'Stros Final Stretch - Gm 5 @Arizona, Start Day 52-57, 4 games back of Cincy

The Astros already knew the Reds had won earlier in the day and they also knew they faced an uphill battle since the Rocket would be making his 9th start of the season with Houston winning just 2 of the previous 8.

*A couple of the most improbable things happened within 30 minutes of 1st pitch. Brad Ausmus launched a home run with the bases juiced - you know what I like to call a 4-run homer. That meant Clemens was delivered a sizable lead inthe early going for the first time all season, really since 2004. Funny thing about Ausmus, well funny to me, I spent the afternoon with a bunch of buddies talking Astros. Once we were done talking about how Andruw Jones wasn't coming to Houston, I went on my usual diatribe about how weak an offensive player Ausmus is. About how it's nearly impossible for him to succeed b/c he just simply swings so meekly. Maybe he heard me and took offense!!(9:25pm)

*Another chance to pat Phil Garner on the back. He is doing the right thing keeping Luke Scott in the lineup everyday. He delivered hits in each of his first two at-bats including his first bomb of the season. Yes I am fully aware that this is actually his 2nd career HR, but the first trickled into the Crawford boxes - this one really was a bomb - beyond the pool in right center. Scott's average is up to .375. (9:45pm)

*Anyone starting to smell a 5-1 road trip? How's that for a surefire jinx. Aubrey Huff just blasted an opposite field yakker to give Clemens a 6-run cushion, 7-1. Btw, when I said blasted I meant put it into the first row. (10:05pm)

*Somewhat like last night when every little play mattered, the Astros shouldn't waste opportunities to score. After Huff's HR, Ensberg walked and Scott smashed his 3rd hit of the game. Everett followed with a chopper to third, Ensberg broke on contact which probably prevented the double play. Scott hustled all the way to 3rd despite a very short rundown, but Everett surprisingly did not get to 2nd. My earlier in the day thoughts on Ausmus finally did prove true as he then proceeded to ground into the 6-4-3 inning ending double play. (10:17pm)

*Jimmy Deshaies just said in the booth and he's dead on. Scott looks like the player that was unconscious at the plate in spring training in '05. Of course now he's doing it against Major League pitching every night. He's 4-4 to put the average at .397 and all 4 of his hits have been absolute lasers.(10:30pm)

*For the first time all season, Clemens allowed more than 2 ER. Not to worry it's his 6th quality start in 9 tries. The really good news is he goes 7 innings for the 3rd straight start and he's averaging better than 100 pitches in those games so if anyone was doubting if he was as strong as last year or heck even 5 years ago - it sure looks that way.(10:55pm)

*This just in, Fernando Nieve is nasty. In his first appearance since his recall following the series opener, he breezed through a 1-2-3 8th inning on 8 pitches - all strikes, although Brian O'Nora called his first pitch a ball. Picked up a K on Chad Tracy with a nasty slider.(11:08pm)

*Great stat, so far in this series the 'Stros have been retired 1-2-3 just one time.(11:18pm)

*Dave Borkowski finished things up in the 9th with his 6th straight scoreless outing. He hasn't allowed a run since June and he lowered his ERA to 3.59, which is better than Trever Miller, Chad Qualls and of course Brad Lidge (and he's only thrown 8 fewer innings than Lidge). Even still don't expect to see Borkowski unless a game is out of hand.(11:25pm)

*So here's where they stand heading into tomorrow's series finale with Andy Pettitte on the hill.
Record:53-57, 4 games back Cincy, 4 other teams still to chase in the wild card race.
----- WEX