For Whom the Bell Towles

Not the biggest story in the world here, but as an Astros fan I feel obligated to write about it. Houston catcher J.R. Towles has been stuck in the middle of just an abysmal slump this month. After starting the season hitting the ball pretty well, he had managed just one hit in the month of May entering play yesterday and was 0 for his last 32 dropping his average from .382 to .197. Towles started his career with a strong showing in 2007 during a September call-up where he batted .325 and even enjoyed an 8 rbi game against the St. Louis Cardinals that year, but has since then been completely overmatched at the plate. He hit .137 in 146 at bats in 2008, .188 in 48 at bats in 2009 and .191 in 47 at bats last season. And now it seemed as though he was headed down that path once again. All that changed yesterday though. Facing crafty lefty Ted Lilly, Towles hit a 2-out double in the second inning, finally snapping the skid with his first hit in 3 weeks. He followed that up with a 1-out single off reliever Mike MacDougal in the 7th notching his first multi-hit game since April 19th. Finally, tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 9th, with pinch runner Brian Bogusevic on second base, Towles stepped in against Matt Guerrier and lined a single into centerfield for the game winning rbi. Having watched him struggle the past few seasons, not to mention what he's been going through the past month, I really couldn't be happier for J.R. It's always nice to see a guy who's been struggling find some success, and nobody needed that hit yesterday more than he did. Way to go, buddy. Hopefully this gets you going.