Post by bstros on Apr 21, 2007 7:36:35 GMT -5
Biggio's slam lifts Astros to fifth straight
Veteran collects third career grand slam
By JR Radcliffe / Special to MLB.com
MILWAUKEE -- A major contribution from the longest-tenured Astro proved to be just enough to avoid spoiling a big night from the shortest-tenured one.
Though Houston had to survive tense moments in the ninth inning after Craig Biggio's grand slam in the top half gave Houston a four-run lead, the Astros held on for their fifth straight victory Friday at Miller Park in Milwaukee, a 6-5 affair that included six solid innings from rookie Matt Albers.
"I was trying to get the ball in the air a little bit and definitely got the bonus out of it," said Biggio of his third career grand slam and first since 1994, a shot to center that broke a 2-2 tie against Brewers reliever Greg Aquino. "It was one of those crazy games."
Beleaguered ex-closer Brad Lidge was in the spotlight again, allowing two walks and a three-run home run by Prince Fielder in the ninth, drawing the Brewers back within a run. A two-out double by catcher Johnny Estrada chased Lidge, whose small-sample ERA jumped over 10 during the game, and Chad Qualls entered the game to notch his first save of the season.
"I didn't want to use [closer Dan Wheeler] or Qualls either," Houston manager Phil Garner said. "Qualls had thrown a lot of pitches on consecutive days. Unfortunately, it didn't happen so, we'll regroup and see what we do tomorrow.
"It was a slider [that Fielder hit out], but it didn't look like it was a bad pitch," he added. "It had movement on it; I don't know if it was on the middle of the plate or not. And he's been getting left-handers out, that's the unusual part. Other than the fact that he walked a couple of guys early on, once he found the zone a little bit, I thought he threw the ball pretty good."
With runners on first and second and two outs, Qualls induced a ground ball from his only batter, pinch-hitter Gabe Gross, clinching Houston's fourth straight comeback victory and third straight game featuring a rally of four runs or more in the final two frames.
"Our young guys aren't young anymore," Biggio said. "We've had a lot of quality at-bats later in the game this past week, especially out of our younger guys. We're getting a lot of contributions from everybody and doing a nice job of it."
Among them was the 24-year-old Albers, a Houston native and product of San Jacinto Junior College, who allowed just two runs on six hits in six innings, walking three with a strikeout. The Double-A Texas League Player of the Year in 2006 appeared in four games for the Astros last season and made his first start since his recall from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
"It's a little bit different, on a bigger stage here, but I try to keep everything the same and relax," Albers said. "Short of the first couple innings, spinning off the ball a little bit, I calmed down a little bit and got some ground balls."
Added Biggio: "He probably wasn't happy with the amount of walks he had, but he's throwing some 94-mph two-seamers that I haven't seen move that much in a long time. I think the experience he got last year, getting his feet wet a little bit, has given him that confidence. Especially because [Ben] Sheets threw the ball so well also."
The Brewers right-hander Sheets permitted two runs on seven hits in seven innings, but both starters were out of the game before a decision came down. Rick White (1-0) worked two innings of scoreless relief for Houston and Qualls earned just his second Major League save and first since 2004.
"It was a big win," Qualls said. "To go up four runs, we should lock that game down. It would have been a tough one for us to lose."
Houston didn't even need to swing the bat to set the table in the ninth. Chris Burke's leadoff bunt was beyond the diving reach of pitcher Matt Wise (0-1), and Aquino proceeded to walk a sacrifice bunt-seeking Adam Everett. Brad Ausmus' subsequent bunt was fielded by the catcher Estrada, who threw late to third base.
One out later, Biggio delivered over the center field wall.
"We could write a book about it, and there's probably going to be a few written, but you can't overstate it," Garner said in praise of the infielder, in his 19th season with the club. "He's been terrific and continues to be a terrific player for us."
Milwaukee placed three runners on third base who ultimately did not score against Albers, including a first-and-third situation with one out in the fifth. Albers speared an Estrada grounder and, with help from a slick, short-hop pick by Everett at second base, initiated a 1-6-3 double play.
"I got it and thought, 'alright, great,'" Albers said. "I took a step and short-armed a little bit. Obviously Adam saved me and turned a terrible play into a great play."
Both teams traded scores in the first inning, with Lance Berkman's RBI groundout preceding Bill Hall's run-scoring single. Milwaukee took a lead on J.J. Hardy's fifth-inning home run, but Houston answered in the seventh on back-to-back doubles from Everett and Ausmus against Sheets.
"In the end, you've got to stop it one short," Garner said. "And we did."
JR Radcliffe is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Veteran collects third career grand slam
By JR Radcliffe / Special to MLB.com
MILWAUKEE -- A major contribution from the longest-tenured Astro proved to be just enough to avoid spoiling a big night from the shortest-tenured one.
Though Houston had to survive tense moments in the ninth inning after Craig Biggio's grand slam in the top half gave Houston a four-run lead, the Astros held on for their fifth straight victory Friday at Miller Park in Milwaukee, a 6-5 affair that included six solid innings from rookie Matt Albers.
"I was trying to get the ball in the air a little bit and definitely got the bonus out of it," said Biggio of his third career grand slam and first since 1994, a shot to center that broke a 2-2 tie against Brewers reliever Greg Aquino. "It was one of those crazy games."
Beleaguered ex-closer Brad Lidge was in the spotlight again, allowing two walks and a three-run home run by Prince Fielder in the ninth, drawing the Brewers back within a run. A two-out double by catcher Johnny Estrada chased Lidge, whose small-sample ERA jumped over 10 during the game, and Chad Qualls entered the game to notch his first save of the season.
"I didn't want to use [closer Dan Wheeler] or Qualls either," Houston manager Phil Garner said. "Qualls had thrown a lot of pitches on consecutive days. Unfortunately, it didn't happen so, we'll regroup and see what we do tomorrow.
"It was a slider [that Fielder hit out], but it didn't look like it was a bad pitch," he added. "It had movement on it; I don't know if it was on the middle of the plate or not. And he's been getting left-handers out, that's the unusual part. Other than the fact that he walked a couple of guys early on, once he found the zone a little bit, I thought he threw the ball pretty good."
With runners on first and second and two outs, Qualls induced a ground ball from his only batter, pinch-hitter Gabe Gross, clinching Houston's fourth straight comeback victory and third straight game featuring a rally of four runs or more in the final two frames.
"Our young guys aren't young anymore," Biggio said. "We've had a lot of quality at-bats later in the game this past week, especially out of our younger guys. We're getting a lot of contributions from everybody and doing a nice job of it."
Among them was the 24-year-old Albers, a Houston native and product of San Jacinto Junior College, who allowed just two runs on six hits in six innings, walking three with a strikeout. The Double-A Texas League Player of the Year in 2006 appeared in four games for the Astros last season and made his first start since his recall from Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
"It's a little bit different, on a bigger stage here, but I try to keep everything the same and relax," Albers said. "Short of the first couple innings, spinning off the ball a little bit, I calmed down a little bit and got some ground balls."
Added Biggio: "He probably wasn't happy with the amount of walks he had, but he's throwing some 94-mph two-seamers that I haven't seen move that much in a long time. I think the experience he got last year, getting his feet wet a little bit, has given him that confidence. Especially because [Ben] Sheets threw the ball so well also."
The Brewers right-hander Sheets permitted two runs on seven hits in seven innings, but both starters were out of the game before a decision came down. Rick White (1-0) worked two innings of scoreless relief for Houston and Qualls earned just his second Major League save and first since 2004.
"It was a big win," Qualls said. "To go up four runs, we should lock that game down. It would have been a tough one for us to lose."
Houston didn't even need to swing the bat to set the table in the ninth. Chris Burke's leadoff bunt was beyond the diving reach of pitcher Matt Wise (0-1), and Aquino proceeded to walk a sacrifice bunt-seeking Adam Everett. Brad Ausmus' subsequent bunt was fielded by the catcher Estrada, who threw late to third base.
One out later, Biggio delivered over the center field wall.
"We could write a book about it, and there's probably going to be a few written, but you can't overstate it," Garner said in praise of the infielder, in his 19th season with the club. "He's been terrific and continues to be a terrific player for us."
Milwaukee placed three runners on third base who ultimately did not score against Albers, including a first-and-third situation with one out in the fifth. Albers speared an Estrada grounder and, with help from a slick, short-hop pick by Everett at second base, initiated a 1-6-3 double play.
"I got it and thought, 'alright, great,'" Albers said. "I took a step and short-armed a little bit. Obviously Adam saved me and turned a terrible play into a great play."
Both teams traded scores in the first inning, with Lance Berkman's RBI groundout preceding Bill Hall's run-scoring single. Milwaukee took a lead on J.J. Hardy's fifth-inning home run, but Houston answered in the seventh on back-to-back doubles from Everett and Ausmus against Sheets.
"In the end, you've got to stop it one short," Garner said. "And we did."
JR Radcliffe is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
