Lineup Card: Game 1 @ Houston

Rockies Lineup

• LF Gonzalez
• CF Fowler
• RF Hawpe
• SS Tulowitzki
• 1B Helton
• C  Olivo
• 3B Mora
• 2B Barmes
• P   Smith

Right after his awkward slide last night I thought for sure Miguel Olivo would have a concussion or a sprained neck or something DLable.  That's just the Rockies luck these days.  Good to see him bounce right back.  Now... let us learn to slide first feet from now... deal?   That doesn't just go for Olivo.  

Question: Wasn't the Rockies best lineup this season when CarGo was hitting fifth?  

Fowler finally cracks the lineup again.  Ian Stewart needed a day off as bad as anyone in baseball.  Melvin Mora, who is a good third baseman, gets a start there.

Astros Lineup

• CF Bourn
• 2B Keppinger
• 1B Berkman
• LF Lee
• RF Pence
• 3B Feliz
• SS Manzella
• C  Cash
• P   Paulino

Paulino is 0-6 with a 5.72 ERA.  If the Rockies do not kill this guy then we have good reason to be very concerned.   The key for Greg Smith will be to keep Michael Bourn and Jeff Keppinger off base ahead of the "Big 4".  I include Feliz because of his history hitting 3-run HRs against Colorado.

Simulation

Rockies 8, Astros 1

WP: Greg Smith 
LP: Felipe Paulino 

Home Runs

None

Player of the Game: Greg Smith (6 1/2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)