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

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
WASHINGTON 7
HOUSTON 6 FINAL</div>

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WASHINGTON (7) AT HOUSTON (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
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WASHINGTON 1ST: F Lopez flied out to center. N Logan reached on bunt
single to pitcher. R Zimmerman doubled to left, N Logan scored. D Young
doubled to deep right center, R Zimmerman scored. A Kearns doubled to deep
center, D Young scored. R Church struck out swinging. R Belliard homered to
left, A Kearns scored. B Schneider singled to center. J Lannan grounded out
to second. (5 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 5, HOUSTON 0.

WASHINGTON 4TH: J Lannan doubled to left. F Lopez grounded out to pitcher.
N Logan singled to right center, J Lannan to third. R Zimmerman hit sacrifice
fly to center, J Lannan scored. D Young grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) WASHINGTON 6, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 5TH: E Bruntlett hit for J Gutierrez. E Bruntlett flied out to
center. C Biggio singled to right. H Pence walked, C Biggio to second.
C Biggio to third, H Pence to second on passed ball by B Schneider. L Berkman
grounded out to second, C Biggio scored, H Pence to third. C Lee homered to
left, H Pence scored. T Wigginton flied out to right. (3 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) WASHINGTON 6, HOUSTON 3.

WASHINGTON 7TH: R Zimmerman walked. D Young doubled to left center,
R Zimmerman to third. A Kearns intentionally walked. R Church hit sacrifice fly
to center, R Zimmerman scored. R Belliard popped out to first. R Fick ran for
D Young. B Schneider popped out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 7,
HOUSTON 3.

HOUSTON 7TH: R Fick at first base. L Ayala relieved J Colome. C Biggio
flied out to left. H Pence popped out to first. L Berkman doubled to deep
right. C Lee singled to left, L Berkman scored. L Scott hit for M McLemore.
R King relieved L Ayala. L Scott flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
WASHINGTON 7, HOUSTON 4.

HOUSTON 9TH: C Cordero relieved J Rauch. C Biggio flied out to center.
H Pence doubled to left. H Pence to third on balk by C Cordero. L Berkman popped
out to second. C Lee homered to left, H Pence scored. O Palmeiro hit for
B Moehler. O Palmeiro fouled out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 7,
HOUSTON 6.</div>

 

Rookie Lannan, Nationals hold off Astros

<h3>WASHINGTON 7, HOUSTON 6</h3>By Andrew J. Ferraro
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


HOUSTON (Ticker) - The Washington Nationals went to work in thefirst inning on Thursday night and gave rookie pitcher JohnLannan plenty of support.


The Nationals scored five runs in the first inning off Houston'sJuan Gutierrez, who was making his first major league start,and cruised to a 7-6 win over the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Washington took three of four games in the series and finishedthe season 5-2 against the lowly Astros, who have lost four oftheir last five.


Austin Kearns continued his hot streak with three hits, Ronnie<div class="pre">Belliard added two - including his eighth homer of the season -</div>as the Nationals improved to 19-7 in their last 26 gamesagainst teams outside the National League East Division.

Kearns is now 14 for his last 26 overall in his last eight gamesand raised his batting average from .258 to .263 on Thursday.

Lannan (2-2) pitched five innings in his second shortest outingof the year. He allowed three earned runs on five hits, whilewalking five and striking out two.


Reliever Jesus Colome pitched the sixth before Luis Ayalaallowed a run in the seventh before giving way to Ray King, whofaced one batter to get out of the frame. Jon Rauch worked theeighth, before Chad Cordero surrendered two runs on Carlos Lee'ssecond homer before recording his 28th save in 36
opportunities.


Gutierrez induced Felix Lopez to fly out to open the game, butit was all downhill after that for the 23-year-old right-hander.Nook Logan singled and scored on a double by Ryan Zimmerman,who hit the first of three straight doubles for the Nationals.

After Kearns made it 3-0 with a double down the left field lineto plate Dmitri Young, Belliard blasted a home run to left tomake it 5-0.


Zimmerman's sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth increased thelead to six, scoring Lannan, who doubled to lead off the frame.

Gutierrez (0-1) allowed six runs, 11 hits while striking outfour in five innings.


The Astros scored three runs in the fifth to cut their deficitin half.


After Craig Biggio and Hunter Pence singled and walkedrespectively, Lance Berkman hit an RBI grounder to score Biggio.Lee followed with his 25th homer to make it 6-3.


Lee finished with three hits - including two homers - and hisfive RBI raised his National League-leading total to 102.

 

NL: WASHINGTON at HOUSTON

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WASHINGTON (7) AT HOUSTON (6) - EVENT LOG
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Washington Starting Lineups -- F Lopez SS, N Logan CF, R Zimmerman 3B, D Young 1B,
A Kearns RF, R Church LF, R Belliard 2B, B Schneider C, J Lannan LHP.

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, H Pence CF, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
T Wigginton 3B, M Loretta SS, C Burke RF, E Munson C, J Gutierrez RHP.

Umpires -- Alfonso Marquez (HP), Chuck Meriwether (1B), Tim Timmons (2B),
Adam Dowdy (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


WASHINGTON 1ST: F Lopez flied out to center. N Logan reached on bunt
single to pitcher. R Zimmerman doubled to left, N Logan scored. D Young
doubled to deep right center, R Zimmerman scored. A Kearns doubled to deep
center, D Young scored. R Church struck out swinging. R Belliard homered to
left, A Kearns scored. B Schneider singled to center. J Lannan grounded out
to second. (5 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 5, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio flied out to center. H Pence grounded out to
shortstop. L Berkman walked. C Lee grounded into fielder's choice to third,
L Berkman out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 5, HOUSTON 0.

WASHINGTON 2ND: F Lopez struck out swinging. N Logan flied out to left.
R Zimmerman struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 5,
HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: T Wigginton grounded out to pitcher. M Loretta singled to
right. C Burke singled to center, M Loretta to second. E Munson flied out to
center, M Loretta to third. J Gutierrez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) WASHINGTON 5, HOUSTON 0.

WASHINGTON 3RD: D Young flied out to right. A Kearns singled to left.
R Church struck out swinging. R Belliard singled to right, A Kearns to third.
B Schneider popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 5,
HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: C Biggio grounded out to shortstop. H Pence singled to right.
H Pence out at second on runner's fielder's choice. L Berkman walked. C Lee
grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 5, HOUSTON 0.

WASHINGTON 4TH: J Lannan doubled to left. F Lopez grounded out to pitcher.
N Logan singled to right center, J Lannan to third. R Zimmerman hit sacrifice
fly to center, J Lannan scored. D Young grounded out to second. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 6, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 4TH: T Wigginton walked. M Loretta walked, T Wigginton to second.
C Burke struck out swinging. E Munson grounded into double play, first to
shortstop to pitcher, M Loretta out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
WASHINGTON 6, HOUSTON 0.

WASHINGTON 5TH: A Kearns singled to left. R Church grounded into fielder's
choice to first, A Kearns out at second. R Belliard flied out to center.
B Schneider grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 6,
HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 5TH: E Bruntlett hit for J Gutierrez. E Bruntlett flied out to
center. C Biggio singled to right. H Pence walked, C Biggio to second.
C Biggio to third, H Pence to second on passed ball by B Schneider. L Berkman
grounded out to second, C Biggio scored, H Pence to third. C Lee homered to
left, H Pence scored. T Wigginton flied out to right. (3 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) WASHINGTON 6, HOUSTON 3.

WASHINGTON 6TH: M McLemore relieved J Gutierrez. M Loretta at third base.
E Bruntlett at shortstop. D Jimenez hit for J Lannan. D Jimenez flied out to
center. F Lopez flied out to right. N Logan lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 6, HOUSTON 3.

HOUSTON 6TH: J Colome relieved J Lannan. M Loretta flied out to right.
C Burke walked. E Munson flied out to right. E Bruntlett struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 6, HOUSTON 3.

WASHINGTON 7TH: R Zimmerman walked. D Young doubled to left center,
R Zimmerman to third. A Kearns intentionally walked. R Church hit sacrifice fly
to center, R Zimmerman scored. R Belliard popped out to first. R Fick ran for
D Young. B Schneider popped out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON
7, HOUSTON 3.

HOUSTON 7TH: R Fick at first base. L Ayala relieved J Colome. C Biggio
flied out to left. H Pence popped out to first. L Berkman doubled to deep
right. C Lee singled to left, L Berkman scored. L Scott hit for M McLemore.
R King relieved L Ayala. L Scott flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
WASHINGTON 7, HOUSTON 4.

WASHINGTON 8TH: D Borkowski relieved M McLemore. W Pena hit for R King.
W Pena flied out to right. F Lopez walked. N Logan grounded into fielder's
choice to shortstop, F Lopez out at second. R Zimmerman grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 7, HOUSTON 4.

HOUSTON 8TH: J Rauch relieved R King. M Loretta grounded out to third.
C Burke walked. E Munson struck out swinging. M Lamb hit for E Bruntlett.
M Lamb grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 7,
HOUSTON 4.

WASHINGTON 9TH: B Moehler relieved D Borkowski. M Loretta at shortstop.
M Lamb at third base. R Fick walked. A Kearns grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, R Fick out at second. R Church flied out to left. R Belliard
grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 7, HOUSTON 4.

HOUSTON 9TH: C Cordero relieved J Rauch. C Biggio flied out to center.
H Pence doubled to left. H Pence to third on balk by C Cordero. L Berkman popped
out to second. C Lee homered to left, H Pence scored. O Palmeiro hit for
B Moehler. O Palmeiro fouled out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) WASHINGTON 7,
HOUSTON 6.</div>

 

Rookie Lannan, Nationals hold off Astros

<h3>WASHINGTON 7, HOUSTON 6</h3>By Andrew J. Ferraro
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Washington Nationals went to work in thefirst inning on Thursday night and gave rookie starter JohnLannan plenty of support.


The Nationals scored five runs in the first off Juan Gutierrez,who was making his first major league start, and cruised to a7-6 win over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Washington took three of four games in the series and finishedthe season 5-2 against the lowly Astros, who have lost four oftheir last five.


Austin Kearns continued his hot streak with three hits andRonnie Belliard added two - including his eighth homer of theseason - as the Nationals improved to 19-7 in their last 26games against teams outside the National League East Division.

"We jumped on (Gutierrez)," Belliard said. "He was throwingstrikes. Especially a rookie, he's going to try work that zone.We just kept coming at him as he was trying to make betterpitches. He worked the outside and inside corners with hischangeup. He had a good changeup and breaking ball."

Kearns is now 14 for his last 26 overall in his last eight gamesand raised his batting average from .258 to .263 on Thursday.

Lannan (2-2) pitched five innings in his second-shortest outingof the year. He allowed three runs and five hits while walkingfive and striking out two.


"I struggled with my spots and throwing fastballs for strikes,"Lannan said. "I walked too many guys. I was just trying tohold the lead after those six runs. I really was just trying tothrow strikes, but I walked five guys."


Reliever Jesus Colome pitched the sixth and Luis Ayala allowed arun in the seventh before giving way to Ray King, who retiredthe only batter he faced to get out of the frame. Jon Rauchworked a scoreless eighth and closer Chad Cordero surrenderedCarlos Lee's second homer of the game - a two-run shot - beforerecording his 28th save in 36 opportunities.


Gutierrez induced Felix Lopez to fly out to open the game, butit was all downhill after that for the 23-year-old righthander.Nook Logan singled and scored on a double by Ryan Zimmerman, whohit the first of three straight two-base hits for theNationals.


After Kearns made it 3-0 with a double down the left field linethat plated Dmitri Young, Belliard blasted a home run to left.

Zimmerman's sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth increased thelead to 6-0.


Gutierrez (0-1) allowed six runs and 11 hits while striking outfour in five innings.


"In the first inning, I threw all my pitches down, and it lookedlike I just made it easy for them to hit," Gutierrez said."Yeah, I made some mistakes early and I threw a lot of pitches,and that was against the game plan. But after I settled down,things were fine."


The Astros scored three runs in the fifth to halve theirdeficit.


After Craig Biggio and Hunter Pence singled and walked,respectively, Lance Berkman hit an RBI groundout. Lee followedwith his 25th homer to make it 6-3.


"Lannan's location wasn't there," Nationals manager Manny Actasaid. "Still, he got it done. He gave up the two-run homer toa very good hitter."


Lee finished with three hits, and his five RBI raised hisNL-leading total to 102.


"As a player, it is nice (to be the first NL player to 100RBI)," Lee said. "There are a lot of things you want toaccomplish in your career as a hitter, and especially as an RBIproduction guy. But this year has not been fun. It just hasn'tbeen fun."