GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: PHILADELPHIA (42-40) at HOUSTON (35-47)

NL: PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: T Miller relieved D Wheeler.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C RUIZ ON SECOND, W HELMS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 5
HOUSTON 7 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: G Dobbs (.285, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: C Coste hit for G Dobbs.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C RUIZ ON SECOND, W HELMS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 5
HOUSTON 7 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: C Coste (.375, 1 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Bourn ran for C Ruiz.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M BOURN ON SECOND, W HELMS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 5
HOUSTON 7 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: C Coste (.375, 1 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PHILADELPHIA 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 5 9 1
HOUSTON 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 1 x 7 11 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: PHI - JAMIE MOYER, BRIAN SANCHES (7TH), JOSE MESA (7TH) AND CARLOS
RUIZ

HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS, CHAD QUALLS (8TH), DAN WHEELER
(9TH), TREVER MILLER (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

HOME RUNS: PHI - PAT BURRELL (9) OFF WOODY WILLIAMS IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
SHANE VICTORINO (10) OFF WOODY WILLIAMS IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

HOU - HUNTER PENCE (9) OFF JAMIE MOYER IN THE 5TH, 1 ON
CARLOS LEE (16) OFF JOSE MESA IN THE 8TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PHILADELPHIA 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 5 9 1
HOUSTON 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 1 x 7 11 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: PHI - JAMIE MOYER, BRIAN SANCHES (7TH), JOSE MESA (7TH) AND CARLOS
RUIZ

HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS, CHAD QUALLS (8TH), DAN WHEELER
(9TH), TREVER MILLER (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS


WP - WOODY WILLIAMS (4-10)
LP - JAMIE MOYER (7-6)
SAVE - TREVER MILLER (1)

HOME RUNS: PHI - PAT BURRELL (9) OFF WOODY WILLIAMS IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
SHANE VICTORINO (10) OFF WOODY WILLIAMS IN THE 6TH, 0 ON

HOU - HUNTER PENCE (9) OFF JAMIE MOYER IN THE 5TH, 1 ON
CARLOS LEE (16) OFF JOSE MESA IN THE 8TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:56 ATT: 28,973

PROBABLES: PHI - ADAM EATON (7-5, 5.75)
HOU - ROY OSWALT (7-5, 3.42)</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PHILADELPHIA (5) VS HOUSTON (7) - FINAL

PHILADELPHIA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Rollins ss 5 1 2 0 0 0 2 .285
S Victorino rf 4 1 2 1 0 1 1 .274
C Utley 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .322
R Howard 1b 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 .253
A Rowand cf 3 0 0 1 0 0 5 .309
P Burrell lf 3 2 1 1 1 1 0 .203
A Nunez 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .270
J Mesa p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-W Helms ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
C Ruiz c 4 0 1 2 0 0 1 .275
M Bourn pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
J Moyer p 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158
B Sanches p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G Dobbs 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
b-C Coste ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .333

Totals 33 5 9 5 2 2 13

a-hit by pitch for J Mesa in the 9th; b-grounded to third for G Dobbs in the
9th.

BATTING: 2B - J Rollins (21, C Qualls); R Howard (12, D Wheeler); C Ruiz (17, D
Wheeler). HR - P Burrell (9, 2nd inning off W Williams 0 on, 0 Out), S
Victorino (10, 6th inning off W Williams 0 on, 1 Out). SF - A Rowand. RBI - A
Rowand (43), P Burrell (33), S Victorino (35), C Ruiz 2 (29). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - C Utley 1, J Rollins 2. GIDP - A Rowand. Team LOB -
5.

FIELDING: E - J Moyer (1, catch).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 5 2 3 0 0 1 3 .257
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
H Pence cf 5 2 2 2 0 0 2 .342
L Berkman 1b 4 1 1 1 1 0 1 .267
C Lee lf 4 1 2 2 1 0 2 .296
M Lamb 3b 3 1 1 0 1 0 2 .308
C Burke rf 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 .212
B Ausmus c 3 0 0 0 1 1 2 .261
E Bruntlett ss 2 0 2 1 2 0 0 .286
W Williams p 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .118
a-M Loretta ph-2b 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .326

Totals 33 7 11 7 7 2 19

a-walked for W Williams in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - C Biggio 2 (23, J Moyer 2); L Berkman (8, J Moyer). HR - H Pence
(9, 5th inning off J Moyer 1 on, 0 Out), C Lee (16, 8th inning off J Mesa 0 on,
2 Out). S - W Williams. RBI - C Lee 2 (70), L Berkman (54), H Pence 2 (38), E
Bruntlett (2), M Loretta (28). 2-out RBI - C Lee 2, E Bruntlett, M Loretta.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Biggio 2, B Ausmus 1. Team LOB -
11.

BASERUNNING: CS - E Bruntlett (2, 3rd base by J Moyer).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - C Burke (S Victorino at 3rd base). DP: 2 (C
Burke-B Ausmus-M Lamb-E Bruntlett, M Lamb-C Biggio-L Berkman).


----------------------------------------------------
PHILADELPHIA - 110 001 002 -- 5
HOUSTON - 101 020 21x -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

PHILADELPHIA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Moyer (L, 7-6) 6 9 4 4 2 2 1 4.25
B Sanches 2/3 1 2 2 3 0 0 3.86
J Mesa 1 1/3 1 1 1 2 0 1 3.75

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Williams (W, 4-10) 7 6 3 3 1 1 2 5.47
C Qualls (H, 10) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.39
D Wheeler 1/3 2 2 2 1 0 0 6.28
T Miller (S, 1) 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.29

IBB - R Howard (by W Williams). HBP - M Lamb (by J Moyer); W Helms (by D
Wheeler). Pitches-strikes: J Moyer 101-61; B Sanches 31-13; J Mesa 25-14; W
Williams 93-55; C Qualls 17-13; D Wheeler 18-7; T Miller 9-6. Ground balls-fly
balls: J Moyer 7-7; B Sanches 0-2; J Mesa 2-2; W Williams 12-7; C Qualls 1-1; D
Wheeler 0-1; T Miller 1-1. Batters faced: J Moyer 29; B Sanches 6; J Mesa 7; W
Williams 26; C Qualls 4; D Wheeler 5; T Miller 2.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Knight. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Gary
Cederstrom.

T--2:56. Att--28,973.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
PHILADELPHIA 5
HOUSTON 7 FINAL</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PHILADELPHIA (5) AT HOUSTON (7) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PHILADELPHIA 1ST: J Rollins reached on bunt single to first. S Victorino
singled to right center, J Rollins to third. C Utley grounded out to pitcher,
S Victorino to second. R Howard intentionally walked. A Rowand flied out to
right, J Rollins scored, S Victorino out at third attempting to advance on play.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio doubled to left. H Pence grounded out to third.
L Berkman lined out to third. C Lee singled to center, C Biggio scored. M Lamb
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Lee out at second. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 1, HOUSTON 1.

PHILADELPHIA 2ND: P Burrell homered to left. A Nunez grounded out to
pitcher. C Ruiz flied out to left. J Moyer grounded out to second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 3RD: C Biggio struck out swinging. H Pence singled to left.
L Berkman doubled to deep left center, H Pence scored. C Lee popped out to
first. M Lamb safe at first on error by pitcher J Moyer, L Berkman advanced to
third on play, L Berkman tagged out at home attempting to advance on play.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 2.

HOUSTON 5TH: C Biggio doubled to left. H Pence homered to left, C Biggio
scored. L Berkman grounded out to third. C Lee walked. M Lamb hit by pitch,
C Lee to second. C Burke flied out to left. B Ausmus struck out swinging.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 4.

PHILADELPHIA 6TH: J Rollins grounded out to pitcher. S Victorino homered
to right. C Utley grounded out to second. R Howard grounded out to first.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, HOUSTON 4.

HOUSTON 7TH: B Sanches relieved J Moyer. L Berkman walked. C Lee fouled
out to first. M Lamb singled to left, L Berkman to second. C Burke popped out
to second. B Ausmus walked, L Berkman to third, M Lamb to second. E Bruntlett
walked, L Berkman scored, M Lamb to third, B Ausmus to second. M Loretta hit
for W Williams. J Mesa relieved B Sanches. G Dobbs at third base. M Loretta
walked, M Lamb scored, B Ausmus to third, E Bruntlett to second. C Biggio
grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, HOUSTON 6.

HOUSTON 8TH: H Pence popped out to second. L Berkman grounded out to
shortstop. C Lee homered to left. M Lamb walked. C Burke popped out to
second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, HOUSTON 7.

PHILADELPHIA 9TH: D Wheeler relieved C Qualls. R Howard doubled to deep
right. A Rowand popped out to shortstop. P Burrell walked. W Helms hit for
J Mesa. W Helms hit by pitch, R Howard to third, P Burrell to second. C Ruiz
doubled to deep center, R Howard and P Burrell scored, W Helms to third.
T Miller relieved D Wheeler. C Coste hit for G Dobbs. M Bourn ran for C Ruiz.
C Coste grounded out to third. J Rollins flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5, HOUSTON 7.</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PHILADELPHIA (5) AT HOUSTON (7) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Philadelphia Starting Lineups -- J Rollins SS, S Victorino RF, C Utley 2B,
R Howard 1B, A Rowand CF, P Burrell LF, A Nunez 3B, C Ruiz C, J Moyer LHP.

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, H Pence CF, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
M Lamb 3B, C Burke RF, B Ausmus C, E Bruntlett SS, W Williams RHP.

Umpires -- Brian Knight (HP), Tim Welke (1B), Lance Barksdale (2B), Gary Cederstrom (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


PHILADELPHIA 1ST: J Rollins reached on bunt single to first. S Victorino
singled to right center, J Rollins to third. C Utley grounded out to pitcher,
S Victorino to second. R Howard intentionally walked. A Rowand flied out to
right, J Rollins scored, S Victorino out at third attempting to advance on play.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio doubled to left. H Pence grounded out to third.
L Berkman lined out to third. C Lee singled to center, C Biggio scored. M Lamb
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Lee out at second. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 1, HOUSTON 1.

PHILADELPHIA 2ND: P Burrell homered to left. A Nunez grounded out to
pitcher. C Ruiz flied out to left. J Moyer grounded out to second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 2ND: C Burke flied out to right. B Ausmus grounded out to pitcher.
E Bruntlett walked. W Williams grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 1.

PHILADELPHIA 3RD: J Rollins popped out to shortstop. S Victorino grounded
out to second. C Utley flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 3RD: C Biggio struck out swinging. H Pence singled to left.
L Berkman doubled to deep left center, H Pence scored. C Lee popped out to
first. M Lamb safe at first on error by pitcher J Moyer, L Berkman advanced to
third on play, L Berkman tagged out at home attempting to advance on play.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 2.

PHILADELPHIA 4TH: R Howard singled to right. A Rowand grounded into double
play, third to second to first, R Howard out at second. P Burrell popped out to
shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 2.

HOUSTON 4TH: C Burke lined out to right. B Ausmus grounded out to third.
E Bruntlett singled to center. W Williams flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 2.

PHILADELPHIA 5TH: A Nunez grounded out to first. C Ruiz flied out to
right. J Moyer grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 2.

HOUSTON 5TH: C Biggio doubled to left. H Pence homered to left, C Biggio
scored. L Berkman grounded out to third. C Lee walked. M Lamb hit by pitch,
C Lee to second. C Burke flied out to left. B Ausmus struck out swinging.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 2, HOUSTON 4.

PHILADELPHIA 6TH: J Rollins grounded out to pitcher. S Victorino homered
to right. C Utley grounded out to second. R Howard grounded out to first.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, HOUSTON 4.

HOUSTON 6TH: E Bruntlett singled to center. W Williams sacrificed to
pitcher, E Bruntlett to second. E Bruntlett caught stealing third, pitcher to
second to third to shortstop. C Biggio reached on infield single to second.
H Pence flied out to center. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, HOUSTON 4.

PHILADELPHIA 7TH: A Rowand grounded out to pitcher. P Burrell struck out
looking. A Nunez singled to center. C Ruiz flied out to center. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, HOUSTON 4.

HOUSTON 7TH: B Sanches relieved J Moyer. L Berkman walked. C Lee fouled
out to first. M Lamb singled to left, L Berkman to second. C Burke popped out
to second. B Ausmus walked, L Berkman to third, M Lamb to second. E Bruntlett
walked, L Berkman scored, M Lamb to third, B Ausmus to second. M Loretta hit
for W Williams. J Mesa relieved B Sanches. G Dobbs at third base. M Loretta
walked, M Lamb scored, B Ausmus to third, E Bruntlett to second. C Biggio
grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, HOUSTON 6.

PHILADELPHIA 8TH: C Qualls relieved W Williams. M Loretta at second base.
G Dobbs grounded out to second. J Rollins hit a ground rule double to deep
right. S Victorino struck out looking. C Utley popped out to third. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, HOUSTON 6.

HOUSTON 8TH: H Pence popped out to second. L Berkman grounded out to
shortstop. C Lee homered to left. M Lamb walked. C Burke popped out to
second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, HOUSTON 7.

PHILADELPHIA 9TH: D Wheeler relieved C Qualls. R Howard doubled to deep
right. A Rowand popped out to shortstop. P Burrell walked. W Helms hit for
J Mesa. W Helms hit by pitch, R Howard to third, P Burrell to second. C Ruiz
doubled to deep center, R Howard and P Burrell scored, W Helms to third.
T Miller relieved D Wheeler. C Coste hit for G Dobbs. M Bourn ran for C Ruiz.
C Coste grounded out to third. J Rollins flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5, HOUSTON 7.</div>

 

Astros hold off Phillies

<h3>HOUSTON 7, PHILADELPHIA 5</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The young and the old combined to carry theHouston Astros to their seventh win in their last eight homegames Monday night.

Rookie of the Year candidate Hunter Pence homered, 41-year-oldCraig Biggio collected three hits and 40-year-old righthanderWoody Williams pitched effectively to lead Houston to a 7-5victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Williams (4-10) pitched seven innings, tying his longest outingof the season, giving up six hits and three runs with only onestrikeout and one walk, an intentional one to Ryan Howard withrunners on second and third in the first inning.

Williams began the year 1-7, but is 3-3 in his last sevenstarts. He needed to help himself defensively Monday with fiveassists, two of them on tough plays, and a putout at first base.

The Phillies also started a veteran in 44-year-old lefthanderJamie Moyer, who pitched six innings and gave up four runs onnine hits. Moyer (7-6) last pitched at Minute Maid Park in June2002 when he allowed three hits and no runs over seven inningsto beat Houston for the Seattle Mariners.

Biggio doubled twice and scored twice. His first double was the1,000th extra base hit of his career and the second was the660th double of his career, leaving him five behind George Brettfor fifth on the all-time list.

The three hits by Biggio raised his career hit total to 3,007,tying him with Al Kaline for 25th all-time.

Carlos Lee drove in Biggio with a single in the first. Pencesingled and Lance Berkman doubled him home to tie the game at2-2 in the third. The Astros took the lead for good in the fifthon Biggio's double and Pence's homer, his ninth, to make it4-2.

Pence also scored two runs and had two RBI.

Phillies relievers Brian Sanches and Jose Mesa each walked in arun in seventh, allowing the Astros to stretch their lead to 6-3and Lee added another run with a solo homer in the eighth.

Philadelphia hurt Williams with home runs, Pat Burrell hittinghis ninth in the third inning and Shane Victorino his 10th inthe sixth. Williams has given 19 homers this season, tyingPhiladelphia's Cole Hamels for most in the National League.

Except for the home runs, no Phillie runner reached second baseagainst Williams after the first inning.

Williams had given up six runs in 5 1/3 innings in his onlyother start against Philadelphia this year, taking the loss inan 8-5 defeat April 14 at Philadelphia.

The Phillies, who scored twice in the ninth, have lost five outof seven.

 

Astros hold off Phillies

<h3>HOUSTON 7, PHILADELPHIA 5</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The young and the old combined to carry theHouston Astros to their seventh win in their last eight homegames Monday night.

Rookie of the Year candidate Hunter Pence homered, 41-year-oldCraig Biggio collected three hits and 40-year-old righthanderWoody Williams pitched effectively to lead Houston to a 7-5victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Williams (4-10) pitched seven innings, tying his longest outingof the season, giving up six hits and three runs with only onestrikeout and one walk, an intentional one to Ryan Howard withrunners on second and third in the first inning.

Williams began the year 1-7, but is 3-3 in his last sevenstarts.

"I'm finally starting to turn the corner a little bit," Williamssaid. "I'm starting to come around physically. Early in theseason I could only throw one pitch for a strike, and that onewasn't very good. Everybody puts pressure on yourself whenthings don't go well. When things weren't going well, I knew Iwasn't that bad."

"He located the fastball pretty well tonight and threw hisoffspeed pitches in pretty good locations," Houston manager PhilGarner said.

Williams needed to help himself defensively Monday with fiveassists, two of them on tough plays, and a putout at first base.

"Some of it's just self defense," laughed Williams. "Earlier inthe season they were smoking the ball back at me."

The Phillies also started a veteran in 44-year-old lefthanderJamie Moyer. "I felt like a rookie," Williams said.

Moyer pitched six innings and gave up four runs on nine hits inlosing to a team from the NL Central Division for the first timein his career (6-1). Moyer (7-6) last pitched at Minute MaidPark in June 2002 when he allowed three hits and no runs overseven innings to beat Houston for the Seattle Mariners.

"I felt Jamie threw a lot of pitches early in the game,"Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "They hit some ballsgood. It was just one of those nights for him."

"I think I threw fairly consistently," Moyer said. "I had acouple of walks and two mistakes, one to (Carlos) Lee and one tothat No. 2 hitter (Pence). Other than that I think I locatedthe way I wanted. The umpire was tight, but consistent. I can'tcomplain."

Biggio doubled twice and scored twice. His first double was the1,000th extra base hit of his career and the second was the660th double of his career, leaving him five behind George Brettfor fifth on the all-time list.

"I'm proud of that one, for a top of the order guy," Biggio saidof reaching a thousand extra base hits. "Today was good. We'regetting on base and getting in scoring position, that's whatwe're supposed to do."

The three hits by Biggio raised his career hit total to 3,007,tying him with Al Kaline for 25th all-time.

Lee drove in Biggio with a single in the first. Pence singledand Lance Berkman doubled him home to tie the game at 2-2 in thethird. The Astros took the lead for good in the fifth onBiggio's double and Pence's homer, his ninth, to make it 4-2.

"We're not playing from behind, and you have the feeling you canscore some runs," Garner said.

Pence also scored two runs and had two RBI.

He said he didn't feel comfortable with his swing during battingpractice and hit 20-30 balls off the tee in the batting cagebefore the game.

"I'm always making adjustments," he said. "We definitely feelthis is what the offense is capable of doing."

Leading 7-3 entering the ninth, Houston closer Dan Wheeleralmost let the game get away. Carlos Ruiz doubled in two runs,leaving runners on second and third with one out.

Garner called on lefthander Trever Miller, who usually facesonly lefthanded hitters. Manuel countered with righthandedhitting Chris Coste to pinch hit for Greg Dobbs.

But Miller retired Coste on a ground to third, the runnersholding, and ended the game by getting Jimmy Rollins to fly outto Pence in deep center.

"We needed him to get it done," Garner said of Miller."(Wheeler) wasn't getting the ball where he needed to get it,plain and simple."

"I think I showed (Garner) last year I could get righties out,"Miller said. "Early this year I wasn't doing a very good job ofthat. Usually (Wheeler) does get it done. I stay in the ballgame until the last out and, hopefully, they shoot off thefireworks."

Philadelphia hurt Williams with home runs, Pat Burrell hittinghis ninth in the third inning and Shane Victorino his 10th inthe sixth. Williams has given 19 homers this season, tyingPhiladelphia's Cole Hamels for most in the National League.