Return home, not so sweet

Royals 2, Astros 1

So Greinke was back on for the Royals. He gave up 8 hits and no walks in 8 IP to hold the Astros' bats in check. Despite four straight losses and 15 ER's, Greinke's sub-2.00 ERA coming in was proof enough that the Astros might need to muster more than a solitary first inning run. But despite the Astros' tepid offense, cagey old Russ Ortiz looked sharp, allowing just 5 hits and two walks in 7 IP, his longest outing of the season. Gotta love the fight.

Lineup notes:
Cecil Cooper sat Lance Berkman yesterday, moving Miguel Tejada to fifth in the order, while Hunter Pence moved back to the three hole, from where he scored Houston's only run. Pence's improved patience at the plate has been evident this year. His OBP is over .400 behind 33 walks. He's just seven free passes off his previous season high of 40 from last year. That coupled with his ability to hit .300 and his 20-plus home run power makes him a legitimate No. 3 hitter. Ah, to see the young hitter's bloom. It might just be that Berkman will be settled in a five for the rest of the year - and perhaps the rest of his career. Berkman's .245 BA is the by far the lowest it's been since his rookie year, but he's still walking at a good clip, on pace to break 100 for the fourth time in his career. It's likely that age has slowed his swing, but Berkman still has his pop leading the team with 14 homers. Plus, having a five-holer who gets on base, gives the lower lineup more RBI opportunities going forward.

Reported this afternoon by the Houston Chronicle's Richard Justice via Twitter:
Astros top pick Jiovanni Mier received a $1.358-million signing bonus, which is $26,000 over MLB's recommended slot price for the 21st pick.

This just in: Tejada isn't getting any younger.
Mier just might be the heir apparent at short for the Astros, or, sadly, trade bait for Drayton McLain to acquire an aging veteran. *Sigh*

Old guys revisiting their youth:
In his blog for the Chronicle, Justice admires the work Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz have done in recent weeks.