Get Out the Broom; Astros Make It Four Straight

Just when you think it’s safe to completely ignore the Astros, they come storming back and surprise you. Like this past weekend, when they took four straight from the NL East leading Phillies. SB Nation blog Crawfish Boxes is on the case:
As far as improbable occurrences are concerned, this one has to take the cake. All week the discussion has been about Cecil Cooper’s impending departure from the realms of the employed, but this Labor Day Weekend all the talk centered around the game itself. The Astros have made a habit the past month or so of falling 5-6 games under .500, then winning enough games in succession to get close enough to sniff the break even point.Hunter Pence hit a two run home run in the second to put the Astros ahead 2-1, and then after allowing a bloop double to Jimmy Rollins in the top half of the seventh, Pence made amends by hitting a double of his own which scored Miguel Tejada and tied the game up at 3 apiece. Team MVP Mike Bourn pushed Pence across the plate later in the inning via a bases loaded walk.

Five relief pitcher combined to throw 3.1 scoreless innings to finish the game out. Wesley Wright was credited with win number three on the season, and the incomparable Jose Valverde earned his 22nd save in 26 opportunities.