NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">HOUSTON (3) VS SAN DIEGO (2) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Burke 2b-lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .235 E Bruntlett ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .255 L Berkman rf 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .265 C Lee lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301 a-M Loretta ph-2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .284 M Lamb 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .291 T Wigginton 3b 3 0 2 1 1 0 0 .309 J Lane cf 4 1 0 0 0 1 4 .177 B Ausmus c 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233 R Oswalt p 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .135 D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-C Biggio ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250 T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 30 3 7 3 3 4 10 a-struck out swinging for C Lee in the 3rd; b-singled to right for D Borkowski in the 7th. BATTING: S - E Bruntlett. RBI - C Lee (97), T Wigginton (6), R Oswalt (1). 2-out RBI - T Wigginton, R Oswalt. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1, L Berkman 1, C Burke 1. Team LOB - 7. BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (7, 2nd base off D Brocail/P LaForest). SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Giles rf 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .300 G Blum 2b 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .265 M Cameron cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .249 A Gonzalez 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .268 M Ensberg 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232 K Greene ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .237 T Sledge lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .210 P LaForest c 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 .381 a-K Kouzmanoff ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238 K Cameron p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 J Germano p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200 D Brocail p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 b-J Bard ph-c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .260 Totals 28 2 5 2 2 8 6 a-struck out looking for P Laforest in the 7th; b-walked for D Brocail in the 7th. BATTING: 2B - G Blum (13, R Oswalt). 3B - B Giles (2, R Oswalt). S - J Germano. RBI - B Giles (34), G Blum (20). 2-out RBI - B Giles, G Blum. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gonzalez 1, G Blum 1, K Greene 1. Team LOB - 5. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 200 100 00 -- 3 SAN DIEGO - 000 020 00 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 4 2/3 5 2 2 1 4 0 3.33 D Borkowski 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 5.33 T Miller 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 5.09 C Qualls 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.22 SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era J Germano 6 5 3 3 2 3 0 4.18 D Brocail 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.90 K Cameron 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.36 Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 67-49; D Borkowski 18-11; T Miller 21-14; C Qualls 8-6; J Germano 97-60; D Brocail 17-9; K Cameron 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 8-2; D Borkowski 0-2; T Miller 0-1; C Qualls 2-1; J Germano 9-6; D Brocail 3-0; K Cameron 0-2. Batters faced: R Oswalt 20; D Borkowski 4; T Miller 4; C Qualls 3; J Germano 25; D Brocail 5; K Cameron 4. UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Todd Tichenor. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry Poncino. Weather: 74 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: L Scott hit for C Qualls. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3 SAN DIEGO 2 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L Scott (.259, 14 HR, 55 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 0 SAN DIEGO 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 5 0 (BOT 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - CHAD QUALLS (OUT) SDG - KEVIN CAMERON DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: M ENSBERG (.232, 0-FOR-3) K GREENE (.237, 0-FOR-3) T SLEDGE (.210, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">HOUSTON (3) VS SAN DIEGO (2) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Burke 2b-lf 5 1 1 0 0 0 3 .234 E Bruntlett ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .255 L Berkman rf 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .265 C Lee lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301 a-M Loretta ph-2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .284 M Lamb 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .291 T Wigginton 3b 3 0 2 1 1 0 0 .309 J Lane cf 4 1 0 0 0 1 4 .177 B Ausmus c 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233 R Oswalt p 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .135 D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-C Biggio ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250 T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 c-L Scott ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 Totals 33 3 7 3 3 4 10 a-struck out swinging for C Lee in the 3rd; b-singled to right for D Borkowski in the 7th; c-grounded to first for C Qualls in the 9th. BATTING: S - E Bruntlett. RBI - C Lee (97), T Wigginton (6), R Oswalt (1). 2-out RBI - T Wigginton, R Oswalt. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1, L Berkman 1, C Burke 1. Team LOB - 7. BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (7, 2nd base off D Brocail/P LaForest). SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Giles rf 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .300 G Blum 2b 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .265 M Cameron cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .249 A Gonzalez 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .268 M Ensberg 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232 K Greene ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .237 T Sledge lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .210 P LaForest c 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 .381 a-K Kouzmanoff ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238 K Cameron p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 J Germano p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200 D Brocail p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 b-J Bard ph-c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .260 Totals 28 2 5 2 2 8 6 a-struck out looking for P Laforest in the 7th; b-walked for D Brocail in the 7th. BATTING: 2B - G Blum (13, R Oswalt). 3B - B Giles (2, R Oswalt). S - J Germano. RBI - B Giles (34), G Blum (20). 2-out RBI - B Giles, G Blum. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gonzalez 1, G Blum 1, K Greene 1. Team LOB - 5. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 200 100 000 -- 3 SAN DIEGO - 000 020 00 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 4 2/3 5 2 2 1 4 0 3.33 D Borkowski 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 5.33 T Miller 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 5.09 C Qualls 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.22 SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era J Germano 6 5 3 3 2 3 0 4.18 D Brocail 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.90 K Cameron 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.33 Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 67-49; D Borkowski 18-11; T Miller 21-14; C Qualls 8-6; J Germano 97-60; D Brocail 17-9; K Cameron 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 8-2; D Borkowski 0-2; T Miller 0-1; C Qualls 2-1; J Germano 9-6; D Brocail 3-0; K Cameron 2-3. Batters faced: R Oswalt 20; D Borkowski 4; T Miller 4; C Qualls 3; J Germano 25; D Brocail 5; K Cameron 7. UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Todd Tichenor. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry Poncino. Weather: 74 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - PITCHING CHANGE HOU: BRAD LIDGE (3-2, 3.14) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2 DUE UP FOR SANDIEGO: M ENSBERG (.232, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3 SAN DIEGO 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: M Ensberg (.232, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 0 SAN DIEGO 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: HOU - ROY OSWALT, DAVE BORKOWSKI (5TH), TREVER MILLER (7TH), CHAD QUALLS (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO, DOUG BROCAIL (7TH), KEVIN CAMERON (8TH) AND PETE LAFOREST, JOSH BARD (8TH) HOME RUNS: HOU - NONE SDG - NONE</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">NL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 7 0 SAN DIEGO 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: HOU - ROY OSWALT, DAVE BORKOWSKI (5TH), TREVER MILLER (7TH), CHAD QUALLS (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO, DOUG BROCAIL (7TH), KEVIN CAMERON (8TH) AND PETE LAFOREST, JOSH BARD (8TH) WP - DAVE BORKOWSKI (3-3) LP - JUSTIN GERMANO (6-7) SAVE - BRAD LIDGE (11) HOME RUNS: HOU - NONE SDG - NONE TIME: 2:25 ATT: 44,272 PROBABLES: HOU - MATT ALBERS (3-5, 5.99) SDG - GREG MADDUX (8-9, 4.00)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">HOUSTON (3) VS SAN DIEGO (2) - FINAL HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Burke 2b-lf 5 1 1 0 0 0 3 .234 E Bruntlett ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .255 L Berkman rf 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .265 C Lee lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301 a-M Loretta ph-2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .284 M Lamb 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .291 T Wigginton 3b 3 0 2 1 1 0 0 .309 J Lane cf 4 1 0 0 0 1 4 .177 B Ausmus c 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233 R Oswalt p 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .135 D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 b-C Biggio ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250 T Miller p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 c-L Scott ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 33 3 7 3 3 4 10 a-struck out swinging for C Lee in the 3rd; b-singled to right for D Borkowski in the 7th; c-grounded to first for C Qualls in the 9th. BATTING: S - E Bruntlett. RBI - C Lee (97), T Wigginton (6), R Oswalt (1). 2-out RBI - T Wigginton, R Oswalt. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1, L Berkman 1, C Burke 1. Team LOB - 7. BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (7, 2nd base off D Brocail/P LaForest). SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Giles rf 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .300 G Blum 2b 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .265 M Cameron cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .249 A Gonzalez 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .268 M Ensberg 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 K Greene ss 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 .236 T Sledge lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .208 P LaForest c 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 .381 a-K Kouzmanoff ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238 K Cameron p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 J Germano p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200 D Brocail p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 b-J Bard ph-c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .260 Totals 31 2 5 2 2 10 6 a-struck out looking for P Laforest in the 7th; b-walked for D Brocail in the 7th. BATTING: 2B - G Blum (13, R Oswalt). 3B - B Giles (2, R Oswalt). S - J Germano. RBI - B Giles (34), G Blum (20). 2-out RBI - B Giles, G Blum. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Gonzalez 1, G Blum 1, K Greene 1. Team LOB - 5. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 200 100 000 -- 3 SAN DIEGO - 000 020 000 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 4 2/3 5 2 2 1 4 0 3.33 D Borkowski (W, 3-3) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 5.33 T Miller (H, 14) 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 5.09 C Qualls (H, 15) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.22 B Lidge (S, 11) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.08 SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era J Germano (L, 6-7) 6 5 3 3 2 3 0 4.18 D Brocail 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.90 K Cameron 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.33 Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 67-49; D Borkowski 18-11; T Miller 21-14; C Qualls 8-6; B Lidge 13-9; J Germano 97-60; D Brocail 17-9; K Cameron 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 8-2; D Borkowski 0-2; T Miller 0-1; C Qualls 2-1; B Lidge 1-0; J Germano 9-6; D Brocail 3-0; K Cameron 2-3. Batters faced: R Oswalt 20; D Borkowski 4; T Miller 4; C Qualls 3; B Lidge 3; J Germano 25; D Brocail 5; K Cameron 7. UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Todd Tichenor. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry Poncino. T--2:25. Att--44,272. Weather: 74 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSTON (3) AT SAN DIEGO (2) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSTON 1ST: C Burke singled to left. E Bruntlett sacrificed to third, C Burke to second. L Berkman walked. C Lee singled to center, C Burke scored, L Berkman to second. M Lamb grounded into fielder's choice to second, C Lee out at second, L Berkman to third. T Wigginton singled to left, L Berkman scored, M Lamb to second. J Lane struck out looking. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, SAN DIEGO 0. HOUSTON 4TH: M Lamb struck out looking. T Wigginton walked. J Lane grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, T Wigginton out at second. B Ausmus singled to right, J Lane to third. R Oswalt reached on infield single to third, J Lane scored, B Ausmus to second. C Burke lined out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 0. SAN DIEGO 5TH: T Sledge grounded out to first. P LaForest walked. J Germano sacrificed to pitcher, P LaForest to second. B Giles singled to right, P LaForest scored, B Giles to second advancing on throw. G Blum singled to left center, B Giles scored. D Borkowski relieved R Oswalt. M Cameron flied out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSTON (3) AT SAN DIEGO (2) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Houston Starting Lineups -- C Burke 2B, E Bruntlett SS, L Berkman RF, C Lee LF, M Lamb 1B, T Wigginton 3B, J Lane CF, B Ausmus C, R Oswalt RHP. San Diego Starting Lineups -- B Giles RF, G Blum 2B, M Cameron CF, A Gonzalez 1B, M Ensberg 3B, K Greene SS, T Sledge LF, P LaForest C, J Germano RHP. Umpires -- Bruce Dreckman (HP), Todd Tichenor (1B), Gary Darling (2B), Larry Poncino (3B). Gametime Weather: 74 degrees, Clear, wind left to right at 8 mph. HOUSTON 1ST: C Burke singled to left. E Bruntlett sacrificed to third, C Burke to second. L Berkman walked. C Lee singled to center, C Burke scored, L Berkman to second. M Lamb grounded into fielder's choice to second, C Lee out at second, L Berkman to third. T Wigginton singled to left, L Berkman scored, M Lamb to second. J Lane struck out looking. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, SAN DIEGO 0. SAN DIEGO 1ST: B Giles flied out to center. G Blum doubled to left. M Cameron struck out looking. A Gonzalez grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, SAN DIEGO 0. HOUSTON 2ND: B Ausmus lined out to center. R Oswalt grounded out to third. C Burke flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, SAN DIEGO 0. SAN DIEGO 2ND: M Ensberg grounded out to shortstop. K Greene struck out swinging. T Sledge grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, SAN DIEGO 0. HOUSTON 3RD: E Bruntlett lined out to center. L Berkman flied out to left. M Loretta hit for C Lee. M Loretta struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, SAN DIEGO 0. SAN DIEGO 3RD: C Burke in left field. M Loretta at second base. P LaForest struck out swinging. J Germano struck out swinging. B Giles tripled to deep right center. G Blum lined out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, SAN DIEGO 0. HOUSTON 4TH: M Lamb struck out looking. T Wigginton walked. J Lane grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, T Wigginton out at second. B Ausmus singled to right, J Lane to third. R Oswalt reached on infield single to third, J Lane scored, B Ausmus to second. C Burke lined out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 0. SAN DIEGO 4TH: M Cameron reached on infield single to third. A Gonzalez grounded out to first, M Cameron to second. M Ensberg grounded out to shortstop, M Cameron to third. K Greene grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 0. HOUSTON 5TH: E Bruntlett grounded out to third. L Berkman grounded out to second. M Loretta grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 0. SAN DIEGO 5TH: T Sledge grounded out to first. P LaForest walked. J Germano sacrificed to pitcher, P LaForest to second. B Giles singled to right, P LaForest scored, B Giles to second advancing on throw. G Blum singled to left center, B Giles scored. D Borkowski relieved R Oswalt. M Cameron flied out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2. HOUSTON 6TH: M Lamb grounded out to second. T Wigginton grounded out to third. J Lane popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2. SAN DIEGO 6TH: A Gonzalez struck out looking. M Ensberg flied out to left. K Greene struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2. HOUSTON 7TH: D Brocail relieved J Germano. B Ausmus grounded out to second. C Biggio hit for D Borkowski. C Biggio singled to right. C Burke grounded into fielder's choice to third, C Biggio out at second. C Burke stole second. E Bruntlett walked. L Berkman grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2. SAN DIEGO 7TH: T Miller relieved D Borkowski. T Sledge struck out swinging. K Kouzmanoff hit for P LaForest. K Kouzmanoff struck out looking. J Bard hit for D Brocail. J Bard walked. B Giles lined out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2. HOUSTON 8TH: K Cameron relieved D Brocail. J Bard catching. M Loretta struck out swinging. M Lamb flied out to center. T Wigginton singled to left. J Lane flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2. SAN DIEGO 8TH: C Qualls relieved T Miller. G Blum lined out to shortstop. M Cameron grounded out to third. A Gonzalez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2. HOUSTON 9TH: B Ausmus grounded out to shortstop. L Scott hit for C Qualls. L Scott grounded out to first. C Burke flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2. SAN DIEGO 9TH: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. M Ensberg grounded out to third. K Greene struck out swinging. T Sledge struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2.</div>
Bullpen helps Astros hang on to edge Padres <h3>HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2</h3>By Tim Powers PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - Not even injuries to two star players coulddeny the Houston Astros. Roy Oswalt and Carlos Lee exited the game early, but the Astrospersevered behind an excellent effort from their bullpen todefeat the San Diego Padres, 3-2, on Saturday. Oswalt cruised through three scoreless innings before showingsigns of discomfort while warming up prior to the fourth.Manager Phil Garner and the team trainer examined the All-Starrighthander but opted to let him continue. After the 29-year-old ace surrendered two runs in the fifthinning, he left the game with a strained left oblique and islisted as day-to-day. Joe Borkowski (3-3) came on to finish the fifth and alsocontributed a scoreless sixth to pick up the win for Houston,which has now won five of its last seven games. Trevor Miller and Chad Qualls each pitched a scoreless inning infront of Brad Lidge, who retired the side in the ninth toconvert his 11th save in 17 chances. The Astros' bullpen combined to pitch 4 1/3 no-hit innings,allowing just one walk with six strikeouts. Lee drove in a run as part of Houston's two-run first againstSan Diego starter Justin Germano (6-7), but was pulled after thesecond with a strained right hip flexor. His status also isday-to-day. Oswalt, who had won six straight decisions, allowed two runs andfive hits with a walk and four strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.He help himself at the plate, bouncing a bases-loaded infieldsingle in the fourth to score Jason Lane with what proved to bethe decisive run. Germano (6-7) lasted six innings, yielding three runs and fivehits to suffer his fourth consecutive loss. The 25-year-oldrighthander, who won five straight after coming to San Diego viaa waiver claim from Philadelphia before the season, walked twobatters and struck out three. San Diego rallied in the fifth when Brian Giles and Geoff Blumrecorded RBI singles to cut the deficit to 3-2. Giles and Blum each had multi-hit efforts for the Padres, whohave lost three of their last four contests.
Bullpen helps Astros hang on to edge Padres <h3>HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 2</h3>By Tim Powers PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - Not even injuries to two star players coulddeny the Houston Astros. Roy Oswalt and Carlos Lee exited thegame early, but the Astros persevered behind an excellent effortfrom their bullpen to defeat the San Diego Padres, 3-2, onSaturday. Oswalt cruised through three scoreless innings before showingsigns of discomfort while warming up prior to the fourth.Manager Phil Garner and the team trainer examined the All-Starrighthander but opted to let him continue. After the 29-year-old ace surrendered two runs in the fifthinning, he left the game with a strained left oblique and islisted as day-to-day. "It happened in the third inning on the last pitch," Oswaltsaid. "Once I got on deck (in the bottom of the inning) andstarted swinging the bat, I could feel it. I told them I wantedto stay out there and see if I could get through two moreinnings. This is the first oblique I've had. I don't think Itore it, but it doesn't feel well." Joe Borkowski (3-3) came on to finish the fifth and alsocontributed a scoreless sixth to pick up the win for Houston,which has now won five of its last seven games. Trevor Miller and Chad Qualls each pitched a scoreless inning infront of Brad Lidge, who retired the side in the ninth toconvert his 11th save in 17 chances. "Throughout the course of the season, you're going to have someguys get injured," Lidge said. "You just hope it's nothing tooserious." The Astros' bullpen combined to pitch 4 1/3 no-hit innings,allowing just one walk with six strikeouts. "They did a great job," Garner said. "Borkowski was key, hecomes in and stops the inning and then has another scorelessinning. Then Miller comes in and gets us through a big inning,and of course Qualls pitched good and so did Lidge." Lee drove in a run as part of Houston's two-run first againstSan Diego starter Justin Germano (6-7), but was pulled after thesecond with a strained right hip flexor. His status also isday-to-day. Oswalt, who had won six straight decisions, allowed two runs andfive hits with a walk and four strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.He help himself at the plate, bouncing a bases-loaded infieldsingle in the fourth to score Jason Lane with what proved to bethe decisive run. "I didn't want to swing in that at-bat (because of the injury),but he went 3-2 on me, so I just tried to do a half-swing andbeat it out to first and it worked," Oswalt said. "For threeinnings, I felt as good as you could feel. My mechanics weregreat, the ball was coming out of my hand real well, and it'stough to come out of the game when you feel great." Germano (6-7) lasted six innings, yielding three runs and fivehits to suffer his fourth consecutive loss. The 25-year-oldrighthander, who won five straight after coming to San Diego viaa waiver claim from Philadelphia before the season, walked twobatters and struck out three. "(Germano's) last three starts have been pretty good," Padresmanager Bud Black said. "It was more of the same. He's keepingus in games, which is what we want from Justin. He's givenhimself and the team a chance to win." San Diego rallied in the fifth when Brian Giles and Geoff Blumrecorded RBI singles to cut the deficit to 3-2. "It was a well-pitched game on both ends," Black said. "Theybroke through early. We had a couple of opportunities, but theymade some nice defensive plays. We couldn't break throughagainst them. Their bullpen pitched well." Giles and Blum each had multi-hit efforts for the Padres, whohave lost three of their last four contests.
