GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (54-66) at LA DODGERS (61-59)

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Hernandez relieved R Seanez.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 0
LA DODGERS 6 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Biggio (.251, 2-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY CARLOS LEE SCORED MARK LORETTA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C LEE ON SECOND, L BERKMAN ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1
LA DODGERS 6 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LAMB (.296, 2-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY RAMON MARTINEZ ALLOWED LANCE BERKMAN TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M LAMB ON FIRST, C LEE ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
LA DODGERS 6 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.319, 0-FOR-2, BB)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - PITCHING CHANGE
LOS: TAKASHI SAITO (1-0, 1.54) IN THE 9TH
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M LAMB ON FIRST, C LEE ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2, LA DODGERS 6

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.319, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: T Saito relieved R Hernandez.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M LAMB ON FIRST, C LEE ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
LA DODGERS 6 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T Wigginton (.319, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

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

BATTERIES: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ, STEPHEN RANDOLPH (6TH), TREVER MILLER (6TH),
BRIAN MOEHLER (7TH), MARK MCLEMORE (8TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

LOS - DEREK LOWE, RUDY SEANEZ (8TH), ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
(9TH), TAKASHI SAITO (9TH) AND RUSSELL MARTIN

HOME RUNS: HOU - NONE

LOS - NONE</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

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

BATTERIES: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ, STEPHEN RANDOLPH (6TH), TREVER MILLER (6TH),
BRIAN MOEHLER (7TH), MARK MCLEMORE (8TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

LOS - DEREK LOWE, RUDY SEANEZ (8TH), ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
(9TH), TAKASHI SAITO (9TH) AND RUSSELL MARTIN


WP - DEREK LOWE (9-11)
LP - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (7-11)
SAVE - TAKASHI SAITO (31)

HOME RUNS: HOU - NONE

LOS - NONE


TIME: 2:44 ATT: 48,128

PROBABLES: COL - JOSH FOGG (7-7, 4.64)
LOS - ERIC STULTS (0-1, 4.50)

PROBABLES: HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS (6-12, 5.09)
SDG - JAKE PEAVY (13-5, 2.23)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (2) VS LA DODGERS (6) - FINAL

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .251
M Loretta ss 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .284
L Berkman rf 3 1 1 0 1 2 1 .264
C Lee lf 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .302
M Lamb 1b 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 .295
T Wigginton 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 .313
J Lane cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .179
B Ausmus c 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .232
W Rodriguez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .135
a-C Burke ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
S Randolph p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Moehler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
b-L Scott ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .259
M McLemore p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 30 2 6 2 4 3 13

a-grounded to shortstop for W Rodriguez in the 6th; b-popped out to third for
B Moehler in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Lee (36, R Hernandez). RBI - C Lee (96), M Lamb (37). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1, L Scott 1. GIDP - T Wigginton 2, M
Loretta. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Loretta (2, 2nd base by D Lowe/R Martin).

FIELDING: E - M Lamb 2 (9, ground ball 2); L Berkman (8, bobble).


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 4 1 2 2 0 1 0 .277
J Pierre cf 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .288
M Kemp rf 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 .321
J Kent 2b 3 1 3 2 1 0 0 .291
R Martinez pr-2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .170
J Loney 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 .311
R Martin c 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .289
A Ethier lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .296
S Hillenbrand 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .167
D Lowe p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .140
R Seanez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-O Saenz ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .187
R Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Saito p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 32 6 8 5 2 4 12

a-grounded to shortstop for R Seanez in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - J Kent 3 (29, W Rodriguez 2, B Moehler). S - D Lowe. SF - M Kemp.
RBI - J Kent 2 (63), M Kemp (26), R Furcal 2 (41). 2-out RBI - R Furcal 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Pierre 1, J Loney 1, R Martin 2.
Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Pierre (49, 2nd base off W Rodriguez/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: E - R Martinez (2, ground ball). DP: 4 (S Hillenbrand-J Kent-J
Loney, R Martin-R Furcal, R Furcal-J Kent-J Loney, R Furcal-J Loney).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 000 002 -- 2
LA DODGERS - 200 112 00x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez (L, 7-11) 5 5 4 2 1 2 0 4.31
S Randolph 2/3 1 2 2 1 1 0 12.46
T Miller 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.24
B Moehler 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.18
M McLemore 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.08

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe (W, 9-11) 7 5 0 0 0 2 0 3.45
R Seanez 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.68
R Hernandez 1/3 1 2 2 2 0 0 4.91
T Saito (S, 31) 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.52

Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 76-52; S Randolph 18-9; T Miller 4-3; B Moehler
16-9; M McLemore 8-7; D Lowe 84-58; R Seanez 24-13; R Hernandez 21-10; T Saito
7-4. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 5-8; S Randolph 1-0; T Miller 0-1; B
Moehler 1-1; M McLemore 2-1; D Lowe 16-2; R Seanez 0-3; R Hernandez 0-1; T
Saito 0-1. Batters faced: W Rodriguez 23; S Randolph 4; T Miller 2; B Moehler
4; M McLemore 3; D Lowe 22; R Seanez 5; R Hernandez 5; T Saito 2.

UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Travis
Reininger.

T--2:44. Att--48,128.
Weather: 85 degrees, clear. Wind: 5 mph, out to
center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
HOUSTON 2
LA DODGERS 6 FINAL</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (2) AT LA DODGERS (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal struck out swinging. J Pierre reached on bunt
single to first. M Kemp singled to center, J Pierre to third. J Kent doubled
to deep center, J Pierre and M Kemp scored. J Loney popped out to third.
R Martin flied out to center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 2.

LA DODGERS 4TH: J Kent doubled to deep left center. J Loney flied out to
center. R Martin grounded out to shortstop, J Kent to third. A Ethier safe at
first on error by first baseman M Lamb, J Kent scored. S Hillenbrand flied out
to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 3.

LA DODGERS 5TH: D Lowe lined out to right. R Furcal reached on infield
single to shortstop. J Pierre safe at first on error by first baseman M Lamb,
R Furcal to third. M Kemp hit sacrifice fly to right, R Furcal scored.
J Pierre stole second. J Kent walked. J Loney grounded out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 4.

LA DODGERS 6TH: S Randolph relieved W Rodriguez. R Martin walked. A Ethier
struck out swinging. S Hillenbrand singled to left, R Martin to second.
D Lowe sacrificed to pitcher, R Martin to third, S Hillenbrand to second.
T Miller relieved S Randolph. R Furcal singled to right, R Martin and
S Hillenbrand scored, R Furcal to second on error by right fielder L Berkman.
J Pierre flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 6.

HOUSTON 9TH: R Hernandez relieved R Seanez. C Biggio fouled out to catcher.
M Loretta walked. L Berkman walked, M Loretta to second. C Lee doubled to
left, M Loretta scored, L Berkman to third. M Lamb safe at first on error by
second baseman R Martinez, L Berkman scored, C Lee to third. T Saito relieved
R Hernandez. T Wigginton flied out to right. J Lane struck out swinging.
(2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 2, LA DODGERS 6.</div>

 

Lowe finally gets some support in long-awaited win

<h3>LA DODGERS 6, HOUSTON 2</h3>LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Derek Lowe has struggled all season toget help from his offense. Fortunately for him, Jeff Kentshowed up.


Lowe tossed seven scoreless innings and Kent had two RBI as theLos Angeles Dodgers posted a 6-2 victory over the HoustonAstros.


In nine of his 11 losses this season, Los Angeles has scoredthree runs or less for their two-time All-Star. However, Lowe(9-11), who allowed five hits and did not allow a Houston batterto reach second base, had his sinker working all game long,forcing 16 ground-ball outs - including four double plays - outof the 21 outs he recorded to get his first win since June 22 -a span of 10 starts.


Kent, coming off a torrid July in which he hit .447 with 20 RBI,was batting .067 (2-for-30) for the month entering thiscontest, accounted for all the Dodgers' extra-base hits when heequaled a career high with three doubles, the first of whichpushed across two runs.


After doubling off Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (7-11) toopen up the fourth and later scoring to increase the Los Angeleslead to 3-0, the 2000 National League MVP belted his finaltwo-bagger to deep center in the seventh before leaving the gamefor pinch runner Ramon Martinez.


Rafael Furcal added two hits and two RBI for Los Angeles, whichscored more than two runs for just the sixth time in 15 Augustgames.


Rodriguez threw five innings, giving up two earned runs on fivehits, walking one and striking out two. The lefthandercontinued his road woes, falling to 1-9 with a 7.81 ERA asopposed to his stellar 6-2 mark with a 1.65 ERA.


Dodger reliever Roberto Hernandez came on in relief in the ninthand surrendered two runs while recording just one out. Histough outing overshadowed that he became just the 12th pitcherin major league history to appear in 1,000 games.


Dodger closer Takashi Saito relieved Hernandez and retired TyWigginton and Jason Lane to post his 31st save in 34 chances.

Carlos Lee lined a double over the head of third baseman SheaHillenbrand off Hernandez with one out to end the shutout forthe Astros, who fell to 9-43 in games in which they scored threeor fewer runs.

 

NL: HOUSTON at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (2) AT LA DODGERS (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, M Loretta SS, L Berkman RF, C Lee LF,
M Lamb 1B, T Wigginton 3B, J Lane CF, B Ausmus C, W Rodriguez LHP.

La Dodgers Starting Lineups -- R Furcal SS, J Pierre CF, M Kemp RF, J Kent 2B,
J Loney 1B, R Martin C, A Ethier LF, S Hillenbrand 3B, D Lowe RHP.

Umpires -- Lance Barksdale (HP), Jim Reynolds (1B), Tim Welke (2B),
Travis Reininger (3B).

Gametime Weather: 85 degrees, Clear, wind out to center at 5 mph.


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

LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal struck out swinging. J Pierre reached on bunt
single to first. M Kemp singled to center, J Pierre to third. J Kent doubled
to deep center, J Pierre and M Kemp scored. J Loney popped out to third.
R Martin flied out to center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 2.

HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee lined out to third. M Lamb singled to center.
T Wigginton grounded into double play, third to second to first, M Lamb out at
second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 2.

LA DODGERS 2ND: A Ethier grounded out to first. S Hillenbrand lined out to
third. D Lowe struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
LA DODGERS 2.

HOUSTON 3RD: J Lane grounded out to second. B Ausmus grounded out to
shortstop. W Rodriguez grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 2.

LA DODGERS 3RD: R Furcal fouled out to first. J Pierre grounded out to
third. M Kemp grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
LA DODGERS 2.

HOUSTON 4TH: C Biggio singled to left. M Loretta grounded into fielder's
choice to second, C Biggio out at second. L Berkman struck out looking.
M Loretta caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 2.

LA DODGERS 4TH: J Kent doubled to deep left center. J Loney flied out to
center. R Martin grounded out to shortstop, J Kent to third. A Ethier safe at
first on error by first baseman M Lamb, J Kent scored. S Hillenbrand flied out
to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 3.

HOUSTON 5TH: C Lee grounded out to third. M Lamb singled to right center.
T Wigginton grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, M Lamb out
at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 3.

LA DODGERS 5TH: D Lowe lined out to right. R Furcal reached on infield
single to shortstop. J Pierre safe at first on error by first baseman M Lamb,
R Furcal to third. M Kemp hit sacrifice fly to right, R Furcal scored.
J Pierre stole second. J Kent walked. J Loney grounded out to first. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 4.

HOUSTON 6TH: J Lane grounded out to shortstop. B Ausmus grounded out to
second. C Burke hit for W Rodriguez. C Burke grounded out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 4.

LA DODGERS 6TH: S Randolph relieved W Rodriguez. R Martin walked. A Ethier
struck out swinging. S Hillenbrand singled to left, R Martin to second.
D Lowe sacrificed to pitcher, R Martin to third, S Hillenbrand to second.
T Miller relieved S Randolph. R Furcal singled to right, R Martin and
S Hillenbrand scored, R Furcal to second on error by right fielder L Berkman.
J Pierre flied out to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 6.

HOUSTON 7TH: C Biggio singled to right. M Loretta grounded into double
play, shortstop to first, C Biggio out at second. L Berkman singled to center.
C Lee grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, L Berkman out at second.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 6.

LA DODGERS 7TH: B Moehler relieved T Miller. M Kemp grounded out to third.
J Kent doubled to deep center. R Martinez ran for J Kent. J Loney struck out
swinging. R Martin popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
LA DODGERS 6.

HOUSTON 8TH: R Martinez at second base. R Seanez relieved D Lowe. M Lamb
flied out to center. T Wigginton walked. J Lane flied out to center.
B Ausmus walked, T Wigginton to second. L Scott hit for B Moehler. L Scott
popped out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 6.

LA DODGERS 8TH: M McLemore relieved B Moehler. A Ethier flied out to right.
S Hillenbrand grounded out to shortstop. O Saenz hit for R Seanez. O Saenz
grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, LA DODGERS 6.

HOUSTON 9TH: R Hernandez relieved R Seanez. C Biggio fouled out to catcher.
M Loretta walked. L Berkman walked, M Loretta to second. C Lee doubled to
left, M Loretta scored, L Berkman to third. M Lamb safe at first on error by
second baseman R Martinez, L Berkman scored, C Lee to third. T Saito relieved
R Hernandez. T Wigginton flied out to right. J Lane struck out swinging.
(2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) HOUSTON 2, LA DODGERS 6.</div>

 

Lowe finally gets some support in long-awaited win

<h3>LA DODGERS 6, HOUSTON 2</h3>LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Derek Lowe has struggled all season toget help from his offense. Fortunately for him, Jeff Kentshowed up.


Lowe tossed seven scoreless innings and Kent had two RBI as theLos Angeles Dodgers posted a 6-2 victory over the HoustonAstros.


In nine of his 11 losses this season, Los Angeles has scoredthree runs or less for their two-time All-Star. However, Lowe(9-11), who allowed five hits and did not allow a Houston batterto reach second base, had his sinker working all game long,forcing 16 ground-ball outs - including four double plays - outof the 21 outs he recorded to get his first win since June 22 -a span of nine starts.


"Lowe was locked in today by using the corners of the plate andmixing up his pitches," Dodges catcher Russell Martin said. "Wejust have to stay consistent with the all-around good pitching,hitting and defense and we can put some wins together."

"Our team did a great job playing defense and putting runs onthe board for me tonight," Lowe said. "It's been a long timesince I got a win and it feels good."


Kent, coming off a torrid July in which he hit .447 with 20 RBI,was batting .067 (2-for-30) for the month entering thiscontest, accounted for all the Dodgers' extra-base hits when heequaled a career high with three doubles, the first of whichpushed across two runs.


"It's baseball and everyone goes in a hitting slump at somepoint," Kent said. "It's just good to come out and score someruns two nights in a row."


After doubling off Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (7-11) toopen up the fourth and later scoring to increase the Los Angeleslead to 3-0, the 2000 National League MVP belted his finaltwo-bagger to deep center in the seventh before leaving the gamefor pinch runner Ramon Martinez.


"I felt good out there but they just seemed to find the holes,"Rodriguez said. "I didn't throw a lot of pitches and a lot werestrikes so I knew I had my command."


Rafael Furcal added two hits and two RBI for Los Angeles, whichscored more than two runs for just the sixth time in 15 Augustgames.


"I'm glad with the way were playing baseball these past twogames," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "We got a big serieswith the Rockies, so I hope we can keep playing good."

Rodriguez threw five innings, giving up two earned runs on fivehits, walking one and striking out two. The lefthandercontinued his road woes, falling to 1-9 with a 7.81 ERA asopposed to his stellar 6-2 mark with a 1.65 ERA.


"I can't explain it," Rodriguez said. "I know that my statsshow that I pitch good at home and have trouble on the road butI just go out and pitch the same way no matter where I throw."

Dodger reliever Roberto Hernandez came on in relief in the ninthand surrendered two runs while recording just one out. Histough outing overshadowed that he became just the 12th pitcherin major league history to appear in 1,000 games.


Dodger closer Takashi Saito relieved Hernandez and retired TyWigginton and Jason Lane to post his 31st save in 34 chances.

Carlos Lee lined a double over the head of third baseman SheaHillenbrand off Hernandez with one out to end the shutout forthe Astros, who fell to 9-43 in games in which they scored threeor fewer runs.