New closers are great. You can’t wait to show them off. Everyone loves that new-closer smell. But just one blown save, and the sheen is gone. Mitchell Boggs blew his first save this season for the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Houston Astros walked off with a 6-5 win at home on Tuesday night.
Cardinals Vs. Astros: Mitchell Boggs Can’t Convert, Astros Come Back In Ninth
The Cardinals struck first, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth after two were down and an Angel Sanchez error extended the inning. Nick Punto doubled home two runs and Daniel Descalso tripled him home shortly after. Those unearned runs were the only runs that Astros starter Bud Norris would allow, though, as he pitched six innings, walking two and striking out six.
Starter Jaime Garcia couldn’t hold the lead for St. Louis, giving up a solo home run to Hunter Pence in the fourth, and being chased in the sixth by an RBI single from Brett Wallace. Garcia was replaced by Miguel Batista, who introduced the theme of the night: bullpen kerosene. Houston's Chris Johnson singled home two more, all charged to Garcia, who finished having given up four runs (three earned) in 5-1/3 innings.
Astros reliever Jeff Fulchino gave up a run on another extra-base hit from Descalso, this one a double to score Yadier Molina, tying the game at 4-4. Closer Brandon Lyon came in keep it tied, but he gave up back-to-back doubles to Matt Holliday and returning hero Lance Berkman, who received ovations throughout his first game in Houston since being traded to the Yankees last summer. The Cardinals went into the bottom of the ninth with a 5-4 lead that they entrusted to Mitchell Boggs.
New roster addition Brian Bogusevic singled to lead off the ninth, and Boggs made an error on a bunt attempt, putting runners on first and third. A wild pitch scored Bogusevic to tie the game, and after two more singles, Bill Hall sneaked a grounder through a drawn-in infield for the walk-off win.
The series continues tomorrow with Kyle Lohse going for the Cardinals, and J.A. Happ going for the Astros.
For more on the Cardinals and Astros, please visit team blogs Viva El Birdos and Crawfish Boxes.
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