Astros try for series win vs. Rockies
With Bud Norris making his 2012 debut, the Astros will try to win the series against the Rockies in Sunday’s series finale at 1:05 p.m. at Minute Maid Park. If the Astros win and improve to 2-1, they will be over .500 for the first time since they were 51-50 on July 29, 2009. A win Sunday would give the Astros their first opening series win since taking two of three from the Marlins at Minute Maid Park in 2006. Hey, you have to start somewhere.
Astros starting pitchers haven’t allowed an earned run through two games this year (13 1/3 innings). Lucas Harrell, who threw seven scoreless innings Saturday, became the first Astros pitcher to pitch at least seven innings without allowing a run or a walk in his season debut since Bob Knepper — a fellow lefty — in 1986.
Here is the lineup, which is the same as Opening Day 1-8:
CF Jordan Schafer
2B Jose Altuve
LF J.D. Martinez
1B Carlos Lee
RF Brian Bogusevic
3B Chris Johnson
C Jason Castro
SS Marwin Gonzalez
P Bud Norris
Brian McTaggart
Call me a homer, but I happen to like the lineup out there. Gonzalez has been great in the field while subbing for Lowrie. Can’t wait to watch Bud tune it up today. He didn’t look terribly sharp in ST to me, but he has such good stuff that he could break out this season and win 10-12 games, if not more. The mental error friday night aside, Castro has looked good. Catching has been really upgraded. Bogusevic crushed that ball friday, night, and JD Martinez hit several balls hard, as did CJ. This club ain’t gonna contend or anything crazy like that, but they’re fun to watch and will be better than last year. I’m excited about the club. Yeah, we might lose close to 100 again, but I’m still excited.
Some very good thoughts there.