GAME THREAD: NL: LA DODGERS (56-45) at HOUSTON (43-57)

NL: LA DODGERS (56-45) at HOUSTON (43-57)

<h3>Biggio hopes to spur Astros to series win vs. Dodgers</h3>



<div class="pre">LA Dodgers (56-45) at Houston (43-57) 8:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The same day he announced his retirementeffective at the end of the season, Craig Biggio hit a grandslam. On Wednesday, he will try to help the Houston Astros geta series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.


A seven-time All-Star who is the franchise leader in hits(3,016), runs (1,827) and games (2,799), Biggio is the onlyplayer in major league history to record 600 doubles, 250homers, 3,000 hits and 400 steals. He also became the firstAstro in the team's 46-year history to reach 3,000 hits on June28.


Matt Albers (2-4, 5.76 ERA) will make his first start since May23 in place of Roy Oswalt, who will miss his scheduled start onWednesday because of soreness in his upper chest. To beat theDodgers, he will need to likely perform at a clip higher thanhis previous stint as a starter, when he went 1-4 with a 6.35ERA in seven starts.


The 24-year-old righthander permitted a run and two hits in aninning of relief against Pittsburgh in Houston's 7-3 lossSaturday. He has never faced the Dodgers.


Los Angeles will counter with Derek Lowe (8-9, 3.48), who willbe seeking his first win in seven starts. He was abysmal in hislast start, a 13-9 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday inwhich he surrendered eight earned runs and 10 hits in just threeframes.


The sinkerballer has been effective in four lifetime outingsagainst the Astros, but has been dealt some hard luck, going 1-2despite a 2.76 ERA. He has received only one run of support ineach of his last three starts against Houston.

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS

LA DODGERS HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Rafael Furcal SS .283 3 34 Craig Biggio 2B .250 6 35
Juan Pierre CF .284 0 25 Mark Loretta SS .300 2 30
Russell Martin C .300 11 66 Lance Berkman 1B .260 15 61
Jeff Kent 2B .292 14 54 Carlos Lee LF .289 19 80
Luis Gonzalez LF .292 11 47 Mike Lamb 3B .305 10 28
Wilson Betemit 3B .240 10 26 Luke Scott RF .236 12 43
James Loney 1B .362 4 23 Jason Lane CF .160 4 10
Matt Kemp RF .371 6 23 Eric Munson C .275 2 8
Derek Lowe RHP .167 0 1 Matt Albers RHP .222 0 0
(8-9, 3.48) (2-4, 5.76)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: LOS - DEREK LOWE (8-9, 3.48)
HOU - MATT ALBERS (2-4, 5.76)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN GORMAN
1B - MIKE EVERITT
2B - PAUL NAUERT
3B - GERRY DAVIS

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: LOS - DEREK LOWE AND RUSSELL MARTIN
HOU - MATT ALBERS AND ERIC MUNSON

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: R FURCAL (.283, 3 HR, 34 RBI)
J PIERRE (.284, 0 HR, 25 RBI)
R MARTIN (.300, 11 HR, 66 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.250, 6 HR, 35 RBI)
M LORETTA (.300, 2 HR, 30 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.260, 15 HR, 61 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .299
J Kent 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
W Betemit 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .362
M Kemp rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .371
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
J Lane cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.48

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.63

Pitches-strikes: M Albers 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: M Albers 2-0. Batters
faced: M Albers 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
HOU - MATT ALBERS</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: J KENT (.292, 14 HR, 54 RBI)
L GONZALEZ (.292, 11 HR, 47 RBI)
W BETEMIT (.240, 10 HR, 26 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .299
J Kent 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
L Gonzalez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
W Betemit 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .362
M Kemp rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .371
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
J Lane cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.46

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.63

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 11-7; M Albers 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe
3-0; M Albers 2-0. Batters faced: D Lowe 3; M Albers 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 1 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.289, 19 HR, 80 RBI)
M LAMB (.305, 10 HR, 28 RBI)
L SCOTT (.236, 12 HR, 43 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .299
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .362
M Kemp rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .371
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
J Lane cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Lee (J Kent at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.46

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.51

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 11-7; M Albers 27-19. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe
3-0; M Albers 4-0. Batters faced: D Lowe 3; M Albers 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 1 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: J LONEY (.362, 4 HR, 23 RBI)
M KEMP (.371, 6 HR, 23 RBI)
D LOWE (.167, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .299
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Loney 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .362
M Kemp rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .371
D Lowe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
J Lane cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Lee (J Kent at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.43

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.51

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 28-17; M Albers 27-19. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe
4-0; M Albers 4-0. Batters faced: D Lowe 6; M Albers 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 0 2 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J LANE (.160, 4 HR, 10 RBI)
E MUNSON (.275, 2 HR, 8 RBI)
M ALBERS (.222, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .299
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Loney 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .367
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .368
D Lowe p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .162

Totals 10 0 2 0 0 3 3

BATTING: 3B - J Loney (3, M Albers). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
R Furcal 1. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
J Lane cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Lee (J Kent at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.43

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 3 2 0 0 0 3 0 5.40

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 28-17; M Albers 52-36. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe
4-0; M Albers 5-0. Batters faced: D Lowe 6; M Albers 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ERIC MUNSON (3) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
3RD OFF DEREK LOWE.
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 1

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M ALBERS (.222, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 0 2 0
HOUSTON 0 0 1 1 1 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR LA DODGERS: J PIERRE (.284, 0-FOR-1)
R MARTIN (.299, 0-FOR-1)
J KENT (.294, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) VS HOUSTON (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
J Pierre cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
R Martin c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .299
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .294
L Gonzalez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
W Betemit 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
J Loney 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .367
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .368
D Lowe p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .162

Totals 10 0 2 0 0 3 3

BATTING: 3B - J Loney (3, M Albers). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
R Furcal 1. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .159
E Munson c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .286
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200

Totals 10 1 1 1 0 3 0

BATTING: HR - E Munson (3, 3rd inning off D Lowe 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - E Munson
(9). Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Lee (J Kent at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 001 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 3 1 1 1 0 3 1 3.47

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 3 2 0 0 0 3 0 5.40

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 41-27; M Albers 52-36. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe
5-1; M Albers 5-0. Batters faced: D Lowe 10; M Albers 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
HOUSTON 0 0 1 1 1 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: LOS - DEREK LOWE
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.299, 0-FOR-1)
L BERKMAN (.259, 0-FOR-1)
C LEE (.289, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (0) VS HOUSTON (1) - MID 4TH - IN PROGRESS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
J Pierre cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
R Martin c 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .301
J Kent 2b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .294
L Gonzalez lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .290
W Betemit 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .237
J Loney 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .367
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .368
D Lowe p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .162

Totals 14 0 3 0 1 5 7

BATTING: 3B - J Loney (3, M Albers). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
W Betemit 1, R Furcal 1. Team LOB - 3.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
M Lamb 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303
L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .159
E Munson c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .286
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200

Totals 10 1 1 1 0 3 0

BATTING: HR - E Munson (3, 3rd inning off D Lowe 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - E Munson
(9). Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Lee (J Kent at 2nd base).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 000 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - 001 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 3 1 1 1 0 3 1 3.47

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 4 3 0 0 1 5 0 5.29

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 41-27; M Albers 76-51. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe
5-1; M Albers 5-1. Batters faced: D Lowe 10; M Albers 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry
Davis.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>