At one time a single strike away from their first-ever World Series, the Astros fall 5-4 in a dramatic and painful ninth-inning loss.
Still, one strike away. Now, back to St. Louis.
By the way, this puts the Astros at 0-5 in games that could have sent them into the fall classic. Last year, they lost two in St. Louis and, in 1980, they lost two at home to Philadelphia. Like tonight, they had a lead at some point in each and every game. 1980 was particularly painful, with multiple-run leads blown in the two straight eighth innings and extra-inning losses in both games.
Still, one strike away with a two-run lead. And a heart-crushing loss comes instead.
Now, a repeat of last year’s 3-2 series lead heading back to Busch Stadium for an Astros team that should almost certainly feel snake-bit. If there’s any hope, it’s in the starting pitching duo of Roy Oswalt and Roger Clemons on the mound for a team that has proven amazingly resilient all season.
Still, one strike away with a two-run lead and the home-town fans roaring and the champagne chilled. Damn, this hurts.