Norris' performance makes Astros' loss a little easier to take
As the Houston Astros' chances of pulling any sort of upset in the standings fade in the midsummer, the biggest takeaway often isn't the result. For Bud Norris in a 4-0 loss to the Cubs on Friday, that was probably the case.
Not only was he healthy after missing more than two trips through the rotation because of a sprained knee and hip flexor pain, he wanted more than the 87 pitches he threw in six innings.
"I would have liked to stay out there a lot longer," said Norris, who allowed four runs on six hits and a walk. "We've got a six-man rotation and are trying to help the bullpen, I guess, but the manager made his decision. So I've got to let it be with that. But I felt strong in 86 pitches. I'm used to throwing 110, so it's a little different."
That's probably a good sign. For what it's worth, manager Brad Mills said he was happy with the pitch count after Norris had gone 75 pitches in a rehab assignment for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
"He's thrown 75 pitches in the last three or four weeks, and I thought 87 was enough right there with us being down like we were at that time," Mills said. "I thought he battled pretty well."
As for the performance aspect, Norris thought he pitched pretty well but was regretting a few bad pitches. He gave up all four of the runs on three home runs, including the lone two-run shot, by Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger. It was the first of Clevenger's major league career.
"It was a really bad slider," Norris said. "It just hung. I didn't really get comfortable with my slider early in the day, and that definitely showed."
