Astros Stun Fans By Winning Baseball Game

Gotta love them road uniforms

I think Astros fans are enjoying quite a few sniggers as they celebrate their first win of the season as the Boston Red Sox, most peoples pick for the WS, lost again, remaining rooted to 0 wins.

This game just shows that any potential success for the Astros will be faced on one fundamental: starting pitching. They won't score many runs and the bullpen is young, shakey and untested. But there is something in that rotation. If Brad Arnsberg can get it moving, then this season might not be ugly ugly. It is probably going to ugly, but we can hope they leave the Pirates in the dust and reach a half-way respectable total of wins (in the high 70s).

Before the season started I said the Astros would be lucky to start the season 2-4 when they kicked off against the Phillies and Reds away from home. That is as hard an assignment that you can get to start off the season. If Brandon Lyon had not blown the save on opening day, they might stand at 2-4 now, going into a homestand that will see the Marlins, Cubs and Padres swing into town.

They have that first win on the board and we see where things go from here. Wandy Rodriguez, who is an average pitcher on the road, but a superstar at home will go tomorrow night

Hey look, only two teams starting the season 0-5 have made the playoffs. I'm sure I should be offended at Cliff's cheap shot at the Astros, but I think the only way Astros fans will get through this season is by reveling in the small victories when they come along. Today was one of these moments. Go forth and revel.

Still lets not con ourselves. This has been an appalling start to the season in almost every facet of the game, bar Brett Myers pitching. Lyon looked like a man slowly drowning and it looks like only a matter of time before Wilton Lopez assumes the closer's mantle.

They've scored 20 and allowed 43. Brad Mills rightly dropped Bill Hall down the lineup and pulled him for Matt Downs, whose hit ended up being the game-winner. He came into today's game with nine punch-outs, no walks and a double and a single to kick out the season. He did get his first walk of the season today and a single to go with it.

Carlos Lee bagged his second triple of the season, and is now one shy of his season high of 3 back in 2001.