Last night I walked into Minute Maid Park to watch the first of three games between the Astros and the Cardinals excited, but nervous. There’s the deep seated rivalry that makes me yearn for a win when the red birds are the opposing team, but there was also the great desire for this Astros team to earn a little respect.

Prior to first pitch, I said to my friends sitting with me, “If we can just get through this game without embarrassing ourselves against Lohse on the mound, I’ll consider it a success.”

Turns out, even I was selling this Astros team a bit short.

In a  game full of ups and downs, home runs and errors, Jose Altuve stood out as the leader and superstar. Many will say that he won the game with his game saving double play. Many a second baseman would have just caught that ball, but not Altuve. He let it drop. Yes, let it. By letting that ball hit the ground he set up and executed the double play that set up Brett Myers to get one strike out to finish off their long time rivals.

The Astros won 5-4 and I screamed like I haven’t screamed at an Astros game in year.

Today Bud Norris takes the mound in an attempt to lead this club to their second series win in a row and a most meaningful series win against this long time rival. The Astros keep proving they have all the pieces they need to get it done, including a very intuitive infielder named Jose Altuve.

Terri Schlather (AGirlintheSouth) is the tortured Senior Houston Astros Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at agirlinthesouth@gmail.com, or follow her ridiculous ramblings on sports, vodka and the weeone on twitter @agirlinthesouth.