

Bottom of Sixth: Astros batting, Larry Hajduk pitching ~

* M Ensberg strikes out (1); * L Berkman doubles to RCF; * J Lane pops out to SS (2); * M Lamb rockets HR to RF; L Berkman scores ahead of M Lamb; (Astros 4 – Babies 3); * B Ausmus strikes out (3); side retired; (Astros 4 – Babies 3).

Bottom of Seventh: Astros batting, Marsha Franty pitching ~

* A Everett beats out slow grounder to 2nd base for a single; * A Pettitte’s sac bunt (1) advances A Everett to 2nd; * Willie Taveras muscles a HR into the LF Crawford Boxes; A Everett scores ahead of him; (Astros 6 – Babies 3); * C Biggio is retired on fly out to deep LCF (2); M Ensberg strikes out (3); side retired; (Astros 6 – Babies 3).

Wrap Up: Brad Lidge’s perfect dismissal of all the six Babies batters he faced in the 8th and 9th held up as all the relief Andy Pettitte (1-0) would need for the Astros victory. Babies starter Larry Hajduk (0-1) fought a good fight, but took the loss for the Babies. Both clubs go into the Constellation Field phase of the Series feeling pretty good about their chances.

Social Note: When the media noticed in the stands that Jim Crane and his 18th century uncle, Ichabod, had been joined by a headless third guest for Game Two at MMP, of course, no one recognized the man. One press box wit suggested that the gruesome fellow probably was the same guy who would later come up with the Astros’ cable television plan in 2012-2013.

As for the Series, hang with us, fans. The competition is fierce and both teams are pulling out all the stops.

Look for a full report on tonight’s Game Three from Sugar Land in tomorrow’s Pecan Park Eagle!