NL: ATLANTA (83-75) at HOUSTON (70-88) <h3>Braves begin final series of season against Astros</h3> <div class="pre">Atlanta (83-76) at Houston (71-88) 8:05 pm EDT</div> HOUSTON (Ticker) -- After being officially being eliminated fromthe playoffs, the Atlanta Braves end the season with athree-game series at the Houston Astros starting Friday. The Braves dropped a 6-4 loss at the Philadelphia Phillies onThursday to see their postseason hopes end, meaning they willmiss the playoffs for the second straight year after making theprevious 11. They will, however, finish with a winning recordafter going 79-83 last season. To kick off their final series of the season, the Braves willturn to rookie Jo-Jo Reyes (1-2, 6.75 ERA), who will be lookingfor his second win in three starts. He did not factor into thedecision in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in whichhe allowed four runs - three earned - and four hits over 5 1/3innings. In his only other career appearance against the Astros, thelefthander tossed three relief innings on August 2, surrenderingfive runs - four earned - but did not factor into a 12-11 loss. The Astros will counter with rookie Matt Albers (4-10, 5.88),who will be aiming to end his four-game losing streak. His laststart - a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday -extended his winless September as he permitted two runs and 11hits over six frames. The righthander has only faced the Braves twice in his career,with both appearances coming in relief. He does not have adecision but has surrendered seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings.
NL: ATLANTA (83-75) at HOUSTON (70-88) <h3>Biggio, Astros continue final home series vs. Braves</h3> <div class="pre">Atlanta (84-76) at Houston (71-89) 7:05 pm EDT</div> <div class="pre">HOUSTON (Ticker) - Craig Biggio's Hall of Fame career is</div>winding down, but the Atlanta Braves do not care. Biggio and the Houston Astros continue to host the Braves in themiddle game of a three-game series on Saturday. A 20-year veteran, Biggio announced that he is retiring atseason's end. Biggio, who reached the 3,000 hit plateau thisseason, has spent his entire career with Houston. The Astros,who are enduring just their second losing season since 1991,would like to send him out on a winning note. Brandon Backe (2-1, 4.37 ERA) gets the ball for Houston, whichhad its three-game winning streak snapped on Friday. Backe wonhis second straight start by allowing two runs and six hits insix innings of a 6-3 win over St. Louis on last Friday. Meanwhile, Jeff Bennett (2-0, 2.57) takes the mound for Atlanta,which will miss out on the postseason for the second straightseason. Bennett allowed one run and six hits in 5 2/3 inningsin his first career start - a 3-1 win over Milwaukee onThursday. Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in three runs as the Bravesposted a 7-2 victory on Friday for their ninth win in their last12 games.
NL: ATLANTA (84-77) at HOUSTON (72-89) <h3>Biggio set for final game against Braves</h3> <div class="pre">Atlanta (84-77) at Houston (72-89) 2:05 pm EDT</div> HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Craig Biggio's 20-year major league careerwill come to end Sunday. Biggio hopes to end his career on a positive note when theHouston Astros host the Atlanta Braves in the regular-seasonfinale. The 41-year-old Biggio went 2-for-4 with a run scored inSaturday's 3-2 triumph. Biggio, who has played virtually everyposition during his career, is batting .251 with 10 blasts and50 RBI this season. After being selected in the first round of the 1987 amateurdraft, the Seton Hall alum has gone on to collect 3,061 careerhits, posting a .281 batting average with 291 home runs alongthe way. The seven-time All-Star has also won five SilverSlugger awards - four as a second baseman and one as a catcher. Biggio will be playing behind rookie Felipe Paulino (1-1, 10.38ERA), who will be making his third career start. The Dominicanrighthander logged his first career win in his previous startdespite giving up five runs and eight hits over five innings inan 8-5 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. He will be opposed by righthander Buddy Carlyle (8-6, 5.16), whowill be making his first start since September 11 afterhyperextending his right elbow. The 29-year-old Carlyle didpitch two innings of scoreless relief on September 15.
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ATLANTA AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS ATLANTA HOUSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Yunel Escobar SS .330 5 28 Josh Anderson CF .365 0 11 Willie Harris CF .274 2 32 Craig Biggio 2B .251 10 50 Chipper Jones 3B .339 29 102 Lance Berkman 1B .279 34 102 Jeff Francoeur RF .294 19 105 Carlos Lee LF .302 32 117 Scott Thorman 1B .218 11 36 Hunter Pence RF .321 17 68 Brandon Jones LF .133 0 4 Mark Loretta SS .286 4 41 Clint Sammons C .000 0 0 Ty Wigginton 3B .287 6 18 Pete Orr 2B .194 0 2 Brad Ausmus C .236 3 25 Buddy Carlyle RHP .139 0 3 Felipe Paulino RHP .000 0 0 (8-6, 5.16) (1-1, 10.38)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON STARTING BATS: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE AND CLINT SAMMONS HOU - FELIPE PAULINO AND BRAD AUSMUS DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: Y ESCOBAR (.329, 5 HR, 28 RBI) W HARRIS (.274, 2 HR, 32 RBI) C JONES (.339, 29 HR, 102 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON WARMUPS: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE (8-6, 5.16) HOU - FELIPE PAULINO (1-1, 10.38) UMPIRES: HP - ANGEL HERNANDEZ 1B - DERRYL COUSINS 2B - TED BARRETT 3B - MARK CARLSON WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE HOU - FELIPE PAULINO DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J ANDERSON (.365, 0 HR, 11 RBI) C BIGGIO (.251, 10 HR, 50 RBI) L BERKMAN (.279, 34 HR, 102 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 W Harris cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .339 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218 B Jones lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133 C Sammons c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 P Orr 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 B Carlyle p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .139 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Anderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .365 C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251 L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302 H Pence rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 F Paulino p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 HOUSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Carlyle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.16 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era F Paulino 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 9.64 Pitches-strikes: F Paulino 13-7. Ground balls-fly balls: F Paulino 0-2. Batters faced: F Paulino 4. UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Ted Barrett. 3B--Mark Carlson. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE HOU - FELIPE PAULINO</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY CARLOS LEE SCORED JOSH ANDERSON AND CRAIG BIGGIO. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C LEE ON FIRST, L BERKMAN ON SECOND, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0 HOUSTON 2 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.321, 17 HR, 68 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY HUNTER PENCE SCORED LANCE BERKMAN. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, H PENCE ON SECOND, C LEE ON THIRD, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: ATLANTA 0 HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.286, 4 HR, 41 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 HOUSTON 3 3 4 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE HOU - FELIPE PAULINO DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: S THORMAN (.218, 11 HR, 36 RBI) B JONES (.133, 0 HR, 4 RBI) C SAMMONS (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS HOUSTON (3) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 W Harris cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .339 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218 B Jones lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .133 C Sammons c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 P Orr 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 B Carlyle p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .139 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Anderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .375 C Biggio 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .253 L Berkman 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .279 C Lee lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .304 H Pence rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .322 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .236 F Paulino p 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .000 Totals 7 3 4 3 2 1 7 BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (31, B Carlyle); H Pence (30, B Carlyle). RBI - C Lee 2 (119), H Pence (69). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Paulino 2. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 0 -- 0 HOUSTON - 3 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Carlyle 1 4 3 3 2 1 0 5.37 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era F Paulino 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 9.64 IBB - L Berkman (by B Carlyle), B Ausmus (by B Carlyle). Pitches-strikes: B Carlyle 27-12; F Paulino 13-7. Ground balls-fly balls: B Carlyle 1-1; F Paulino 0-2. Batters faced: B Carlyle 9; F Paulino 4. UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Ted Barrett. 3B--Mark Carlson. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 HOUSTON 3 3 4 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE HOU - FELIPE PAULINO DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J ANDERSON (.375, 1-FOR-1) C BIGGIO (.253, 1-FOR-1) L BERKMAN (.279, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS HOUSTON (3) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 W Harris cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .339 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .218 B Jones lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .125 C Sammons c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 P Orr 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 B Carlyle p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .139 Totals 5 0 0 0 2 2 3 BATTING: GIDP - C Sammons. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Anderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .375 C Biggio 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .253 L Berkman 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .279 C Lee lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .304 H Pence rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .322 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .236 F Paulino p 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .000 Totals 7 3 4 3 2 1 7 BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (31, B Carlyle); H Pence (30, B Carlyle). RBI - C Lee 2 (119), H Pence (69). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Paulino 2. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Loretta-C Biggio-L Berkman). ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 HOUSTON - 3 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Carlyle 1 4 3 3 2 1 0 5.37 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era F Paulino 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 9.00 IBB - L Berkman (by B Carlyle), B Ausmus (by B Carlyle). Pitches-strikes: B Carlyle 27-12; F Paulino 25-13. Ground balls-fly balls: B Carlyle 1-1; F Paulino 2-2. Batters faced: B Carlyle 9; F Paulino 7. UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Ted Barrett. 3B--Mark Carlson. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 0 HOUSTON 3 0 3 4 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE HOU - FELIPE PAULINO DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: P ORR (.194, 0 HR, 2 RBI) B CARLYLE (.139, 0 HR, 3 RBI) Y ESCOBAR (.329, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS HOUSTON (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329 W Harris cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .339 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .218 B Jones lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .125 C Sammons c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 P Orr 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 B Carlyle p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .139 Totals 5 0 0 0 2 2 3 BATTING: GIDP - C Sammons. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Anderson cf 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .369 C Biggio 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .252 L Berkman 1b 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 .279 C Lee lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .304 H Pence rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .322 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .236 F Paulino p 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .000 Totals 10 3 4 3 2 3 7 BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (31, B Carlyle); H Pence (30, B Carlyle). RBI - C Lee 2 (119), H Pence (69). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Paulino 2. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Loretta-C Biggio-L Berkman). ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 00 -- 0 HOUSTON - 30 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Carlyle 2 4 3 3 2 3 0 5.31 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era F Paulino 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 9.00 IBB - L Berkman (by B Carlyle), B Ausmus (by B Carlyle). Pitches-strikes: B Carlyle 41-20; F Paulino 25-13. Ground balls-fly balls: B Carlyle 2-1; F Paulino 2-2. Batters faced: B Carlyle 12; F Paulino 7. UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Ted Barrett. 3B--Mark Carlson. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 1 0 HOUSTON 3 0 3 4 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE HOU - FELIPE PAULINO DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.304, 1-FOR-1, 2 RBI) H PENCE (.322, 1-FOR-1, RBI) M LORETTA (.285, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">ATLANTA (0) VS HOUSTON (3) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS ATLANTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg Y Escobar ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328 W Harris cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272 C Jones 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .339 J Francoeur rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .293 S Thorman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .218 B Jones lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .125 C Sammons c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 P Orr 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .206 B Carlyle p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .139 Totals 8 0 1 0 2 2 5 BATTING: S - B Carlyle. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W Harris 1. GIDP - C Sammons. Team LOB - 2. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Anderson cf 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .369 C Biggio 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .252 L Berkman 1b 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 .279 C Lee lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .304 H Pence rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .322 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .236 F Paulino p 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 .000 Totals 10 3 4 3 2 3 7 BATTING: 2B - C Biggio (31, B Carlyle); H Pence (30, B Carlyle). RBI - C Lee 2 (119), H Pence (69). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Paulino 2. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Loretta-C Biggio-L Berkman). ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA - 000 -- 0 HOUSTON - 30 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- ATLANTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Carlyle 2 4 3 3 2 3 0 5.31 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era F Paulino 3 1 0 0 2 2 0 8.44 IBB - L Berkman (by B Carlyle), B Ausmus (by B Carlyle). Pitches-strikes: B Carlyle 41-20; F Paulino 41-24. Ground balls-fly balls: B Carlyle 2-1; F Paulino 4-3. Batters faced: B Carlyle 12; F Paulino 11. UMPIRES: HP--Angel Hernandez. 1B--Derryl Cousins. 2B--Ted Barrett. 3B--Mark Carlson. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: ATLANTA at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - ATLANTA 0 0 0 0 1 0 HOUSTON 3 0 0 3 5 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: ATL - BUDDY CARLYLE HOU - FELIPE PAULINO DUE UP FOR ATLANTA: C JONES (.339, 0-FOR-0, BB) J FRANCOEUR (.293, 0-FOR-1) S THORMAN (.218, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
