Friday, March 19, 2010
Times Web Design
Commercial Printing
Rainy River Record
FortFrances.TV
Rodriguez fans 11 as Astros blank Pirates
Thursday, 9 July 2009 - 3:25pm
He got his wish—pitching a five-hitter and tying a career high by striking out 11 as the Astros blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-0 yesterday.
“I have vacation, so I said, ‘I want to finish the game,’” Rodriguez said, referring to his time off for the all-star break.
“I felt strong, too.”
The 30-year-old Rodriguez threw his second career complete game, having shut out the N.Y. Mets two years ago.
He needed a career-high 125 pitches to finish this one, topping the 122 he threw in 2006.
“I thought the fastball had a lot of life today,” Astros’ manager Cecil Cooper said. “We started out the day today by throwing strike one quite a bit.
“When Wandy can throw strike one with his fastball, he could be a dominating kind of pitcher.
“He’s got that kind of stuff.”
Rodriguez (8-6) won his third-straight decision.
The lefty now is only one victory behind his total from last season.
He’s battled inconsistency in his career, but said a game like this helps increase his confidence.
Rodriguez gave up a pair singles with one out in the second before retiring the next 10 batters.
He didn’t allow another hit until Ramon Vazquez singled with two outs in the fifth.
Delwyn Young singled with two outs in the ninth before Rodriguez struck out Garrett Jones to end it.
Elsewhere, Florida blanked San Francisco 7-0, Atlanta beat Chicago 4-1, Colorado dumped Washington 10-4, Arizona downed San Diego 602, N.Y. nipped L.A. 5-4, Philadelphia edged Cincinnati 3-2, and Milwaukee shaded St. Louis 5-4.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Well over 100 pitches after eight innings, Wandy Rodriguez was determined to stay on the mound.
After all, he reasoned to Houston pitching coach Dewey Robinson, he was about to get a week off.
“I have vacation, so I said, ‘I want to finish the game,’” Rodriguez said, referring to his time off for the all-star break.
“I felt strong, too.”
The 30-year-old Rodriguez threw his second career complete game, having shut out the N.Y. Mets two years ago.
He needed a career-high 125 pitches to finish this one, topping the 122 he threw in 2006.
“I thought the fastball had a lot of life today,” Astros’ manager Cecil Cooper said. “We started out the day today by throwing strike one quite a bit.
“When Wandy can throw strike one with his fastball, he could be a dominating kind of pitcher.
“He’s got that kind of stuff.”
Rodriguez (8-6) won his third-straight decision.
The lefty now is only one victory behind his total from last season.
He’s battled inconsistency in his career, but said a game like this helps increase his confidence.
Rodriguez gave up a pair singles with one out in the second before retiring the next 10 batters.
He didn’t allow another hit until Ramon Vazquez singled with two outs in the fifth.
Delwyn Young singled with two outs in the ninth before Rodriguez struck out Garrett Jones to end it.
Elsewhere, Florida blanked San Francisco 7-0, Atlanta beat Chicago 4-1, Colorado dumped Washington 10-4, Arizona downed San Diego 602, N.Y. nipped L.A. 5-4, Philadelphia edged Cincinnati 3-2, and Milwaukee shaded St. Louis 5-4.