GAME THREAD: NL: WASHINGTON (57-70) at HOUSTON (57-70)

NL: WASHINGTON (57-70) at HOUSTON (57-70)

<h3>Berkman, Astros look for split with Nationals</h3>

<div class="pre">Washington (57-70) at Houston (57-70) 8:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Lance Berkman will hope to continue hisrecent success when the Houston Astros host the WashingtonNationals on Thursday in the finale of a three-game series.

After the Nationals took the first two games of the series,Berkman drove in two runs in Wednesday's 3-2 triumph. Berkmanhas registered a hit in 11 of his last 12 contests, hitting .452(19-for-42) with four home runs and nine RBI over that stretch.

A pair of rookies will take the mound for the two strugglingteams on Thursday.


John Lannon (1-2, 3.94 ERA) gets the start for the Nationals,who have lost five of their last seven games. The 22-year-oldlefthander will be making just his sixth career start.

In his last outing on Saturday, Lannon gave up five runs andeight hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 7-4 loss to the New York Mets.

The Astros will counter with Juan Gutierrez (0-0, 4.50), who ismaking his first career start after having two reliefappearances.


The Venezuelan righthander went 5-9 with a 3.96 ERA in 24 games -23 starts - with Class AAA Round Rock before being called up tothe big leagues.

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS

WASHINGTON HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Felipe Lopez SS .243 9 48 Craig Biggio 2B .256 10 46
Nook Logan CF .286 0 15 Hunter Pence CF .326 12 46
Ryan Zimmerman 3B .271 19 70 Lance Berkman 1B .274 24 80
Dmitri Young 1B .332 12 67 Carlos Lee LF .302 24 97
Austin Kearns RF .258 11 51 Ty Wigginton 3B .277 2 7
Ryan Church LF .265 10 49 Mark Loretta SS .280 2 30
Ronnie Belliard 2B .279 7 40 Chris Burke RF .229 4 21
Brian Schneider C .231 6 41 Eric Munson C .262 4 13
John Lannan LHP .091 0 1 Juan Gutierrez RHP .000 0 0
(1-2, 3.94) (0-0, 4.50)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN (1-2, 3.94)
HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ (0-0, 4.50)

UMPIRES: HP - ALFONSO MARQUEZ
1B - CHUCK MERIWETHER
2B - TIM TIMMONS
3B - ADAM DOWDY

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN AND BRIAN SCHNEIDER
HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ AND ERIC MUNSON

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: F LOPEZ (.243, 9 HR, 48 RBI)
N LOGAN (.286, 0 HR, 15 RBI)
R ZIMMERMAN (.271, 19 HR, 70 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY RYAN ZIMMERMAN SCORED NOOK LOGAN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R ZIMMERMAN ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 1
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: D YOUNG (.332, 12 HR, 67 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY DMITRI YOUNG SCORED RYAN ZIMMERMAN.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D YOUNG ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 2
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: A KEARNS (.258, 11 HR, 51 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY AUSTIN KEARNS SCORED DMITRI YOUNG.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, A KEARNS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 3
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R CHURCH (.265, 10 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY RONNIE BELLIARD (8) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 1ST OFF JUAN GUTIERREZ SCORED AUSTIN KEARNS.
CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 5, HOUSTON 0

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: B SCHNEIDER (.231, 6 HR, 41 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN
HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.256, 10 HR, 46 RBI)
H PENCE (.326, 12 HR, 46 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.274, 24 HR, 80 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (5) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Lopez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
N Logan cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .290
R Zimmerman 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .272
D Young 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .334
A Kearns rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .260
R Church lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265
R Belliard 2b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .281
B Schneider c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233
J Lannan p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .083

Totals 9 5 6 5 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - R Zimmerman (33, J Gutierrez); D Young (33, J Gutierrez); A
Kearns (29, J Gutierrez). HR - R Belliard (8, 1st inning off J Gutierrez 1 on,
2 Out). RBI - R Zimmerman (71), D Young (68), A Kearns (52), R Belliard 2 (42).
2-out RBI - R Belliard 2. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Burke rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Gutierrez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 5 -- 5
HOUSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lannan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.94

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Gutierrez 1 6 5 5 0 1 1 18.00

Pitches-strikes: J Gutierrez 27-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J Gutierrez 1-1.
Batters faced: J Gutierrez 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Adam
Dowdy.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN
HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN
HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: F LOPEZ (.242, 0-FOR-1)
N LOGAN (.290, 1-FOR-1)
R ZIMMERMAN (.272, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (5) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Lopez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
N Logan cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .290
R Zimmerman 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .272
D Young 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .334
A Kearns rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .260
R Church lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265
R Belliard 2b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .281
B Schneider c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233
J Lannan p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .083

Totals 9 5 6 5 0 1 2

BATTING: 2B - R Zimmerman (33, J Gutierrez); D Young (33, J Gutierrez); A
Kearns (29, J Gutierrez). HR - R Belliard (8, 1st inning off J Gutierrez 1 on,
2 Out). RBI - R Zimmerman (71), D Young (68), A Kearns (52), R Belliard 2 (42).
2-out RBI - R Belliard 2. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .274
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Burke rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Gutierrez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 5 -- 5
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lannan 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.82

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Gutierrez 1 6 5 5 0 1 1 18.00

Pitches-strikes: J Lannan 16-9; J Gutierrez 27-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Lannan 2-1; J Gutierrez 1-1. Batters faced: J Lannan 4; J Gutierrez 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Adam
Dowdy.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN
HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.277, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
M LORETTA (.280, 2 HR, 30 RBI)
C BURKE (.229, 4 HR, 21 RBI)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (5) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Lopez ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
N Logan cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
R Zimmerman 3b 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 .272
D Young 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .334
A Kearns rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .260
R Church lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265
R Belliard 2b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .281
B Schneider c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233
J Lannan p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .083

Totals 12 5 6 5 0 3 2

BATTING: 2B - R Zimmerman (33, J Gutierrez); D Young (33, J Gutierrez); A
Kearns (29, J Gutierrez). HR - R Belliard (8, 1st inning off J Gutierrez 1 on,
2 Out). RBI - R Zimmerman (71), D Young (68), A Kearns (52), R Belliard 2 (42).
2-out RBI - R Belliard 2. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .274
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
C Burke rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
J Gutierrez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 50 -- 5
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lannan 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.82

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Gutierrez 2 6 5 5 0 3 1 13.50

Pitches-strikes: J Lannan 16-9; J Gutierrez 45-30. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Lannan 2-1; J Gutierrez 1-2. Batters faced: J Lannan 4; J Gutierrez 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Adam
Dowdy.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN
HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: D YOUNG (.334, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
A KEARNS (.260, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
R CHURCH (.265, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (5) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Lopez ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
N Logan cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
R Zimmerman 3b 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 .272
D Young 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .334
A Kearns rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .260
R Church lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265
R Belliard 2b 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .281
B Schneider c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233
J Lannan p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .083

Totals 12 5 6 5 0 3 2

BATTING: 2B - R Zimmerman (33, J Gutierrez); D Young (33, J Gutierrez); A
Kearns (29, J Gutierrez). HR - R Belliard (8, 1st inning off J Gutierrez 1 on,
2 Out). RBI - R Zimmerman (71), D Young (68), A Kearns (52), R Belliard 2 (42).
2-out RBI - R Belliard 2. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .274
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Loretta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
C Burke rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .232
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .260
J Gutierrez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000

Totals 8 0 2 0 1 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Gutierrez 1. Team LOB - 3.



----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 50 -- 5
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lannan 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 3.69

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Gutierrez 2 6 5 5 0 3 1 13.50

Pitches-strikes: J Lannan 34-22; J Gutierrez 45-30. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Lannan 3-2; J Gutierrez 1-2. Batters faced: J Lannan 9; J Gutierrez 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Adam
Dowdy.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN
HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.255, 0-FOR-1)
H PENCE (.325, 0-FOR-1)
L BERKMAN (.274, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (5) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

WASHINGTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Lopez ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
N Logan cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .288
R Zimmerman 3b 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 .272
D Young 1b 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .333
A Kearns rf 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .261
R Church lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .264
R Belliard 2b 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .283
B Schneider c 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .232
J Lannan p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .083

Totals 17 5 8 5 0 4 5

BATTING: 2B - R Zimmerman (33, J Gutierrez); D Young (33, J Gutierrez); A
Kearns (29, J Gutierrez). HR - R Belliard (8, 1st inning off J Gutierrez 1 on,
2 Out). RBI - R Zimmerman (71), D Young (68), A Kearns (52), R Belliard 2 (42).
2-out RBI - R Belliard 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Schneider
1. Team LOB - 3.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .325
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .274
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Loretta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
C Burke rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .232
E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .260
J Gutierrez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000

Totals 8 0 2 0 1 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Gutierrez 1. Team LOB - 3.



----------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON - 500 -- 5
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lannan 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 3.69

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
J Gutierrez 3 8 5 5 0 4 1 10.80

Pitches-strikes: J Lannan 34-22; J Gutierrez 61-41. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Lannan 3-2; J Gutierrez 1-4. Batters faced: J Lannan 9; J Gutierrez 17.

UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Adam
Dowdy.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN
HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ

DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: J LANNAN (.083, 0-FOR-1)
F LOPEZ (.242, 0-FOR-2)
N LOGAN (.288, 1-FOR-2)</div>