Winning With Mr. Cooper: Astros Give Cecil His First Victory

The Astros may have 99 problems, but the pitch ain't one. After stumbling out of the gate to start this week's series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Astros saddled up thoroughbred Roy Oswalt and rode to victory last night, securing Cecil Cooper's first major league win as the 'stros new manager. Oswalt worked with trademark efficiency, blazing through seven innings while throwing only ninety-nine pitches.

Offensively, the team rode homers by Luke Scott and Lance Berkman to an easy 7-0 margin. After Oswalt exited the game, the bullpen closed out the final two innings; given that Oswalt hadn't pitched since August 19th after injuring his oblique, a complete game was out of the question.

After Trever Miller struck out Chris Duncan to end the game, Brad Ausmus (ok, girls: commence the sighing.) secured the ball to give to Cooper as a memento. Cooper's influence is already showing in the lineup; Craig Biggio was demoted to the second spot in the batting order to allow phenom Hunter Pence to lead off. Pence responded by going 2-4 with an RBI single.

Also notable in the game, Ausmus passed former teammate and offseason golfing partner Jeff Bagwell's career triples mark with his 33rd three bagger. Ausmus appeared to be pretty pleased with himself (as were others on the team), and said that Baggy's franchise home run record is next.

The Astros finish with the Cardinals today, and travel to the Windy City to face the Cubs and their drunken hordes of Bleacher Bums this weekend.