GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (21-27) at ARIZONA (27-23)

NL: HOUSTON (21-27) at ARIZONA (27-23)

<h3>Diamondbacks look to continue to pound Astros</h3>



Houston (21-27) at Arizona (27-23), 9:40 pm EDT

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Handcuffed in a three-game series against oneof the worst staffs in baseball at home, the ArizonaDiamondbacks are taking their frustrations out against theHouston Astros.

The Diamondbacks continue their four-game weekend series withthe Astros on Saturday at Chase Field.

Limited to seven runs in the first three games of their currentseven-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies, who sport a4.80 ERA, Arizona has scored runs at a blistering rate in thefirst two games of this series. The Diamondbacks have posted 22runs, already a season best mark for the team even though theystill two games remaining.

The Astros, on the other hand, are heading in the oppositedirection. They have been outscored 53-8 during a six-gameskid.

Not helping matters on Saturday is their opponent, Brandon Webb(3-3, 3.86 ERA). The righthander is 3-1 with a 1.62 ERA in sixcareer starts against Houston, including victories in his lastthree starts against Houston.

Webb has already beaten the Astros once this season, tossing asix-hitter and striking out 10 in a 3-1 victory on May 11. The2006 National League Cy Young Award winner has dominated anumber of Astros hitters over his career, including Brad Ausmus(1-for-15), Lance Berkman (2-for-17) and Craig Biggio(1-for-21).

In his last start, he surrendered five runs and eight hits withseven strikeouts, but did not factor into the decision in a 6-5win over the Rockies on Monday.

The sinkerballer has struggled at home after going 10-2 with a2.95 ERA there last season. He is also still looking for hisfirst win at Chase Field after going 0-2 with a 5.46 ERA in hisfirst four outings.

Chris Sampson (4-4, 3.31) will get the call for the Astros.Houston has scored a total of four runs in the last four gamesthat the righthander has pitched, greatly contributing to his1-3 record despite a 3.04 ERA over that time.

Sampson allowed three runs - one earned - over six innings in a4-0 loss at San Francisco on Monday. The 29-year-old is 0-1with a 3.86 ERA in his only career start against theDiamondbacks.

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

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

HOUSTON ARIZONA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Mike Lamb 1B .297 2 5 Chris Young CF .271 6 18
Mark Loretta 3B .333 0 11 Eric Byrnes LF .297 6 26
Lance Berkman RF .259 5 23 Orlando Hudson 2B .285 6 29
Carlos Lee LF .316 9 41 Mark Reynolds 3B .459 3 11
Hunter Pence CF .354 4 18 Tony Clark 1B .254 7 21
Craig Biggio 2B .233 3 16 Stephen Drew SS .243 1 17
Brad Ausmus C .250 0 5 Carlos Quentin RF .214 3 18
Adam Everett SS .185 1 8 Chris Snyder C .223 3 9
Chris Sampson RHP .214 0 0 Brandon Webb RHP .040 0 1
(4-4, 3.31) (3-3, 3.86)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
WARMUPS: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON (4-4, 3.31)
ARI - BRANDON WEBB (3-3, 3.86)

UMPIRES: HP - PHIL CUZZI
1B - BRIAN O'NORA
2B - PHIL CUZZI
3B - CHRIS GUCCIONE

WEATHER: 84 Degrees, clear
WIND: 5 mph, in from right</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
STARTING BATS: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON AND BRAD AUSMUS
ARI - BRANDON WEBB AND CHRIS SNYDER

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LAMB (.297, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
M LORETTA (.333, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.259, 5 HR, 23 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY LANCE BERKMAN SCORED MIKE LAMB.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, L BERKMAN ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1
ARIZONA 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.316, 9 HR, 41 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C YOUNG (.271, 6 HR, 18 RBI)
E BYRNES (.297, 6 HR, 26 RBI)
O HUDSON (.285, 6 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Lamb 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .307
M Loretta 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .341
L Berkman rf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .258
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .354
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 1 2

BATTING: RBI - L Berkman (24). Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Berkman (1, 2nd base by B Webb).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
E Byrnes lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
O Hudson 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
M Reynolds 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .459
T Clark 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
S Drew ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
C Quentin rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .040

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 1 -- 1
ARIZONA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.31

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.93

Pitches-strikes: B Webb 19-14. Ground balls-fly balls: B Webb 1-0. Batters
faced: B Webb 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Brian O'Nora. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 95 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON
ARI - BRANDON WEBB</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.354, 0-FOR-0)
C BIGGIO (.233, 3 HR, 16 RBI)
B AUSMUS (.250, 0 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

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

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Lamb 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .307
M Loretta 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .341
L Berkman rf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .258
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .354
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .185
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 1 2

BATTING: RBI - L Berkman (24). Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Berkman (1, 2nd base by B Webb).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Lamb-A Everett-C Sampson).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .271
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
O Hudson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Reynolds 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .459
T Clark 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
S Drew ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
C Quentin rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .040

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - O Hudson. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 1 -- 1
ARIZONA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.24

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.93

Pitches-strikes: C Sampson 11-4; B Webb 19-14. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Sampson 2-1; B Webb 1-0. Batters faced: C Sampson 3; B Webb 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Brian O'Nora. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 95 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: M REYNOLDS (.459, 3 HR, 11 RBI)
T CLARK (.254, 7 HR, 21 RBI)
S DREW (.243, 1 HR, 17 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS ARIZONA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Lamb 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .307
M Loretta 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .341
L Berkman rf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .258
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .361
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .232
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .185
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214

Totals 7 1 3 1 1 2 3

BATTING: RBI - L Berkman (24). Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Berkman (1, 2nd base by B Webb), H Pence (3, Home by B
Webb/C Snyder).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Lamb-A Everett-C Sampson).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .271
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
O Hudson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Reynolds 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .459
T Clark 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
S Drew ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
C Quentin rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .040

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - O Hudson. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: PB - C Snyder.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 10 -- 1
ARIZONA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.24

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 2 3 1 1 1 2 0 3.87

Pitches-strikes: C Sampson 11-4; B Webb 36-24. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Sampson 2-1; B Webb 2-0. Batters faced: C Sampson 3; B Webb 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Brian O'Nora. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 95 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C SAMPSON (.214, 0-FOR-0)
M LAMB (.307, 1-FOR-1)
M LORETTA (.341, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS ARIZONA (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Lamb 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .307
M Loretta 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .341
L Berkman rf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .258
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .361
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .232
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .185
C Sampson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214

Totals 7 1 3 1 1 2 3

BATTING: RBI - L Berkman (24). Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Berkman (1, 2nd base by B Webb), H Pence (3, Home by B
Webb/C Snyder).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Lamb-A Everett-C Sampson).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .271
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
O Hudson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .447
T Clark 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
S Drew ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
C Quentin rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .040

Totals 5 0 0 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - O Hudson. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: PB - C Snyder.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 10 -- 1
ARIZONA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.18

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 2 3 1 1 1 2 0 3.87

Pitches-strikes: C Sampson 22-11; B Webb 36-24. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Sampson 5-1; B Webb 2-0. Batters faced: C Sampson 6; B Webb 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Brian O'Nora. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 95 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: C QUENTIN (.214, 3 HR, 18 RBI)
C SNYDER (.223, 3 HR, 9 RBI)
B WEBB (.040, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS ARIZONA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Lamb 1b 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .303
M Loretta 3b 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .348
L Berkman rf 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 .256
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .361
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .232
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .185
C Sampson p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200

Totals 11 1 4 1 1 4 4

BATTING: RBI - L Berkman (24). Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Berkman (1, 2nd base by B Webb), H Pence (3, Home by B
Webb/C Snyder).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Lamb-A Everett-C Sampson).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .271
E Byrnes lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .295
O Hudson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .447
T Clark 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
S Drew ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
C Quentin rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
C Snyder c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .040

Totals 5 0 0 0 1 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - O Hudson. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: PB - C Snyder.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 100 -- 1
ARIZONA - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.18

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 3 4 1 1 1 4 0 3.82

Pitches-strikes: C Sampson 22-11; B Webb 47-33. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Sampson 5-1; B Webb 3-0. Batters faced: C Sampson 6; B Webb 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Brian O'Nora. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 95 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, in from right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY CHRIS SNYDER SCORED CARLOS QUENTIN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C SNYDER ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1
ARIZONA 1 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: B WEBB (.040, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">NL AT ARIZONA - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY CHRIS YOUNG SCORED CHRIS SNYDER.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1
ARIZONA 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: E BYRNES (.295, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - CHRIS SAMPSON
ARI - BRANDON WEBB

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.314, 0-FOR-1)
H PENCE (.361, 1-FOR-1)
C BIGGIO (.232, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at ARIZONA

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS ARIZONA (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Lamb 1b 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .303
M Loretta 3b 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .348
L Berkman rf 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 .256
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .314
H Pence cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .361
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .232
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
A Everett ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .185
C Sampson p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200

Totals 11 1 4 1 1 4 4

BATTING: RBI - L Berkman (24). Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Berkman (1, 2nd base by B Webb), H Pence (3, Home by B
Webb/C Snyder).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Lamb-A Everett-C Sampson).


ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Young cf 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .271
E Byrnes lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
O Hudson 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Reynolds 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .447
T Clark 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
S Drew ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
C Quentin rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .221
C Snyder c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .232
B Webb p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .040

Totals 8 2 2 2 1 0 2

BATTING: 2B - C Snyder (3, C Sampson). S - B Webb. SF - C Young. RBI - C Snyder
(10), C Young (19). GIDP - O Hudson. Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: PB - C Snyder.


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 100 -- 1
ARIZONA - 002 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sampson 3 2 2 2 1 0 0 3.46

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Webb 3 4 1 1 1 4 0 3.82

Pitches-strikes: C Sampson 31-18; B Webb 47-33. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Sampson 7-2; B Webb 3-0. Batters faced: C Sampson 11; B Webb 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Phil Cuzzi. 1B--Brian O'Nora. 2B--Phil Cuzzi. 3B--Chris
Guccione.

Weather: 95 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, in from right.</div>