Houston @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Apr 14, 2010 ) Houston 1, St. Louis 2
At one point last year, Houston Astros right-hander Bud Norris was the toast of Texas. Everybody, from Houston to Fort Worth to El Paso, had compared Norris to the notorious Walker, Texas Ranger actor Chuck Norris after the hurler won his first major league game.
People would say things like, "Bud Norris can force a double play with nobody on base" and "Bud Norris doesn’t take the mound, the mound takes him."
Indeed, Norris was impressive in his first victory. And, coincidentally, that win came against the St. Louis Cardinals, who Norris faces in Thursday's series finale at Busch Stadium.
On Aug. 2, 2009 in St. Louis, Norris allowed only two hits in seven scoreless innings to lift the Astros to a 2-0 victory. One month later, Norris tossed another six shutout innings against the Cardinals, as the Astros posted a 3-0 victory.
That, precisely, is the type of pitching performance Houston desperately needs after beginning this year 0-8, its worst start since 1983.
Norris, though, didn’t get off to a great start this season, lasting only 2 2/3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies last Friday. He allowed three runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts in an 8-0 loss.
Regardless, Norris has fared well against St. Louis and, particularly, its power hitters. In fact, reigning National League MVP Albert Pujols is 1-for-5 against Norris in his career, Matt Holliday is 1-for-6 and Skip Schumaker is 0-for-5.
The other key for the Astros, though, is to get something going on offense. Houston managed only one run on Wednesday, as its lowly offense has a total of 14 runs scored this season.
St. Louis, meanwhile, would like to see Houston continue to struggle at the plate against veteran right-hander Lohse, who went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits with three walks, in his first start against the Milwaukee Brewers.
St. Louis managed to win Lohse’s game in Milwaukee, when Nick Stavinoha blasted a home run in the ninth inning. Still, the Cardinals would like to see Lohse bring better command in his second start of the season against the Astros.
Lohse has had success against Houston in the past, going 6-5 with a 2.99 ERA in 12 career games.
Offensively, the Cardinals didn’t have great game on Wednesday, managing only two runs in the first inning on an RBI single from Pujols and a fielding error by the Astros.
Finally, it’s worth noting, that Thursday is Jackie Robinson Day. Every player, coach and umpire will wear the No. 42 to honor Robinson, who broke baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947.