Post by bstros on Apr 17, 2007 7:37:34 GMT -5
Ensberg caps 9th-inning rally
Astros capitalize on second chance to defeat Marlins
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Given another chance in the ninth inning after the Florida Marlins dropped his foul pop near the right-field line, Morgan Ensberg capitalized. He sent an RBI single through the left side, giving the Astros a 4-3 victory Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Ensberg came through to win the opener of a two-game set before a crowd of 30,665, which also saw Bruce Froemming set a record for consecutive years of service as a major league umpire. With his service at 37 years and 12 games, Froemming, who was at first base on Monday, surpassed the mark set by Hall of Fame umpire Bill Klem.
"It was exciting," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "They made a mistake, and then Morgan came back and did something. That's good."
With the score tied at 3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Carlos Lee delivered a simple message to his teammates. Like almost everybody in attendance not wearing a Marlins uniform, Lee didn't want to go into extra innings.
"I told them, 'Let's get it done now. We've got the opportunity to do it. You've just got to put them away,' " he said. "I told everybody."
Mark Loretta, whose two-run single put the Astros ahead 3-1 in the sixth, led off the ninth with a four-pitch walk off righthanded reliever Kevin Gregg (0-1). Lance Berkman followed with another walk. Lee followed with a single through the right side, and it appeared Loretta would score, especially after right fielder Joe Borchard let the ball roll under his glove.
Third-base coach Doug Mansolino, who has waved at least three Astros runners to their demise at home plate this season, was conservative and held Loretta.
"Manso made the right call, because Loretta is two steps from third base by the time Bor's getting ready to get the ball," Garner said. "He has to hold him up at that moment. Then when he sees him bobble the ball, Manso tries to bring him on, and Lo wasn't looking at him at the time.
"It's just one of those things. You don't want to get him thrown out at the plate with nobody out. That's a standard rule."
Ensberg came to the plate with the bases loaded. With the infielders in and the outfielders playing shallow, the Astros caught a break when Borchard bumped second baseman Dan Uggla as Uggla was preparing to make the catch. The ball landed in foul territory. No error was charged.
Ensberg followed with his RBI single to secure the victory for Chad Qualls (2-1), who threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
"It's absolutely huge," Ensberg said of the second chance. "You absolutely want to be in that situation. That's why we play that game. I'm just absolutely pumped up that I had a chance to get a mulligan."
Wandy Rodriguez was in line for the victory after holding the Marlins to one run on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six solid innings, but he settled for a no-decision after Rick White let the Marlins tie the score at 3 in the seventh.
Brad Ausmus gave the Astros a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to center in the fourth. The Marlins countered in the fifth, which Cody Ross led off with a single to right. Miguel Olivo followed with an RBI double to center.
The Astros' Luke Scott left the bases loaded by taking a called third strike in the fifth inning. Loretta wasn't as forgiving in the sixth when he drove in Chris Burke and Orlando Palmeiro with a two-run single to center.
The Marlins got those two runs back in the seventh against White. Ross led off the inning with a double to left, and one out later, Borchard hit an RBI single to left, cutting the Astros' lead to 3-2. Borchard reached second on Aaron Boone's groundout to third.
Hanley Ramirez showed patience and drew a walk. Uggla tied the score at 3 with an RBI single through the right side.
jesus.ortiz@chron.com
Astros capitalize on second chance to defeat Marlins
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Given another chance in the ninth inning after the Florida Marlins dropped his foul pop near the right-field line, Morgan Ensberg capitalized. He sent an RBI single through the left side, giving the Astros a 4-3 victory Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Ensberg came through to win the opener of a two-game set before a crowd of 30,665, which also saw Bruce Froemming set a record for consecutive years of service as a major league umpire. With his service at 37 years and 12 games, Froemming, who was at first base on Monday, surpassed the mark set by Hall of Fame umpire Bill Klem.
"It was exciting," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "They made a mistake, and then Morgan came back and did something. That's good."
With the score tied at 3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Carlos Lee delivered a simple message to his teammates. Like almost everybody in attendance not wearing a Marlins uniform, Lee didn't want to go into extra innings.
"I told them, 'Let's get it done now. We've got the opportunity to do it. You've just got to put them away,' " he said. "I told everybody."
Mark Loretta, whose two-run single put the Astros ahead 3-1 in the sixth, led off the ninth with a four-pitch walk off righthanded reliever Kevin Gregg (0-1). Lance Berkman followed with another walk. Lee followed with a single through the right side, and it appeared Loretta would score, especially after right fielder Joe Borchard let the ball roll under his glove.
Third-base coach Doug Mansolino, who has waved at least three Astros runners to their demise at home plate this season, was conservative and held Loretta.
"Manso made the right call, because Loretta is two steps from third base by the time Bor's getting ready to get the ball," Garner said. "He has to hold him up at that moment. Then when he sees him bobble the ball, Manso tries to bring him on, and Lo wasn't looking at him at the time.
"It's just one of those things. You don't want to get him thrown out at the plate with nobody out. That's a standard rule."
Ensberg came to the plate with the bases loaded. With the infielders in and the outfielders playing shallow, the Astros caught a break when Borchard bumped second baseman Dan Uggla as Uggla was preparing to make the catch. The ball landed in foul territory. No error was charged.
Ensberg followed with his RBI single to secure the victory for Chad Qualls (2-1), who threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
"It's absolutely huge," Ensberg said of the second chance. "You absolutely want to be in that situation. That's why we play that game. I'm just absolutely pumped up that I had a chance to get a mulligan."
Wandy Rodriguez was in line for the victory after holding the Marlins to one run on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six solid innings, but he settled for a no-decision after Rick White let the Marlins tie the score at 3 in the seventh.
Brad Ausmus gave the Astros a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to center in the fourth. The Marlins countered in the fifth, which Cody Ross led off with a single to right. Miguel Olivo followed with an RBI double to center.
The Astros' Luke Scott left the bases loaded by taking a called third strike in the fifth inning. Loretta wasn't as forgiving in the sixth when he drove in Chris Burke and Orlando Palmeiro with a two-run single to center.
The Marlins got those two runs back in the seventh against White. Ross led off the inning with a double to left, and one out later, Borchard hit an RBI single to left, cutting the Astros' lead to 3-2. Borchard reached second on Aaron Boone's groundout to third.
Hanley Ramirez showed patience and drew a walk. Uggla tied the score at 3 with an RBI single through the right side.
jesus.ortiz@chron.com
