This one wasn't as close as the score, as they say. The Rockies' bats seemed to have missed the team plane as Andy Pettite sleepwalked through seven innings, allowing five hits, walking one, and striking out eight. Joe Kennedy gave up six earned, and Colorado didn't bother trying against John Franco in the eighth and Chad Qualls in the ninth. Pretty miserable, except for another two hits for the suddenly frisky Preston Wilson and doubles for Atkins and Relaford. Watching Matt Anderson pitch the eighth (two walks including one with the bases loaded, an infield hit, and a hit batsman) was like painful cranial surgery without anesthesia. Please, no more last chances for this bum.

The Astros got some charge out of their offensive stars of yore, as Craig Biggio, Adam Everett, and fresh-off-the-DL Lance Berkman had two hits each. All they really needed was Berkman's solo homer, as the Rockies didn't threaten against Pettite for even a minute.

But tomorrow: Wandy!