FROM THE REAL ART SPORTS DESK
Astros' win streak snapped in Hirsh's debut

From the Houston Chronicle, the lowdown on the game I attended in Houston last Saturday:

Looking to extend their winning streak to a season-high five games, the Astros fell to the San Diego Padres 6-3 tonight before a sellout crowd of 43,591 at Minute Maid Park.

Righthander Jason Hirsh, who went 13-2 with a 2.10 ERA for Class AAA Round Rock, was roughed up in major-league debut, giving up seven hits, including three home runs, and four runs in four innings.

Actually those four runs and three homers were all in one very painful to watch inning:

Hirsh was rocked in the fourth, giving up three home runs to put the Astros in an insurmountable 4-0 hole.

Todd Walker hit the first pitch of the fourth over the wall in right to get the Padres on the board, and Klein High School product Josh Barfield homered to left one out later to make it 2-0.

After a single by Dave Roberts, Mike Cameron crushed a 3-1 pitch and sent it over the wall in left field to make it 4-0. Hirsh struck out Brian Giles to end the inning, but his day was through.

Click here for the rest.

I think my buddy Bob, who watched the game on TV, put it best when he said very sincerely, "the poor kid." Apparently, despite the much celebrated re-signing of veteran ace Roger Clemens, the Astros don't have that great of a starting staff this season, which is why they called up this guy from the minors. Actually Hirsh is an obviously talented pitcher; this one was one of the most textbook examples of the word "choke" I've ever seen in my life. My Dad was sitting next to me during the fourth, and when it finally ended he turned to me and said, "I don't think I've ever seen three home runs in one inning. Ever." He's 67, and he's been a big baseball fan since he was a kid. "Poor kid" is soooo right.

They beat 'em the night before, with the added bonus of a rare pitcher home run, but couldn't seem to shake Saturday's loss, and blew it again on Sunday.

Of course, as a longtime Houston sports fan, I can take it. I'm quite used to losing. Anyway, I promised some pics:



Because Houston's relatively new ballpark is downtown, we ended up parking outside the old city courthouse. Strangely, this cool neo-gothic building was never torn down, unlike most of the rest of old Houston. Pretty weird face, but very cool.

As we walked toward the entrance, we passed this statue. I really have no idea why it's there, but I think it has something to do with the fact that the stadium is built on the site of Houston's old train station:



Heh. You know, this stadium used to be called "Enron Field." For some reason, it changed almost overnight to "Minute Maid Park." I wonder why?



Do you realize how much beer is sold during a baseball game? This is what the beer man looks like after your fifth or sixth round. How the hell can people afford this at nine bucks a pop? Another one of baseball's strange mysteries.



Poor Hirsh tries to nail a runner leading off first. He screwed that one up, too.



I suppose this video bit in the third inning was supposed to rouse the fans, but by the fourth, cheering wasn't an easy task.



An Astro, I forget which one, successfully steals second. I think he was left on third by the end of the inning. That's just so Astros.



I think this guy struck out.



Recycling old low-tech Astrodome images for the new millenium.



Keeping with the "train station" motif, whenever the 'Stros get a homer, a third-size train rolls around above the bleachers.



Okay, the "Kiss Cam" is amusing, but also really fucking stupid.



The groundsmen are also amusing, but not so stupid.



Our one home run of the night.



By the seventh, I was bored and antsy, so I walked around looking for shots. This is from left field.



From behind home plate.



Fickle Houston fans leave during the eighth. Don't these fuckers know that "it ain't over 'till it's over?" They should just accept their lot in life: they're Houston fans; we're all losers.



A reliever tries to clean up Hirsh's mess.



Base hit, but to no avail. This guy was also left on base by inning's end.



Don't get me wrong: I really did enjoy myself. I mean, winning is nice and all, but this is my team, and I almost never get to see them live. Losing is just part of the game. Especially in Houston, and like it or not, wherever I go, I'll always be a Houstonian. Besides, their World Series appearance last season will keep me going for another twenty years.

Go Astros!

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