May 31: Cincinnati: 3 Hits, 2977 Career Total

By Robert H. Kelly

The Houston Astros and Craig Biggio try to break out of a 10 game losing streak tonight in the final game of their three game series against the Cincinnati Reds.

They indeed did break out of the slump, winning 10-2 with Biggio going 3 for 5 and raising his career hits total to 2977. That was his first three-hit game of the season. He again batted in the lead off spot in the batting order.

Biggio looked like the Biggio of old. He was hitting the ball well and even beat out a throw to first base from Alex Rodriguez.

My only comment is "Where was all this hitting in the past 10 games?" I am talking about the Astros. They scored 10 runs on 16 hits and played like they did in the second half of the 2005 season. (Remember, when they made their successful run to the World Series.)

They need to continue to play like this and stay focused on the long range game plan. I once had a coach who used to say when we had a good game, "Remember what you did today and do it again tomorrow." If fixing the Astrso problems were only that easy.

OK, enough with the commentary. On with how Biggio did.

1st inning: POPS OUT (facing right handed pitcher Branson Arroyo, 205, 3.99 ERA)
1: pops out to third baseman Edwin Encarnacion
Current batting average: .229

3rd inning: SINGLE (still facing Arroyo)
1: called strike
2: singles on a line drive to left fielder Adam Dunn
Current batting average: .233

5th inning: SINGLE (still facing Arroyo)
1: ball
2: called strike
3: ball
4: single on a ground ball t0 shortstop Alex Gonzalez
Current batting average: .237

NOTE #1: Biggio's last two hit game was May 19 in the Astros 6-1 win over the Texas Rangers.

NOTE #2: Lance Berkman hit a three run homer in the bottom of the 5th inning to take the score to 7-2. Biggio and Mark Loretta score.

6th inning: STRUCK OUT (facing right handed pitcher Brad Salmon, 0-1, 4.50 ERA)
1: called strike
2: foul
3: swinging strike
Current batting average: .236

8th inning: DOUBLE (facing left handed pitcher Mike Stanton, 1-2, 5.40 ERA)
1: ground rule double on a fly ball to right field.
Current batting average: .240

Biggio went 3 for 5 from the plate, with one RBI and one strike out. He raised his batting average to .240.

NOTE #3: The entire Astros team were selected as the GATORADE Player of the Game!