7/17/07 “...So Like A Pimp, (I’m Pimpin’), Got A Bowl, (Eat Shrimp In), Nothin’ Wrong With My Leg, I’m Just B-Boy Limpin’” -MCA

Belt high fastball from the Houston Astros starter Chris Sampson, and the red-hot Ronnie Belli-Yard lines it to left and GONE! The Washington Nationals take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
   Tim Redding on the hill for the home team, trying for two straight tonight. El Caballo Carlos Lee drops a single in front of Austin Kearns in right. Mark “Get Back Home” Loretta chops one to third, Ryan Zimmerman throws to Belliard at second to Dmitri Young at fist, double play. A walk, a double, and the intentionals, and Redding’s loaded the bases, but a ground ball to short ends the the top of the second.
   Ryan Church doubles into the right center gap to start the bottom of the second, but three groundouts later, he’s left standing at third. 1-0 after two. Hunter Pence singles off Redding in the top of the third, moves to second, on Lance Berkman’s ground out, and takes the easy way home when EL CABALLO homers to left, just over the wall and into the visiting bullpen, 2-1 Astros middle of three.
   Redding issues a one-out walk to Luke Scott in the fourth, and Eric Munson singles through short, alliowing the pitcher to lay down the sac bunt, advanciing both runners, and giving Chris Burke an RBI opportunity. Burke grounds to short, Lopez fields and throws, and it’s still 2-...
   THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! TH E KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Fastball down the pipe from Sampson, and Zimmerman takes it back the other way, off the wall in left, just beyond the field of play, a home run for Ryan Zimmerman ties it at 2-2. DY!! DY!! double to right, and Carlos Lee can’t corral it. Three ground outs, and DY’s stranded at third.
   Hunter Pence reaches down and golfs a shin high breaker over the green in left all the way out of the park as the Astros take the lead right back. 3-2 ‘Stros in the fifth. A scoreless sixth on the mound from Redding brings the Nationals up in the bottom of the frame. All the production thus far has come from the middle of the Nationals order (2-5 are 4 for 8, 6-1 are 0 for 11). Belliard singles to start the frame. Zimmerman grounds into a double play. DY? Single to right. Church? Grounds to first. 3-2 after six.
Tim Redding gives up a one-out single to Chris Burke in the seventh, bringing up Pence again with a runner on. Burke’s running...Don’t run on Schneider! Pitch out, and Schneider has Burke by a mile. “Yerrrr OUT!!!” Pence flies to center. Redding’s through seven. Stand up and stretch...Brian Schneider takes a two-out fastball on the elbow, and the Astros will bring Roy Oswalt? On in relief? to get the last out of the seventh. Robert Fick flies out to right.
   Luis Ayala is on in relief in the eigth. Ayala hits Berkman with a curve in the back knee. Carlos Lee, El Caballo meet Ayala! Carlos Lee pops out. Ayala throws seven straight in walking Loretta and Lamb. Bases loaded on one HBP and two BB’s. Manny Acta, Nationals Manager, has seen enough. Billy Traber on to face the pinch-hitting Craig Biggio. Sac fly to center. 4-2 Astros.
   Dan Wheeler walks Ronnie Belliard with one out in the eigth. Ryan Zimmerman grounds into an inning ending double play. Chris Schroder closed out the eigth, and is back in the top of the ninth. One and a third scoreless for Schroder. The Trade Deadline Spotlight is on Astros closer Brad Lidge, let’s hope it’s brightness doesn’t induce flashbacks(duh dum ch!!). Three outs to get two runs for the Nationals. DY flies out to center. Ryan Church chases a slider. Austin Kearns walks. Felipe Lopez swings at a ball in the dirt. Astros win 4-2.