57All results / Stories / Brian Barefield
David Vs Goliath
Rockets small ball lineup faces tough test versus Clippers big men
Tonight’s matchup between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers is a must see as it could potentially be a preview of the 2020 Western Conference Finals. Yes, you did read that right. I believe that these two teams may see each other down the line to determine who will represent the Western Conference in the Finals.
Caliente: The Houston Astros are blazing through the rest of the AL
They say history has a strange way of repeating itself. If that is true, then some Astros fans need to be putting in for vacation days from work in October for the World Series parade in downtown Houston. The Astros became the first team to reach 70-wins in the American League this year after defeating the Cleveland Indians on last Thursday. They are currently on pace to go over 100 wins for the third straight year and would be the first team since the 2002-04 Yankees to do so. Having won 14 of their last 17 games and 8-2 in their last 10, they also hold a very sizeable lead in the AL West at 8.5.
Stop The Count: Astros Halt Mariners Winning Streak At 14 Games
With the majority of the 45,290 fans who helped Seattle set a season-high in attendance hurling insults towards the visiting Astros. It had a postseason feel familiar to Houston but probably caused some nervousness for Seattle since they have not made the playoffs since 2001.
On the Road Again
Astros takes series from Rangers and head out West for a grueling road trip
Stop me if you have heard me say this before. Michael Brantley is good.
Defense Wins Championships
Roughnecks defense shuts down Renegades offense to stay undefeated
Legendary Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once uttered the most prophetic and timeless cliché’s in sports history. “Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships,” said Bryant.
Rookie Jeremy Peña's Clutch Home Run In The 18th Inning Sends The Astros To Sixth ALCS
“In the backyard, you dream of this type of situation,” Peña said about his game-winning home run in his postgame interview. “Bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, and two outs. Every kid comes up with that scenario in their head and you just try to put together good at-bats and try to have fun with the boys.”
Astros Make A Brief Appearance At Minute Maid Park To Take On The Orioles
The Houston Astros gets what seems to be a rarity during the beginning of a 20-game in 20-days schedule as they get a quick three-game home stand against the Baltimore Orioles. Houston went 5-2 including a three-game sweep of the Orioles where they outscored Baltimore 26-3 on their last road trip.
In Familiar Territory
Astros take Game 1 of the ALDS over the A’s at Dodger Stadium
Baseball in the postseason at Dodger Stadium just does something to the Houston Astros. The last time Houston played a game there, they won Game 7 to win the 2017 World Series. On Monday it looked like the Astros relived some of that history as they defeated the Oakland A’s 10-5 in Game 1 of the 2020 American League Division Series.
Rockets fall to the Wizards in John Wall’s return to D.C.
Monday night was not the return home visit that John Wall envisioned when he circled the game against the Washington Wizards in D.C. on the schedule. Wall, who was traded this past offseason to the Rockets for Russell Westbrook and a first-round pick did everything he could to keep his injury riddled team afloat by scoring 29 points and dishing out 11 assists. But in the end, it wasn’t enough as Houston (11-16) lost to Washington (8-17) by a score of 131-119.
NFL Championship Weekend
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,” excerpt from a Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.
Almost Doesn’t Count: Texans Fall to 0-3 After Another Slow Start Against the New York Giants
There is an old cliché’ that says, “Slow and steady wins the race.” Although it’s a great cliché if you are running long distance, it does not work in the National Football League. The Houston Texans got off to a terrible first half start and it cost them the game. They lost to the New York Giants 27 – 22 to fall to 0-3 on the season and have a tough divisional opponent next week in the Indianapolis Colts. This is not the way they envisioned their season starting, but they can only take it one game at a time.
Micro Ball
The Houston Rockets are making a lot of sports media personalities bite their tongues and clean their Twitter feeds of the negative things they have said about how this small lineup and the lack of a big man in the middle would cause the Rockets to lose a lot of games. Even with all the pessimistic views being spread on the airwaves and social media, the Rockets continue to thrive with a group where sometimes the biggest person on the court is newly acquired 6’8 forward Jeff Green.
Hoping Christmas Comes Early: Houston Faces New England in the Season Opener
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” I sing loudly as I write this article. Yes, I know those are lyrics to a Christmas song and we are in the month of September, but what better song is appropriate for what’s about to take place this weekend. Football is back!
“California Dreaming” Astros complete West Coast road trip with 5-1 record.
It must be something about the weather out in California that the Houston Astros enjoy. They have hit a stride early to begin the 2021 Major League Baseball season by going 5-1 on their opening six game road trip against the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Angels.
Javier Shines In Back-To-Back Performances
“Confidence breeds confidence,” Baker said. “And confidence breeds success. That’s what he’s demonstrating. He has a calmness about him, especially for a young pitcher.”
Anxiously Awaiting
One would have to believe that the Houston Astros have that mindset as they try to clinch the American League West Division. On Wednesday, Houston allowed another opportunity to secure their fourth AL West title slip through their hands as they lost to the Tampa Bay Rays 7-0 at Minute Maid Park.
Late Game Collapse
OKC uses late game run to defeat the Rockets 117-114 to even the series
For the second game in a row the Houston Rockets (2-2) have been good, but just not good enough to finish. After losing Game 3 on Saturday in overtime due to the inefficiency to slow down big runs by the Oklahoma City Thunder (2-2) at the end of quarters, the Rockets let it happen again in Game 4. OKC used a 22-7 run at the end of the third quarter to erase a Houston 15-point lead and would go on to defeat Houston by a score of 117-114 to even the series at two games apiece.
One Game at a Time
Houston gets a much-needed victory over the Nationals in Game 3 of the 2019 World Series.
During their run towards “Back to Back” NBA titles, the Houston Rockets ran into some serious trouble against the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals. Houston went down in that series 3-1 and was on the brink of elimination in Game 5. The overall theme from the head coach all the way down to the last player on the bench was to take it one game at a time. Don’t jump ahead. Just win the game you are playing, and you will earn the chance to play another one with the same opportunity.
Houston Fans Witness A Non-Traditional Walk Off As The Astros Defeat The Diamondbacks
One thing I have never witnessed until Friday night in the Astros 4-3 extra innings victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks was a bases-loaded walk-off hit by pitch. No, you did not misread that last sentence. Yes, the Astros won a game with a walk-off hit by pitch. The last time Houston got a victory in that fashion was on Aug. 8, 1998. It was also the third time in franchise history that it has happened.
Astros open homestand with an outstanding pitching performance by Urquidy
The Houston Astros found some familiar territory on Tuesday at Minute Maid park by defeating the Texas Rangers by a score of 4-1 in the first game of the final homestand for Houston this season. With the win the Astros climb back to .500 with a 24-24 record and are still in second place in the A.L. West with the playoffs near.