Astronishing

It took 15 innings, but the Astros won their 8th straight game last night 7-6, and though it wasn't exactly according to plan, Craig Biggio scored the winning run. Biggio's sacrifice bunt to move Eric Bruntlett to second base didn't quite work out, and turned into a fielders choice with Biggio no first with one out instead of Bruntlett at second with 1 out. But, a Palmeiro single and an Ausmus sacrifice fly got the job done anyway.
The St. Louis Cardinals broke their losing streak last night, keeping the Astros a game and a half back - even thought the Cardinals only won one game, and the Astros won what was obviously a game and two thirds. Even if this astonishing run by the Astros doesn't result in a trip to the playoffs, you'd have to hope the team can find some way to bottle, can, freeze dry, vacuum pack, ziploc, tupperware, or cryogenicly freeze just a little bit of what they've had for these eight games to use it again next season - maybe a little earlier and more often.

The Astros and Pirates will go back at it around noon today, with Tom Gorzelanny on the mound for the Pirates. Craig Biggio has never been plunked by Gorzelanny or anyone else with both a z and a y in his last name. Gorzelanny has faced 271 batters in his career, and plunked 3 of them. Biggio has never been plunked on September 27th.