Post by bstros on Apr 19, 2007 8:31:21 GMT -5
Reserves play key roles in five-run rally
Lane's homer caps eighth-inning comeback in opener of long trip
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
CINCINNATI — Mother Nature conspired to rob Mark Loretta, Mike Lamb, Jason Lane and Orlando Palmeiro of playing opportunities and at-bats over the first three weeks of the Astros' season.
But manager Phil Garner broke out his pencil Wednesday night, ushering Lamb and Lane into the starting lineup. He even met with the struggling Lance Berkman to see if his All-Star slugger needed the day off at Great American Ballpark.
Garner stopped short of benching Berkman, and his moves paid off beautifully as the Astros used a five-run rally to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 in the opener of a two-game set.
"I think we figured that (depth) was going to be one of the strengths coming into the season," Loretta said. "Even though we haven't played that much yet, we kind of expected that in terms of letting the regular guys get their rhythm and kind of settle in a little, and then it would probably open up later on in the season.
"I thought it was a real good team win."
With Palmeiro and Loretta helping in the pinch, Berkman adding his first RBI since April 9 and Lane capping the rally with a three-run homer, the Astros overcame a one-run deficit with their five-run outburst in the eighth inning.
"I think tonight's game was a real good example of the depth we have on this team," Loretta said. "The guys, everybody played well. But if you look at the game, Jason Lane had the big home run, (and) Orlando started off the rally getting hit by a pitch. ... Lamb, who hadn't had many at-bats, had a good game."
Pitching for the first time since April 10, Chris Sampson earned the victory by holding the Reds to two runs over seven innings. Sampson allowed five hits, including two homers, and two walks while striking out seven.
By winning the first game of a four-city, nine-game trip through Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Sampson (2-0) pushed the Astros above .500 for the first time this year.
"It's important for the bench guys to come in and, when they get a chance to play, produce in there," Lamb said after going 2-for-5 with a double and a run. "It's important for the bench players to be sharp throughout the season to get starts so that they're confident and have timing and can step in like we did (Wednesday), because it's going to take all of us to win."
Key hit for Berkman
Hitting for Sampson, Palmeiro was hit by a pitch to lead off the eighth inning against righthander Todd Coffey. After Craig Biggio struck out attempting to bunt, Palmeiro reached second on Lamb's groundout to third. Berkman tied the score at 2 with an RBI single through the left side to snap a 0-for-8 slump.
"I think the biggest part was Lance," Palmeiro said. "We need him to come through, and he did. He's going to be a guy that we're going to count on, and he came through in that spot.
"Once we tied the game, it's all icing after that, because I believe we have a strong bullpen, and I believe they're going to keep us in the game and we have a chance at that point."
Berkman, who is hitting .190, said he didn't feel any better or worse after going 1-for-4. Nonetheless, he lobbied to stay in the lineup because he's confident in his ability to help the Astros win.
"I think that's why (Garner) called me in — just to see how I was feeling on that," Berkman said. "I feel fine. I feel like if I'm in the lineup I can help us win the game. And (Wednesday) it worked fine."
Coffey was pulled after walking Carlos Lee. Reds manager Jerry Narron called on lefthander Rheal Cormier to face Luke Scott. Garner countered with Loretta, who broke the tie with an RBI single to right. Lane followed with his three-run blast to left.
"I was pretty excited about that five-run eighth inning there," Sampson said. "It didn't hurt my feelings one bit (to leave for a pinch hitter). I was still pitcher of record, so I was thankful for that."
Reds starter Aaron Harang settled for a no-decision after holding the Astros to one run, three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out eight.
The Astros were just inches away from taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Ken Griffey Jr. made a leaping grab at the right-field wall to rob Scott of a home run. Sampson wasn't as fortunate in the bottom of the second when Brandon Phillips ripped a shot over the wall in left-center to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.
Lamb led off the fourth with a single through the left side. One out later, Lee and Scott drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Harang struck out Lane and Adam Everett to end the inning.
Another RBI for Lee
Even more frustrating for the Astros, Josh Hamilton led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to left for a 2-0 Cincinnati lead.
The Astros got that run back in the sixth. Lamb led off the inning with a double down the left-field line, reached third on Berkman's groundout and scored on Lee's RBI groundout to second. It was Lee's league-leading 17th RBI of the season.
The Astros got five more runs in the eighth and another in the ninth.
"Carlos had a big RBI," Lane said. "Lance had a big one, and of course, Mark Loretta had a huge RBI. I had a big at-bat earlier in the game that I didn't get the job done with the bases loaded. I was frustrated at that. It was nice to get another shot with some guys on and to help tack some runs on."
jesus.ortiz@chron.com
Lane's homer caps eighth-inning comeback in opener of long trip
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
CINCINNATI — Mother Nature conspired to rob Mark Loretta, Mike Lamb, Jason Lane and Orlando Palmeiro of playing opportunities and at-bats over the first three weeks of the Astros' season.
But manager Phil Garner broke out his pencil Wednesday night, ushering Lamb and Lane into the starting lineup. He even met with the struggling Lance Berkman to see if his All-Star slugger needed the day off at Great American Ballpark.
Garner stopped short of benching Berkman, and his moves paid off beautifully as the Astros used a five-run rally to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 in the opener of a two-game set.
"I think we figured that (depth) was going to be one of the strengths coming into the season," Loretta said. "Even though we haven't played that much yet, we kind of expected that in terms of letting the regular guys get their rhythm and kind of settle in a little, and then it would probably open up later on in the season.
"I thought it was a real good team win."
With Palmeiro and Loretta helping in the pinch, Berkman adding his first RBI since April 9 and Lane capping the rally with a three-run homer, the Astros overcame a one-run deficit with their five-run outburst in the eighth inning.
"I think tonight's game was a real good example of the depth we have on this team," Loretta said. "The guys, everybody played well. But if you look at the game, Jason Lane had the big home run, (and) Orlando started off the rally getting hit by a pitch. ... Lamb, who hadn't had many at-bats, had a good game."
Pitching for the first time since April 10, Chris Sampson earned the victory by holding the Reds to two runs over seven innings. Sampson allowed five hits, including two homers, and two walks while striking out seven.
By winning the first game of a four-city, nine-game trip through Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Sampson (2-0) pushed the Astros above .500 for the first time this year.
"It's important for the bench guys to come in and, when they get a chance to play, produce in there," Lamb said after going 2-for-5 with a double and a run. "It's important for the bench players to be sharp throughout the season to get starts so that they're confident and have timing and can step in like we did (Wednesday), because it's going to take all of us to win."
Key hit for Berkman
Hitting for Sampson, Palmeiro was hit by a pitch to lead off the eighth inning against righthander Todd Coffey. After Craig Biggio struck out attempting to bunt, Palmeiro reached second on Lamb's groundout to third. Berkman tied the score at 2 with an RBI single through the left side to snap a 0-for-8 slump.
"I think the biggest part was Lance," Palmeiro said. "We need him to come through, and he did. He's going to be a guy that we're going to count on, and he came through in that spot.
"Once we tied the game, it's all icing after that, because I believe we have a strong bullpen, and I believe they're going to keep us in the game and we have a chance at that point."
Berkman, who is hitting .190, said he didn't feel any better or worse after going 1-for-4. Nonetheless, he lobbied to stay in the lineup because he's confident in his ability to help the Astros win.
"I think that's why (Garner) called me in — just to see how I was feeling on that," Berkman said. "I feel fine. I feel like if I'm in the lineup I can help us win the game. And (Wednesday) it worked fine."
Coffey was pulled after walking Carlos Lee. Reds manager Jerry Narron called on lefthander Rheal Cormier to face Luke Scott. Garner countered with Loretta, who broke the tie with an RBI single to right. Lane followed with his three-run blast to left.
"I was pretty excited about that five-run eighth inning there," Sampson said. "It didn't hurt my feelings one bit (to leave for a pinch hitter). I was still pitcher of record, so I was thankful for that."
Reds starter Aaron Harang settled for a no-decision after holding the Astros to one run, three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out eight.
The Astros were just inches away from taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Ken Griffey Jr. made a leaping grab at the right-field wall to rob Scott of a home run. Sampson wasn't as fortunate in the bottom of the second when Brandon Phillips ripped a shot over the wall in left-center to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.
Lamb led off the fourth with a single through the left side. One out later, Lee and Scott drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Harang struck out Lane and Adam Everett to end the inning.
Another RBI for Lee
Even more frustrating for the Astros, Josh Hamilton led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to left for a 2-0 Cincinnati lead.
The Astros got that run back in the sixth. Lamb led off the inning with a double down the left-field line, reached third on Berkman's groundout and scored on Lee's RBI groundout to second. It was Lee's league-leading 17th RBI of the season.
The Astros got five more runs in the eighth and another in the ninth.
"Carlos had a big RBI," Lane said. "Lance had a big one, and of course, Mark Loretta had a huge RBI. I had a big at-bat earlier in the game that I didn't get the job done with the bases loaded. I was frustrated at that. It was nice to get another shot with some guys on and to help tack some runs on."
jesus.ortiz@chron.com
