Post by bstros on Apr 19, 2007 22:12:39 GMT -5
Five-run eighth completes back-to-back comeback wins
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
CINCINNATI — For the second consecutive night, the Astros mounted a five-run rally in the eighth inning to come from behind and win at Great American Ballpark.
Luke Scott tied the game with a three-run double and scored the go-ahead run on Morgan Ensberg's sacrifice fly, helping the Astros overcome a four-run deficit with five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-6 on Thursday night.
A year after scoring at least five runs in only 12 innings and only one of those rallies after the seventh, the Astros scored five runs in the eighth on consecutive nights in Cincinnati to overcome deficits and sweep the two-game set.
Former closer Brad Lidge, who pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh, earned the victory as the Astros got off to a 2-0 start on their nine-game, four-city trip through Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Dan Wheeler threw a perfect ninth for his third save.
Jason Lane, who capped Wednesday's five-run rally with a three-run homer, added a pinch home run in the ninth to pad the lead in the latest comeback.
The late rally bailed out righthander Woody Williams, who was in line for the defeat after giving up six runs on seven hits, three walks and two home runs with two strikeouts over six innings before a crowd of 14,222. Bronson Arroyo had to settle for a no-decision despite holding the Astros to two runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts over seven innings.
The evening didn't start off well for the Astros. Brandon Phillips gave the Reds a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run to left field in the first inning. Josh Hamilton followed with a double off the left field wall. One out later, Scott Hatteberg gave Cincinnati a 3-0 lead with an RBI double to center.
Ensberg led off the fifth with a double off the left field wall, and Adam Everett put runners at the corners with a bloop single to left over the shortstop's head. Ensberg scored on Humberto Quintero's double play grounder to second.
The Reds countered in the bottom of the fifth with Hamilton's three-run home run to right. Ryan Freel began that threat with a one-out single up the middle. Adam Dunn, the Porter native and New Caney High graduate, followed with a walk. Scott sprinted in to make a tremendous diving catch on Phillips' sinking line drive near the line in shallow right field line for the second out. But Hamilton drilled the first pitch to give the Reds a 6-1 lead.
The Astros cut the Reds' lead to 6-2 with Scott's solo home run in the seventh. They got the rest of the runs back in the eighth.
Craig Biggio, who had a rare day out of the starting lineup, led off the eighth with a walk off former Astros reliever Kirk Saarloos. One out later, Mark Loretta put runners at the corners with a single to right, prompting Reds manager Jerry Narron to call on lefthander Mike Stanton.
Lance Berkman greeted Stanton with an RBI single through the left side, cutting the Reds' lead to 6-3 as Narron made another call to the bullpen. Righthander Dave Weathers was brought in to face Carlos Lee. The Astros caught a break when shortstop Alex Gonzalez booted Lee's grounder, loading the bases on the error.
Scott capitalized with his three-run double into the right-center field gap, reaching third on the throw home. Ensberg followed with a sacrifice fly to right, giving the Astros a 7-6 lead.
jesus.ortiz@chron.com
By JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
CINCINNATI — For the second consecutive night, the Astros mounted a five-run rally in the eighth inning to come from behind and win at Great American Ballpark.
Luke Scott tied the game with a three-run double and scored the go-ahead run on Morgan Ensberg's sacrifice fly, helping the Astros overcome a four-run deficit with five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-6 on Thursday night.
A year after scoring at least five runs in only 12 innings and only one of those rallies after the seventh, the Astros scored five runs in the eighth on consecutive nights in Cincinnati to overcome deficits and sweep the two-game set.
Former closer Brad Lidge, who pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh, earned the victory as the Astros got off to a 2-0 start on their nine-game, four-city trip through Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Dan Wheeler threw a perfect ninth for his third save.
Jason Lane, who capped Wednesday's five-run rally with a three-run homer, added a pinch home run in the ninth to pad the lead in the latest comeback.
The late rally bailed out righthander Woody Williams, who was in line for the defeat after giving up six runs on seven hits, three walks and two home runs with two strikeouts over six innings before a crowd of 14,222. Bronson Arroyo had to settle for a no-decision despite holding the Astros to two runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts over seven innings.
The evening didn't start off well for the Astros. Brandon Phillips gave the Reds a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run to left field in the first inning. Josh Hamilton followed with a double off the left field wall. One out later, Scott Hatteberg gave Cincinnati a 3-0 lead with an RBI double to center.
Ensberg led off the fifth with a double off the left field wall, and Adam Everett put runners at the corners with a bloop single to left over the shortstop's head. Ensberg scored on Humberto Quintero's double play grounder to second.
The Reds countered in the bottom of the fifth with Hamilton's three-run home run to right. Ryan Freel began that threat with a one-out single up the middle. Adam Dunn, the Porter native and New Caney High graduate, followed with a walk. Scott sprinted in to make a tremendous diving catch on Phillips' sinking line drive near the line in shallow right field line for the second out. But Hamilton drilled the first pitch to give the Reds a 6-1 lead.
The Astros cut the Reds' lead to 6-2 with Scott's solo home run in the seventh. They got the rest of the runs back in the eighth.
Craig Biggio, who had a rare day out of the starting lineup, led off the eighth with a walk off former Astros reliever Kirk Saarloos. One out later, Mark Loretta put runners at the corners with a single to right, prompting Reds manager Jerry Narron to call on lefthander Mike Stanton.
Lance Berkman greeted Stanton with an RBI single through the left side, cutting the Reds' lead to 6-3 as Narron made another call to the bullpen. Righthander Dave Weathers was brought in to face Carlos Lee. The Astros caught a break when shortstop Alex Gonzalez booted Lee's grounder, loading the bases on the error.
Scott capitalized with his three-run double into the right-center field gap, reaching third on the throw home. Ensberg followed with a sacrifice fly to right, giving the Astros a 7-6 lead.
jesus.ortiz@chron.com
