Game 97: Astros 1 Pirates 0

I think you have to try to lose 1-0 most of the time. I especially think that when you lose 1-0 and the 2007 incarnation of Woody Williams started for the other team.

I mostly feel bad for Shane Youman, who got his official induction into the Pirates rotation today. He only gave up four hits in eight innings and held the Astros one run over those eight innings and gets saddled with the L because of the Pirates offense. That offense mustered only six hits today and drew zero (!) walks off of Williams and Brad Lidge. Matt Kata had two of those hits (which means he's going to keep playing ... damn) and LaRoche, Nady, Bay, and Izturis had the other four. Unfortunately, only one of those hits was a double and only two of them came in the same inning (Izturis and Bay singled). That's the recipe for a shut-out and that's what happened today.

I suppose we can add Woody Williams to the list of shitty pitchers that have dominated us this year. If you're keeping track at home, we've lost eight of nine since the break to fall to 41-56. Things are falling apart quickly. This is getting ugly and fast.