top of the first --

Biggio K's Beltran singles Bagwell flies to Center, Beltran steals second before Berkman flies to center. Although they worked Wright for 21 pitches, this is not the start I'd hoped for. The new arrival was 1 for 1 while the guys who failed in previous playoff attempts were 0 for 3 with a K. Negativity flows from the soul of an Astro fan if given half the chance. . . .

bottom of the first --

Furcal bunts back to Clemens for an out, but he then gives up three straight baserunners on no hits and this has the feel of a Pete Munro start, not one for the Rocket. . . .Johnny Estrada hits a sac fly and the Braves lead. Yikes. Inning ends up but the damage has been done. Berkman's error to allow Giles to reach has made the run unearned, but Clemens still had walked two and uncorked a wild pitch. To his credit he didn't let the inning get out of control, and you know how it is with these aces: you always look back to the runs you didn't get early after they rally to beat you. So despite trailing I might still call myself cautiously optimistic, pitching and defense wise. Clemens has thrown 20.

top of the second -- Kent leads off and he's been hottest of all recently. One pitch to our slightly insane second sacker can tie the thing. . . .but he sees six pitches and strikes out. Wright has thrown 27 pitches through four batters. Ensberg looks at five more and strikes out as well. A little contact here, fellows. Maybe Vizcaino'll double down the line or something? He gets behind 1 - 2 as Kent and Ensberg had been, then grounds out. Inning over. This game already has a very bad vibe.

bottom of the second --

Clemens needs to at most give up one base runner, and finish the inning in 15 pitches or less, seems to me. He begins with a six pitch at bat to Andruw Jones, and the bout with the stomach flu is clearly hampering Clemens. I find myself already rationalizing a Game One loss with Clemens on the hill, that Oswalt can still beat the Braves Thursday, that Backe at home is as good as anything the Braves throw, and then a healed Clemens. . .the 'Stros can still win it in four, even if Clemens loses today. No big deal. Charles Thomas singles and two on none out in the second. . . . Nothing heroic today for Clemens. Jaret Wright sacrifices and there're two in scoring position with one out and the top of the order coming up. This is quickly becoming a nightmare. Furcal gave Clemens an out last time, and we can hope that he does so this time as well, can't we? Furcal grounds to Ensberg at third who checks Jones before tossing to Bags and it's two outs. Giles had reached on the error, but he grounds out on the first pitch, and whew, the inning ends and the Braves have not scored. I wonder if Garner has the bullpen up?

top of the third --

Ausmus, and Clemens (or a pinch-hitter?) and Biggio: one of 'em, at least needs to reach. Holy shit, Ausmus homered to tie it. Fucking Ausmus homered to tie it. First pitch, too. Stop me if you've heard this before: Biggio K's, and Beltran singles, but Bagwell, instead of flying out, doubles past Drew and the Astros lead it. That is Bagwell's fifth career postseason RBI. Berkman susses Bags by driving in his first two postseason runs on his first postseason homer, and it's 4 - 1 Astros just like that. Kent grounds out to finish the frame, but what a frame. Clemens was shaky but they've handed him a 3-run lead, and even sick, he should be able to make that stand up through six, at least, no?

bottom of the third --

Or not. Drew walks on four pitches and Clemens begins to Chipper Jones with a ball. Things stop and I imagine Jim Hickey walking out to the mound. What's he gonna say to Roger Clemens, "buckle down?" If Clemens ain't doing it, it means he can't. There's nothing any pitching coach can do. Clemens does however come back to strike out Jones, bringing up Estrada, who's less dangerous with one out and a guy on first, right? Estrada flies out on the first pitch, and LaRoche comes up with two outs. Clemens starts him with two balls then throws over, and what, he thinks JD Drew is gonna steal? He takes LaRoche to 3 - 1, then walks him, bringing up Andruw Jones, who singled his first time up. Jones walks, loading the bases and bringing up Thomas. Clemens can't find the strike zone, but Thomas helps him by swinging at two balls low and outside. Maybe Clemens wriggles out of this, too? Yup. Thomas strikes out, looks like he just GAVE the at bat to Clemens, 4- 1 'Stros after 3.

[The Astroman had to leave his console at this point, but of course, the Astros would go on to win 9 - 3, with Clemens going an amazing 7 and taking the win.]