Game 55: Astros 7, Cubs 3

Fans were surely looking for an Astros rookie to earn his first major league win on Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs. They got what they asked for, albeit from an unlikely source. Fernando Rodriguez recorded just one out in the bottom of the 8th, and as the 'Stros came up with an incredible rally against the usually lights-out Carlos Marmol, scoring six earned runs in the ninth, Rodriguez earned his first win in the big leagues, though it's one that he should probably offer to sell to Jordan Lyles.

Jordan Lyles had an impressive debut.

The Astros' top prospect made his major league debut, and looked incredibly solid. Quite simply, as Brad Mills put it, "He lived up to every expectation of every Astros fan." Lyles went 7 innings, giving up 2 earned on 5 hits, with one of those runs being given up by the 'pen, and the other a result of a lapse of concentration when the youngster tried to throw a sacrifice bunt to Chris Johnson at third. Lyles threw 92 pitches, 62 of them for strikes, and after a slightly shaky start, he began hitting Robinson Cancel's glove with striking regularity. An Astros fan in the Wrigley bleachers held up a sign that said "#41- The General", and I'll warrant that nickname sticks, as the young pitcher was able to command the strike zone with ease. Sure, there's a lot of hot prospects who make a great debut, since opposing teams often have no idea what to expect, and yes, the Cubs aren't exactly the cream of the crop in the National League, but Lyles' first start had to give some sort of comfort to Houston fans who are looking to the future to find hope.

It will be interesting to see how he fares in his second start in San Diego on Sunday (a game that won't be televised, of course). If the rookie comes up with another stellar start, Ed Wade and Co. will have an interesting decision to make. Should Jordan Lyles stay in the big leagues? It's an interesting quandary, but my answer has to be no. He's just 20 years old, and a little more seasoning in AAA will only do him good. Lyles still needs to work on getting his curve to bend all the way, and Oklahoma City is a much better place for trial and error with a breaking ball than Houston. Also, who would be kicked out of the rotation when Wandy comes back? Lyles can't logically be placed in the bullpen, and while Brett Myers hasn't been doing so great of late, there's no way the Astros brass will place him and his expensive contract in the 'pen. Bud Norris and J.A. Happ have been pitching too well to sit, and since they're seen as big parts of the future rotation, it would be oxymoronic to pull one of them for Lyles. Aneury Rodriguez would be the only possible candidate to lose his job, and he's been very solid in the number 5 spot in the rotation despite his 5.40 ERA. He's also a Rule 5 pick, and so putting him down would involve having to pass him through waivers, which management surely wouldn't want to do. Moving him to the bullpen in favor of the youngster is an option, but simply, it seems it would be in the best interests of all involved to move Lyles back down to OKC and leave Rodriguez in the 5 hole.

The Houston offense finally came to life in the ninth against a pitcher that usually knocks them dead. Marmol came into the game having given up six earned runs to date in his career before he surrendered the same amount to the Astros hitters in the ninth inning. In a season that's starting to become marked by late-inning comebacks and bullpen meltdowns, the team was on the right side of the rally this time as they won the series against the Cubbies.

Brett Myers will face off against Doug Davis tomorrow in the series finale at 1:20 pm.