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

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

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

BATTERIES: LOS - DEREK LOWE, D.J. HOULTON (5TH), JOE BEIMEL (7TH), ROBERTO
HERNANDEZ (8TH) AND RUSSELL MARTIN

HOU - MATT ALBERS, DAVE BORKOWSKI (6TH), CHAD QUALLS
(7TH), DAN WHEELER (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND ERIC MUNSON,
BRAD AUSMUS (8TH)

HOME RUNS: LOS - JEFF KENT (15) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

HOU - ERIC MUNSON (3) OFF DEREK LOWE IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
CARLOS LEE (20) OFF D.J. HOULTON IN THE 7TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

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

BATTERIES: LOS - DEREK LOWE, D.J. HOULTON (5TH), JOE BEIMEL (7TH), ROBERTO
HERNANDEZ (8TH) AND RUSSELL MARTIN

HOU - MATT ALBERS, DAVE BORKOWSKI (6TH), CHAD QUALLS
(7TH), DAN WHEELER (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND ERIC MUNSON,
BRAD AUSMUS (8TH)


WP - CHAD QUALLS (6-3)
LP - D.J. HOULTON (0-2)
SAVE - BRAD LIDGE (5)

HOME RUNS: LOS - JEFF KENT (15) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

HOU - ERIC MUNSON (3) OFF DEREK LOWE IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
CARLOS LEE (20) OFF D.J. HOULTON IN THE 7TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:31 ATT: 31,498

PROBABLES: SDG - DAVID WELLS (5-6, 4.57)
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (6-9, 4.46)

PROBABLES: LOS - BRAD PENNY (12-1, 2.42)
COL - RODRIGO LOPEZ (5-3, 4.46)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (1) VS HOUSTON (2) - FINAL

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .280
J Pierre cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Martin c 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 .300
J Kent 2b 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .295
L Gonzalez lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .293
W Betemit 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .235
J Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Loney 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .362
M Kemp rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .361
D Lowe p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .158
D Houlton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
N Garciaparra 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282

Totals 30 1 6 1 1 6 10

BATTING: 3B - J Loney (3, M Albers). HR - J Kent (15, 7th inning off C Qualls 0
on, 0 Out). RBI - J Kent (55). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W
Betemit 1, R Furcal 1. GIDP - J Loney, R Furcal. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (D Houlton-R Furcal-J Loney, N Garciaparra-J Kent-J Loney).



HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Loretta ss-2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
L Berkman 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257
C Lee lf 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 .292
M Lamb 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .305
L Scott rf 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 .234
J Lane cf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .167
E Munson c 3 1 1 1 0 0 2 .278
D Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200
a-M Ensberg ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .248

Totals 28 2 6 2 1 5 7

a-grounded to shortstop for M Albers in the 5th.

BATTING: HR - E Munson (3, 3rd inning off D Lowe 0 on, 1 Out), C Lee (20, 7th
inning off D Houlton 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - E Munson (9), C Lee (81). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - L Scott 1. GIDP - M Ensberg, M Loretta. Team LOB -
3.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Lee (7, 2nd base off D Lowe/R Martin).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Lee (J Kent at 2nd base). DP: 2 (M Loretta-C
Biggio-L Berkman, C Biggio-M Loretta-L Berkman).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 000 000 100 -- 1
HOUSTON - 001 000 10x -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 4 4 1 1 0 3 1 3.45
D Houlton (L, 0-2) 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.30
J Beimel 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.89
R Hernandez 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 6.75

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 5 3 0 0 1 5 0 5.19
D Borkowski (H, 4) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.53
C Qualls (W, 6-3; B, 4) 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 3.83
D Wheeler (H, 6) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.07
B Lidge (S, 5) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.94

D Lowe pitched to 1 batter in the 5th.
D Houlton pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 62-41; D Houlton 22-16; J Beimel 19-9; R Hernandez
7-5; M Albers 90-61; D Borkowski 14-11; C Qualls 13-7; D Wheeler 8-6; B Lidge
10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe 7-2; D Houlton 3-2; J Beimel 0-3; R
Hernandez 2-0; M Albers 7-2; D Borkowski 3-0; C Qualls 3-0; D Wheeler 2-1; B
Lidge 1-1. Batters faced: D Lowe 16; D Houlton 6; J Beimel 4; R Hernandez 3; M
Albers 18; D Borkowski 3; C Qualls 4; D Wheeler 3; B Lidge 3.

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

T--2:31. Att--31,498.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
LA DODGERS 1
HOUSTON 2 FINAL</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LA DODGERS (1) AT HOUSTON (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOUSTON 3RD: J Lane grounded out to shortstop. E Munson homered to right.
M Albers struck out swinging. C Biggio flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 1.

LA DODGERS 7TH: C Qualls relieved D Borkowski. J Kent homered to left.
L Gonzalez singled to center. W Betemit grounded into fielder's choice to third,
L Gonzalez out at second. J Loney grounded into double play, shortstop to
second to first, W Betemit out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: C Lee homered to left. J Beimel relieved D Houlton.
N Garciaparra at third base. M Lamb flied out to left. L Scott walked. J Lane
flied out to center. E Munson flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 1, HOUSTON 2.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LA DODGERS (1) AT HOUSTON (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

La Dodgers Starting Lineups -- R Furcal SS, J Pierre CF, R Martin C, J Kent 2B,
L Gonzalez LF, W Betemit 3B, J Loney 1B, M Kemp RF, D Lowe RHP.

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, M Loretta SS, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
M Lamb 3B, L Scott RF, J Lane CF, E Munson C, M Albers RHP.

Umpires -- Brian Gorman (HP), Mike Everitt (1B), Paul Nauert (2B), Gerry Davis (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal grounded out to shortstop. J Pierre grounded out
to second. R Martin struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio grounded out to shortstop. M Loretta grounded out to
first. L Berkman grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 0.

LA DODGERS 2ND: J Kent singled to left, J Kent out stretching at second.
L Gonzalez grounded out to second. W Betemit grounded out to third. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee grounded out to shortstop. M Lamb struck out swinging.
L Scott struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 0.

LA DODGERS 3RD: J Loney tripled to deep center. M Kemp struck out
swinging. D Lowe struck out swinging. R Furcal grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: J Lane grounded out to shortstop. E Munson homered to right.
M Albers struck out swinging. C Biggio flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 1.

LA DODGERS 4TH: J Pierre flied out to left. R Martin singled to center.
J Kent walked, R Martin to second. L Gonzalez struck out swinging. W Betemit
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 4TH: M Loretta flied out to center. L Berkman grounded out to
first. C Lee singled to center. C Lee stole second. M Lamb singled to right,
C Lee to third. L Scott grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 1.

LA DODGERS 5TH: J Loney grounded out to second. M Kemp flied out to
center. D Lowe grounded out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: J Lane singled to left. D Houlton relieved D Lowe and inherits a
1-0 count. E Munson flied out to center. M Ensberg hit for M Albers. M Ensberg
grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, J Lane out at second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 1.

LA DODGERS 6TH: D Borkowski relieved M Albers. R Furcal grounded out to
first. J Pierre grounded out to first. R Martin grounded out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: C Biggio grounded out to shortstop. M Loretta fouled out to
catcher. L Berkman struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0,
HOUSTON 1.

LA DODGERS 7TH: C Qualls relieved D Borkowski. J Kent homered to left.
L Gonzalez singled to center. W Betemit grounded into fielder's choice to third,
L Gonzalez out at second. J Loney grounded into double play, shortstop to
second to first, W Betemit out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1,
HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: C Lee homered to left. J Beimel relieved D Houlton.
N Garciaparra at third base. M Lamb flied out to left. L Scott walked. J Lane
flied out to center. E Munson flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 1, HOUSTON 2.

LA DODGERS 8TH: D Wheeler relieved C Qualls. B Ausmus catching. M Kemp
flied out to center. N Garciaparra singled to left. R Furcal grounded into
double play, second to shortstop to first, N Garciaparra out at second.(0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1, HOUSTON 2.

HOUSTON 8TH: R Hernandez relieved J Beimel. B Ausmus struck out swinging.
C Biggio singled to left. M Loretta grounded into double play, third to second
to first, C Biggio out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1,
HOUSTON 2.

LA DODGERS 9TH: B Lidge relieved D Wheeler. M Loretta at second base.
E Bruntlett at shortstop. J Pierre grounded out to second. R Martin struck out
swinging. J Kent flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1,
HOUSTON 2.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (1) VS HOUSTON (2) - FINAL

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .280
J Pierre cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
R Martin c 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 .300
J Kent 2b 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .295
L Gonzalez lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .293
W Betemit 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .235
J Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Loney 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .362
M Kemp rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .361
D Lowe p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .158
D Houlton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
N Garciaparra 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282

Totals 30 1 6 1 1 6 10

BATTING: 3B - J Loney (3, M Albers). HR - J Kent (15, 7th inning off C Qualls 0
on, 0 Out). RBI - J Kent (55). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - W
Betemit 1, R Furcal 1. GIDP - J Loney, R Furcal. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (D Houlton-R Furcal-J Loney, N Garciaparra-J Kent-J Loney).



HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Loretta ss-2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296
L Berkman 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .257
C Lee lf 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 .292
M Lamb 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .305
L Scott rf 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 .234
J Lane cf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .167
E Munson c 3 1 1 1 0 0 2 .278
D Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200
a-M Ensberg ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .248

Totals 28 2 6 2 1 5 7

a-grounded to shortstop for M Albers in the 5th.

BATTING: HR - E Munson (3, 3rd inning off D Lowe 0 on, 1 Out), C Lee (20, 7th
inning off D Houlton 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - E Munson (9), C Lee (81). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - L Scott 1. GIDP - M Ensberg, M Loretta. Team LOB -
3.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Lee (7, 2nd base off D Lowe/R Martin).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Lee (J Kent at 2nd base), L Scott (D Lowe at
1st base). DP: 2 (M Loretta-C Biggio-L Berkman, C Biggio-M Loretta-L Berkman).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 000 000 100 -- 1
HOUSTON - 001 000 10x -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 4 4 1 1 0 3 1 3.45
D Houlton (L, 0-2) 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 4.30
J Beimel 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.89
R Hernandez 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 6.75

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 5 3 0 0 1 5 0 5.19
D Borkowski (H, 4) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.53
C Qualls (W, 6-3; B, 4) 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 3.83
D Wheeler (H, 6) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.07
B Lidge (S, 5) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.94

D Lowe pitched to 1 batter in the 5th.
D Houlton pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

Pitches-strikes: D Lowe 62-41; D Houlton 22-16; J Beimel 19-9; R Hernandez
7-5; M Albers 90-61; D Borkowski 14-11; C Qualls 13-7; D Wheeler 8-6; B Lidge
10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: D Lowe 7-2; D Houlton 3-2; J Beimel 0-3; R
Hernandez 2-0; M Albers 7-2; D Borkowski 3-0; C Qualls 3-0; D Wheeler 2-1; B
Lidge 1-1. Batters faced: D Lowe 16; D Houlton 6; J Beimel 4; R Hernandez 3; M
Albers 18; D Borkowski 3; C Qualls 4; D Wheeler 3; B Lidge 3.

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

T--2:31. Att--31,498.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

Astros nudge Dodgers in battle of long balls

<h3>HOUSTON 2, LA DODGERS 1</h3>By Ted Dunnam
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


HOUSTON (Ticker) -- In a battle of long balls, the HoustonAstros got one more than their opponent.


Carlos Lee crushed a solo home run in the seventh inning tobreak a 1-1 tie and lift the Houston Astros to a 2-1 victoryover the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.


Lee's blast - his 20th - came on a 2-0 pitch from Dodgersreliever D.J. Houlton (0-2) and came just moments after LosAngeles tied the game on Jeff Kent's 421-foot solo blast in thetop of the inning. As they usually do, the Astros made Lee'shomers stand up, as they moved to 13-4 in games where thecleanup hitter goes deep.


Eric Munson also hit a solo homer for the Astros, who won forjust the seventh time in 47 contests in which they scored lessthan three runs.


Chad Qualls (6-3) picked up the win in relief while Houltonsuffered his second loss in as many decisions. Reliever DanWheeler pitched a solid eighth before handing it over to closerBrad Lidge in the ninth, as he pitched a perfect ninth for hisfifth save in eight chances.


Houston has consecutive games for the first time since athree-game run to begin July.


In a strange turn of events, both starting pitchers were out ofthe game by the end of the fifth inning despite allowing acombined one run.


Houston's Matt Albers permitted just three hits, struck out acareer-high five and walked one in five innings, but left after90 pitches after a nine-game foray in the Astros bullpen.

Los Angeles starter Derek Lowe's stint came to an end afterallowing a leadoff single to Jason Lane in the fifth andthrowing one pitch to Munson with an apparent injury. The11-year veteran also made the Dodgers' last out in the top ofthe fifth when he apparently singled, but was thrown out atfirst by right fielder Luke Scott.


When pulled from the game, an obviously upset Lowe threw hisglove after entering the dugout. Lowe allowed just four hitsand struck out three before yielding to Houlton.


Kent's homer was his second in two days against Houston andextended his torrid hitting month, as he is batting .418(28-for-67) in July.

 

Astros nudge Dodgers in battle of long balls

<h3>HOUSTON 2, LA DODGERS 1</h3>By Ted Dunnam
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


HOUSTON (Ticker) -- In a battle of long balls, the HoustonAstros got one more than their opponent.


Carlos Lee crushed a solo home run in the seventh inning tobreak a 1-1 tie and lift the Houston Astros to a 2-1 victoryover the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.


Lee's blast - his 20th - came on a 2-0 pitch from Dodgersreliever D.J. Houlton (0-2) and came just moments after LosAngeles tied the game on Jeff Kent's 421-foot solo blast in thetop of the inning. As they usually do, the Astros made Lee'shomers stand up, as they moved to 13-4 in games where thecleanup hitter goes deep.


"This series was very tough," Lee said. "Like I was talkingtoday to the coaches, they hadn't given me anything to hit.

"Especially in that situation (with the count), 2-0, I wasn'texpecting (anything) up in the middle of the plate and I waslucky to make contact."


Eric Munson also hit a solo homer for the Astros, who won forjust the seventh time in 47 contests in which they scored lessthan three runs.


Chad Qualls (6-3) picked up the win in relief while Houltonsuffered his second loss in as many decisions. Reliever DanWheeler pitched a solid eighth before handing it over to closerBrad Lidge in the ninth, as he pitched a perfect ninth for hisfifth save in eight chances.


"The pitching staff did a great job today," Lee said. "L.A.'sgot a great offensive team. You look over across the field andthere's nobody, I think, hitting below .280.


"You're looking at (James Loney and Matt Kemp, the seventh andeighth hitters in the batting order) hitting .360, and I'm like,'Wow.' They got a well-balanced team. To hold them to onerun, that was big."


Houston has consecutive games for the first time since athree-game run to begin July.


In a strange turn of events, both starting pitchers were out ofthe game by the end of the fifth inning despite allowing acombined one run.


Houston's Matt Albers permitted just three hits, struck out acareer-high five and walked one in five innings, but left after90 pitches after a nine-game foray in the Astros bullpen.

"I haven't started in a little over a month so I was nice andfresh," Albers said. "I just told myself to go ahead and relaxand focus on pitches, not worry too much about results, just goout there and get after them. I was up at 90 (pitches) throughfive so I figured I was probably done."


Los Angeles starter Derek Lowe's stint came to an end afterallowing a leadoff single to Jason Lane in the fifth andthrowing one pitch to Munson with an apparent groin pull. The11-year veteran also made the Dodgers' last out in the top ofthe fifth when he apparently singled, but was thrown out atfirst by right fielder Luke Scott.


After the game, a dejected Lowe addressed his injury, but a MRIThursday will determine the extent of the injury. "I felt it alittle warming up tonight," Lowe said. "I think I originallyhurt it warming up in the bullpen two or three days ago. It wasprobably my own fault for not stretching enough. But Grady(Little) asked me if I wanted to go and I said, 'Yeah, I'll giveit a try.'


"I've never been through anything like this before. It's justlike a sharp pain and then it goes away. Nothing I do,activity-wise, hurts it except throwing."


Asked if getting thrown out at first was "the last straw," Lowemanaged to find humor in the situation.


"It was a straw (but) not the last straw," Lowe said. "It wasan embarrassing straw. I guess I'll get the MRI tomorrow;that's always fun."


Dodgers manager Grady Little knows he cannot afford to have Lowesidelined for an extended period.


"He felt a little sting in his groin warming up before thegame," Little said. "Then he taxed it running to first. Whenhe went out to pitch in the fifth, we just didn't want to takeany chances at that point. Losing (Lowe) would be a big blow.We just hope it's not anything serious."


When pulled from the game, an obviously upset Lowe threw hisglove after entering the dugout. Lowe allowed just four hitsand struck out three before yielding to Houlton.


Kent's homer was his second in two days against Houston andextended his torrid hitting month, as he is batting .418(28-for-67) in July. With two hits, the five-time All-Starextended his on-base to 36 games, the longest such streak in themajors this season.