"From the stands to the dugout, frustration abounds for the 2011 Astros. Whether you see it in frowns, body language or shaking heads from players or see it in the blog comments or hear it on radio talk shows, it's evident fans and players both are reaching the boiling point with this lost season.

Yet, with the season already down the drain, Hunter Pence and Bud Norris stand out as beacons in a dark abyss. They just press on game after game as though the season had meaning, as though the next win could pull the Astros into a first-place tie.

Wednesday's win over the Pirates belonged as much to Norris and Pence as anyone. Norris pitched seven innings, allowing only two runs, while Pence was 3-for-5 with a two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Par for the course for 2011 for both.

This should diminish or overshadow players like Jeff Keppinger or even David Carpenter, but Norris and Pence are clearly the consistency missing from so many other positions in the rotation and lineup.

Pence hasn't gone more than two consecutive games without a hit all season and is on his way to career highs in RBI, doubles, OBP and outfield assists. All of that as he has been asked to be a team leader, hit in the three hole and be a pillar on a team destined to be one of the worst in the organization's history."