GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (55-67) at SAN DIEGO (65-56)

NL: HOUSTON (55-67) at SAN DIEGO (65-56)

<h3>Padres look to bounce back against Astros</h3>

<div class="pre">Houston (55-67) at San Diego (65-56) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The San Diego Padres are trying to stay inthe race in the National League West. In order to do that,they're going to have to find a way to stop Lance Berkman.

Berkman and the Houston Astros will look to make it two straightover the Padres when they visit Petco Park on Saturday.

The Astros slugger clubbed a pair of homers on Friday, includinga two-run blast in the eighth inning that provided the winningmargin in a 3-1 victory.


The loss dropped San Diego four games behind the ArizonaDiamondbacks (70-53) in the NL West and left them in a tie withPhiladelphia (65-56) for the NL wild card lead.


To avoid another loss, the Padres will have to find a way to getto Houston ace Roy Oswalt (13-6, 3.32 ERA). The All-Starrighthander has allowed a total of three earned runs en route towinning each of his last five starts.


Oswalt beat San Diego on July 28, yielding three hits and anunearned run while striking out 10. In his career, he is 7-1with a 1.13 ERA in 10 games - eight starts - against the Padres.

Justin Germano (6-6, 4.16) gets the start for San Diego. The25-year-old righthander has pitched well his last two times out,allowing a total of three run in 11 total frames.

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON AT SAN DIEGO -- LINEUPS

HOUSTON SAN DIEGO
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Chris Burke 2B .235 4 21 Brian Giles RF .297 7 33
Eric Bruntlett SS .260 0 11 Geoff Blum 2B .260 2 19
Lance Berkman RF .267 23 76 Mike Cameron CF .249 15 61
Carlos Lee LF .300 24 96 Adrian Gonzalez 1B .270 19 68
Mike Lamb 1B .296 11 37 Morgan Ensberg 3B .235 11 37
Ty Wigginton 3B .288 1 5 Khalil Greene SS .239 19 66
Jason Lane CF .182 8 25 Terrmel Sledge LF .213 6 20
Brad Ausmus C .232 3 22 Pete Laforest C .400 1 3
Roy Oswalt RHP .120 0 0 Justin Germano RHP .208 0 2
(13-6, 3.32) (6-6, 4.16)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO
WARMUPS: HOU - ROY OSWALT (13-6, 3.32)
SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO (6-6, 4.16)

UMPIRES: HP - BRUCE DRECKMAN
1B - TODD TICHENOR
2B - GARY DARLING
3B - LARRY PONCINO

WEATHER: 75 Degrees, clear
WIND: 8 mph, left to right</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO
STARTING BATS: HOU - ROY OSWALT AND BRAD AUSMUS
SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO AND PETE LAFOREST

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BURKE (.235, 4 HR, 21 RBI)
E BRUNTLETT (.260, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.267, 23 HR, 76 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARLOS LEE SCORED CHRIS BURKE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C LEE ON FIRST, L BERKMAN ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1
SAN DIEGO 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LAMB (.296, 11 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY TY WIGGINTON SCORED LANCE BERKMAN.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, T WIGGINTON ON FIRST, M LAMB ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
SAN DIEGO 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J LANE (.182, 8 HR, 25 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 2 3 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT
SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: B GILES (.297, 7 HR, 33 RBI)
G BLUM (.260, 2 HR, 19 RBI)
M CAMERON (.249, 15 HR, 61 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (2) VS SAN DIEGO (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .238
E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
L Berkman rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .267
C Lee lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301
M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .302
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .181
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 5 2 3 2 1 1 3

BATTING: S - E Bruntlett. RBI - C Lee (97), T Wigginton (6). 2-out RBI - T
Wigginton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1. Team LOB - 2.


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
G Blum 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
M Cameron cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
A Gonzalez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
K Greene ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
T Sledge lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
P LaForest c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
J Germano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 2 -- 2
SAN DIEGO - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.32

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Germano 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 4.30

Pitches-strikes: J Germano 22-15. Ground balls-fly balls: J Germano 2-0.
Batters faced: J Germano 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Todd Tichenor. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry
Poncino.

Weather: 75 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO
CONFIRMED STARTERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT
SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT
SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B AUSMUS (.232, 3 HR, 22 RBI)
R OSWALT (.120, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
C BURKE (.238, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (2) VS SAN DIEGO (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .238
E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
L Berkman rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .267
C Lee lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301
M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .302
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .181
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120

Totals 5 2 3 2 1 1 3

BATTING: S - E Bruntlett. RBI - C Lee (97), T Wigginton (6). 2-out RBI - T
Wigginton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1. Team LOB - 2.


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
G Blum 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
M Cameron cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
A Gonzalez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
K Greene ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
T Sledge lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
P LaForest c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
J Germano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - G Blum (13, R Oswalt). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
A Gonzalez 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 2 -- 2
SAN DIEGO - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.30

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Germano 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 4.30

Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 13-10; J Germano 22-15. Ground balls-fly balls: R
Oswalt 1-1; J Germano 2-0. Batters faced: R Oswalt 4; J Germano 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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 2 0 2 3 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT
SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: M ENSBERG (.235, 11 HR, 37 RBI)
K GREENE (.239, 19 HR, 66 RBI)
T SLEDGE (.213, 6 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237
E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
L Berkman rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .267
C Lee lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301
M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .302
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .181
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
R Oswalt p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 8 2 3 2 1 1 3

BATTING: S - E Bruntlett. RBI - C Lee (97), T Wigginton (6). 2-out RBI - T
Wigginton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1. Team LOB - 2.


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
G Blum 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
M Cameron cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
A Gonzalez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
K Greene ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
T Sledge lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
P LaForest c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
J Germano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - G Blum (13, R Oswalt). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
A Gonzalez 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 20 -- 2
SAN DIEGO - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.30

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Germano 2 3 2 2 1 1 0 4.26

Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 13-10; J Germano 35-23. Ground balls-fly balls: R
Oswalt 1-1; J Germano 3-2. Batters faced: R Oswalt 4; J Germano 10.

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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 2 0 2 3 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT
SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E BRUNTLETT (.260, 0-FOR-0, SAC)
L BERKMAN (.267, 0-FOR-0, BB)
C LEE (.301, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237
E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
L Berkman rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .267
C Lee lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301
M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .302
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .181
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
R Oswalt p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 8 2 3 2 1 1 3

BATTING: S - E Bruntlett. RBI - C Lee (97), T Wigginton (6). 2-out RBI - T
Wigginton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1. Team LOB - 2.


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
G Blum 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
M Cameron cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
A Gonzalez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
K Greene ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
T Sledge lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212
P LaForest c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
J Germano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: 2B - G Blum (13, R Oswalt). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
A Gonzalez 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 20 -- 2
SAN DIEGO - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.28

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Germano 2 3 2 2 1 1 0 4.26

Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 23-17; J Germano 35-23. Ground balls-fly balls: R
Oswalt 3-1; J Germano 3-2. Batters faced: R Oswalt 7; J Germano 10.

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: M Loretta hit for C Lee.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
SAN DIEGO 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M Loretta (.287, 2 HR, 30 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 2 3 0
SAN DIEGO 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT
SDG - JUSTIN GERMANO

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: P LAFOREST (.400, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
J GERMANO (.208, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
B GILES (.297, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (2) VS SAN DIEGO (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237
E Bruntlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
L Berkman rf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .267
C Lee lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .301
a-M Loretta ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .302
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .181
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
R Oswalt p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 11 2 3 2 1 2 3

a-struck out swinging for C Lee in the 3rd.

BATTING: S - E Bruntlett. RBI - C Lee (97), T Wigginton (6). 2-out RBI - T
Wigginton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Lane 1. Team LOB - 2.


SAN DIEGO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Giles rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
G Blum 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
M Cameron cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
A Gonzalez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .270
M Ensberg 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
K Greene ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
T Sledge lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212
P LaForest c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
J Germano p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 2

BATTING: 2B - G Blum (13, R Oswalt). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
A Gonzalez 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 200 -- 2
SAN DIEGO - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.28

SAN DIEGO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Germano 3 3 2 2 1 2 0 4.22

Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 23-17; J Germano 45-30. Ground balls-fly balls: R
Oswalt 3-1; J Germano 3-4. Batters faced: R Oswalt 7; J Germano 13.

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: C Burke in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
SAN DIEGO 0 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: P LaForest (.400, 1 HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

<div class="pre">NL AT SAN DIEGO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Loretta at second base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
SAN DIEGO 0 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR SAN DIEGO: P LaForest (.400, 1 HR, 3 RBI)</div>