GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (23-33) at COLORADO (27-30)

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Corpas relieved L Hawkins.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
COLORADO 1 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Lee (.310, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY LUKE SCOTT (6) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 9TH OFF MANNY CORPAS SCORED CARLOS LEE.
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4, COLORADO 1

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: A EVERETT (.220, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - BRAD LIDGE
COL - MANNY CORPAS

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: B HAWPE (.301, 0-FOR-3)
T TULOWITZKI (.265, 0-FOR-3)
Y TORREALBA (.211, 0-FOR-2, BB)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (4) VS COLORADO (1) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .230
H Pence cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .364
L Berkman 1b 4 0 1 2 0 2 0 .238
M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
C Lee lf 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .310
M Loretta 3b-1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .317
L Scott rf 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 .246
A Everett ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .219
B Ausmus c 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 .232
W Rodriguez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200
a-O Palmeiro ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .195
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-M Lamb ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .261
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 31 4 6 4 3 6 10

a-singled to left center for W Rodriguez in the 6th; b-grounded to shortstop
for D Borkowski in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - L Scott (12, J Hirsh); L Berkman (2, J Hirsh); A Everett (9, J
Hirsh). HR - L Scott (6, 9th inning off M Corpas 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - L Berkman
2 (32), L Scott 2 (29). 2-out RBI - L Berkman 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Everett 1, M Loretta 1. GIDP - M Lamb. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Scott (1, 3rd base by J Julio/Y Torrealba).

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (6, ground ball).


COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Taveras cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .325
K Matsui 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .321
M Holliday lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .343
T Helton 1b 4 0 2 0 0 2 2 .338
G Atkins 3b 4 0 2 1 0 1 2 .238
B Hawpe rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .301
T Tulowitzki ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 .265
Y Torrealba c 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .211
J Hirsh p 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .045
J Julio p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Affeldt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Baker ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
L Hawkins p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Corpas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 31 1 7 1 1 8 18

a-flied out to left for J Affeldt in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - W Taveras (6, W Rodriguez); G Atkins 2 (16, W Rodriguez 2). 3B -
M Holliday (4, W Rodriguez); T Helton 2 (2, D Borkowski, B Lidge). RBI - G
Atkins (23). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y Torrealba 1, T Helton
1, G Atkins 1, T Tulowitzki 1, J Hirsh 2. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: CS - K Matsui (1, 2nd base by W Rodriguez).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Matsui-T Tulowitzki-T Helton).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 002 002 -- 4
COLORADO - 000 100 00 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 5 5 1 1 1 7 0 4.31
D Borkowski 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.24
C Qualls 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.40
B Lidge 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.60

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hirsh 6 5 2 2 2 4 0 4.92
J Julio 1/3 0 0 0 1 0 0 8.22
J Affeldt 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.18
L Hawkins 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.97
M Corpas 1 1 2 2 0 0 1 3.10

J Hirsh pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.

WP - J Hirsh. IBB - C Lee (by J Hirsh). HBP - C Lee (by M Corpas).
Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 93-57; D Borkowski 15-10; C Qualls 11-7; B Lidge
18-10; J Hirsh 91-53; J Julio 5-1; J Affeldt 3-2; L Hawkins 13-8; M Corpas
13-7. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 3-4; D Borkowski 1-2; C Qualls 1-2; B
Lidge 0-2; J Hirsh 5-9; J Julio 0-0; J Affeldt 2-0; L Hawkins 1-0; M Corpas
1-2. Batters faced: W Rodriguez 21; D Borkowski 4; C Qualls 3; B Lidge 4; J
Hirsh 25; J Julio 1; J Affeldt 1; L Hawkins 3; M Corpas 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Ed Rapuano.
EJECTIONS: HOUSTON's Berkman by Rapuano (8th), HOUSTON's Garner by Rapuano (9th).
Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, out to center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO - PITCHING CHANGE
HOU: DAN WHEELER (0-2, 4.85) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4, COLORADO 1

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: B HAWPE (.301, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">NL AT COLORADO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Wheeler relieved B Lidge.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 4
COLORADO 1 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR COLORADO: B Hawpe (.301, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">NL HOUSTON AT COLORADO
NOTE: HOUSTON MANAGER PHIL GARNER WAS EJECTED BY THIRD BASE
UMPIRE ED RAPUANO FOR ARGUING A WARING BEING ISSUED TO HIS TEAM AFTER
HOUSTON'S CARLOS LEE WAS HIT BY A PITCH IN THE TOP OF THE NINTH
INNING.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

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

BATTERIES: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ, DAVE BORKOWSKI (6TH), CHAD QUALLS (7TH), BRAD
LIDGE (8TH), DAN WHEELER (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

COL - JASON HIRSH, JORGE JULIO (7TH), JEREMY AFFELDT
(7TH), LATROY HAWKINS (8TH), MANNY CORPAS (9TH) AND YORVIT
TORREALBA

HOME RUNS: HOU - LUKE SCOTT (6) OFF MANNY CORPAS IN THE 9TH, 1 ON

COL - NONE</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

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

BATTERIES: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ, DAVE BORKOWSKI (6TH), CHAD QUALLS (7TH), BRAD
LIDGE (8TH), DAN WHEELER (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

COL - JASON HIRSH, JORGE JULIO (7TH), JEREMY AFFELDT
(7TH), LATROY HAWKINS (8TH), MANNY CORPAS (9TH) AND YORVIT
TORREALBA


WP - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (3-5)
LP - JASON HIRSH (2-6)
SAVE - DAN WHEELER (10)

HOME RUNS: HOU - LUKE SCOTT (6) OFF MANNY CORPAS IN THE 9TH, 1 ON

COL - NONE


TIME: 3:04 ATT: 27,101

PROBABLES: HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS (2-7, 5.50)
COL - AARON COOK (4-2, 4.31)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (4) VS COLORADO (1) - FINAL

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .230
H Pence cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .364
L Berkman 1b 4 0 1 2 0 2 0 .238
M Ensberg 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
C Lee lf 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .310
M Loretta 3b-1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .317
L Scott rf 4 1 3 2 0 0 0 .246
A Everett ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .219
B Ausmus c 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 .232
W Rodriguez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200
a-O Palmeiro ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .195
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-M Lamb ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .261
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 31 4 6 4 3 6 10

a-singled to left center for W Rodriguez in the 6th; b-grounded to shortstop
for D Borkowski in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - L Scott (12, J Hirsh); L Berkman (2, J Hirsh); A Everett (9, J
Hirsh). HR - L Scott (6, 9th inning off M Corpas 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - L Berkman
2 (32), L Scott 2 (29). 2-out RBI - L Berkman 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Everett 1, M Loretta 1. GIDP - M Lamb. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - L Scott (1, 3rd base by J Julio/Y Torrealba).

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (6, ground ball).


COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
W Taveras cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .325
K Matsui 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .321
M Holliday lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .343
T Helton 1b 4 0 2 0 0 2 2 .338
G Atkins 3b 4 0 2 1 0 1 2 .238
B Hawpe rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .299
T Tulowitzki ss 4 0 0 0 0 2 4 .264
Y Torrealba c 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 .210
J Hirsh p 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .045
J Julio p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Affeldt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Baker ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221
L Hawkins p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Corpas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 34 1 7 1 1 9 18

a-flied out to left for J Affeldt in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - W Taveras (6, W Rodriguez); G Atkins 2 (16, W Rodriguez 2). 3B -
M Holliday (4, W Rodriguez); T Helton 2 (2, D Borkowski, B Lidge). RBI - G
Atkins (23). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - Y Torrealba 1, T Helton
1, G Atkins 1, T Tulowitzki 1, J Hirsh 2. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: CS - K Matsui (1, 2nd base by W Rodriguez).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (K Matsui-T Tulowitzki-T Helton).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 002 002 -- 4
COLORADO - 000 100 000 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez (W, 3-5) 5 5 1 1 1 7 0 4.31
D Borkowski (H, 2) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.24
C Qualls (H, 6) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.40
B Lidge (H, 4) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.60
D Wheeler (S, 10) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.67

COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hirsh (L, 2-6) 6 5 2 2 2 4 0 4.92
J Julio 1/3 0 0 0 1 0 0 8.22
J Affeldt 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.18
L Hawkins 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.97
M Corpas 1 1 2 2 0 0 1 3.10

J Hirsh pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.

WP - J Hirsh. IBB - C Lee (by J Hirsh). HBP - C Lee (by M Corpas).
Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 93-57; D Borkowski 15-10; C Qualls 11-7; B Lidge
18-10; D Wheeler 12-9; J Hirsh 91-53; J Julio 5-1; J Affeldt 3-2; L Hawkins
13-8; M Corpas 13-7. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 3-4; D Borkowski 1-2;
C Qualls 1-2; B Lidge 0-2; D Wheeler 1-1; J Hirsh 5-9; J Julio 0-0; J Affeldt
2-0; L Hawkins 1-0; M Corpas 1-2. Batters faced: W Rodriguez 21; D Borkowski 4;
C Qualls 3; B Lidge 4; D Wheeler 3; J Hirsh 25; J Julio 1; J Affeldt 1; L
Hawkins 3; M Corpas 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Ed Rapuano.
EJECTIONS: HOUSTON's Berkman by Rapuano (8th), HOUSTON's Garner by Rapuano (9th).
T--3:04. Att--27,101.
Weather: 77 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, out to
center.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
HOUSTON 4
COLORADO 1 FINAL</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (4) AT COLORADO (1) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COLORADO 4TH: M Holliday tripled to deep left center. T Helton struck out
swinging. G Atkins doubled to deep right center, M Holliday scored. B Hawpe
safe at first on error by second baseman C Biggio, G Atkins to third.
T Tulowitzki struck out swinging. Y Torrealba walked, B Hawpe to second.
J Hirsh struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, COLORADO 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: B Ausmus walked. O Palmeiro hit for W Rodriguez. O Palmeiro
singled to left center, B Ausmus to third. C Biggio struck out swinging.
H Pence lined out to third. L Berkman doubled to deep left, B Ausmus and O
Palmeiro scored. C Lee intentionally walked. M Loretta grounded out to
pitcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, COLORADO 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: M Corpas relieved L Hawkins. C Lee hit by pitch. Houston's
Manager P Garner ejected by E Rapuano. M Loretta flied out to right. L Scott
homered to left, C Lee scored. A Everett popped out to third. B Ausmus
grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 4, COLORADO 1.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at COLORADO

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (4) AT COLORADO (1) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, H Pence CF, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF,
M Loretta 3B, L Scott RF, A Everett SS, B Ausmus C, W Rodriguez LHP.

Colorado Starting Lineups -- W Taveras CF, K Matsui 2B, M Holliday LF,
T Helton 1B, G Atkins 3B, B Hawpe RF, T Tulowitzki SS, Y Torrealba C, J Hirsh RHP.

Umpires -- Ed Hickox (HP), C.B. Bucknor (1B), Rob Drake (2B), Ed Rapuano (3B).


Gametime Weather: 77 degrees, Cloudy, wind out to center at 2 mph.


HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio grounded out to shortstop. H Pence popped out to
second. L Berkman struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
COLORADO 0.

COLORADO 1ST: W Taveras doubled to left center. K Matsui grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, W Taveras out at third. M Holliday popped out
to second. T Helton struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
COLORADO 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee grounded out to second. M Loretta flied out to right.
L Scott flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, COLORADO 0.

COLORADO 2ND: G Atkins doubled to deep left center. B Hawpe flied out to
center. T Tulowitzki struck out swinging. Y Torrealba struck out looking.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, COLORADO 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: A Everett popped out to third. B Ausmus grounded out to
second. W Rodriguez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
COLORADO 0.

COLORADO 3RD: J Hirsh grounded out to first. W Taveras struck out looking.
K Matsui grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
COLORADO 0.

HOUSTON 4TH: C Biggio struck out swinging. H Pence lined out to third.
L Berkman grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
COLORADO 0.

COLORADO 4TH: M Holliday tripled to deep left center. T Helton struck out
swinging. G Atkins doubled to deep right center, M Holliday scored. B Hawpe
safe at first on error by second baseman C Biggio, G Atkins to third.
T Tulowitzki struck out swinging. Y Torrealba walked, B Hawpe to second.
J Hirsh struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, COLORADO 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: C Lee popped out to second. M Loretta flied out to left.
L Scott doubled to deep center. A Everett flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, COLORADO 1.

COLORADO 5TH: W Taveras flied out to right. K Matsui singled to left.
M Holliday popped out to second. K Matsui caught stealing second, pitcher to
first to shortstop.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, COLORADO 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: B Ausmus walked. O Palmeiro hit for W Rodriguez. O Palmeiro
singled to left center, B Ausmus to third. C Biggio struck out swinging.
H Pence lined out to third. L Berkman doubled to deep left, B Ausmus and
O Palmeiro scored. C Lee intentionally walked. M Loretta grounded out to
pitcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, COLORADO 1.

COLORADO 6TH: D Borkowski relieved W Rodriguez. T Helton tripled to deep
center. G Atkins popped out to second. B Hawpe grounded out to first.
T Tulowitzki flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2,
COLORADO 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: L Scott singled to center. L Scott to second on wild pitch by
J Hirsh. A Everett doubled to right, L Scott to third. J Julio relieved
J Hirsh. L Scott picked off third. B Ausmus walked. M Lamb hit for D Borkowski.
J Affeldt relieved J Julio. M Lamb grounded into double play, second to
shortstop to first, B Ausmus out at second.(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 2, COLORADO 1.

COLORADO 7TH: C Qualls relieved D Borkowski. Y Torrealba flied out to
right. J Baker hit for J Affeldt. J Baker flied out to left. W Taveras
grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, COLORADO 1.

HOUSTON 8TH: L Hawkins relieved J Affeldt. C Biggio grounded out to second.
H Pence struck out swinging. L Berkman struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, COLORADO 1.

COLORADO 8TH: M Ensberg at third base. M Loretta at first base. B Lidge
relieved C Qualls. Houston's L Berkman ejected by E Rapuano. K Matsui lined
out to right. M Holliday flied out to right. T Helton tripled to deep right.
G Atkins struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, COLORADO 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: M Corpas relieved L Hawkins. C Lee hit by pitch. Houston's
Manager P Garner ejected by E Rapuano. M Loretta flied out to right. L Scott
homered to left, C Lee scored. A Everett popped out to third. B Ausmus
grounded out to pitcher. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 4, COLORADO 1.

COLORADO 9TH: D Wheeler relieved B Lidge. B Hawpe grounded out to first.
T Tulowitzki flied out to right. Y Torrealba struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 4, COLORADO 1.</div>

 

Rodriguez, Astros rally past Rockies

<h3>HOUSTON 4, COLORADO 1</h3>DENVER (Ticker) -- Wandy Rodriguez and the Houston Astros havenot had much luck on the road this season. The starter helpedthat situation Tuesday.

Rodriguez pitched five solid innings and Lance Berkman had atwo-run double as the Astros rallied for a 4-1 victory over theColorado Rockies.

Luke Scott had three hits, including a two-run homer forHouston, which began this seven-game road trip with the fewestroad wins of any National League team. The Astros and theWashington Nationals each had just 10 victories entering thegame.

Rodriguez (3-5) allowed one run, five hits and a walk for hisfirst road win since July 2. The lefthander, who struck outseven, had been 0-6 with an 8.01 ERA in his last 11 appearancesaway from home.

Relievers Dave Borkowski, Chad Qualls and Brad Lidge eachpitched one inning and Dan Wheeler had a 1-2-3 ninth for his10th save in 11 opportunities.

With the Astros trailing, 1-0, after Garrett Atkins' RBI doublein the fourth inning, Berkman put Houston in the lead in thesixth.

After Brad Ausmus walked to lead off the frame, Orlando Palmeirohit a pinch-hit single to put runners on first and third. Twoouts later, Berkman hammered a double to the center field walloff Rockies starter Jason Hirsh, scoring both runners to putHouston in front, 2-1.

Hirsh (2-6) surrendered two runs, five hits and two walks in sixinnings to lose his fifth straight decision.

Later in the seventh inning Berkman was ejected for arguing achecked-swing third strike with third base umpire Ed Rapuano.Manager Phil Garner was also thrown out after Houston outfielderCarlos Lee was hit by a pitch in the ninth.

With a man on in the ninth, Scott belted his sixth homer overthe left field wall to make it 4-1.

Todd Helton had two triples for Colorado, which lost for thefirst time in three games.

 

Rodriguez, Astros rally past Rockies

<h3>HOUSTON 4, COLORADO 1</h3>DENVER (Ticker) -- Wandy Rodriguez and the Houston Astros havenot had much luck on the road this season. The starter helpedthat situation Tuesday.

Rodriguez pitched five solid innings and Lance Berkman had atwo-run double as the Astros rallied for a 4-1 victory over theColorado Rockies.

Luke Scott had three hits, including a two-run homer forHouston, which began this seven-game road trip with the fewestroad wins of any National League team. The Astros and theWashington Nationals each had just 10 victories entering thegame.

Rodriguez (3-5) allowed one run, five hits and a walk for hisfirst road win since July 2. The lefthander, who struck outseven, had been 0-6 with an 8.01 ERA in his last 11 appearancesaway from home.

"I really needed this and felt like I've pitched well enough towin some more," said Rodriguez through an interpreter. "Butsometimes that's the way it goes, you get them as they come."

Relievers Dave Borkowski, Chad Qualls and Brad Lidge eachpitched one inning and Dan Wheeler had a 1-2-3 ninth for his10th save in 11 opportunities.

"Our bullpen did a nice job tonight, an excellent job," Astrosmanager Phil Garner said.

With the Astros trailing, 1-0, after Garrett Atkins' RBI doublein the fourth inning, Berkman put Houston in the lead in thesixth.

After Brad Ausmus walked to lead off the frame, Orlando Palmeirohit a pinch-hit single to put runners on first and third. Twoouts later, Berkman hammered a double to the center field walloff Rockies starter Jason Hirsh, scoring both runners to putHouston in front, 2-1.

"It was a tough at-bat," Berkman said. "Hirsh threw me a couplechangeups earlier and at 3-1 in the count I thought it'd be agood time for him to throw another one. I stayed through it andhit a double into right-center gap. It was a good at-bat forme."

Hirsh (2-6) surrendered two runs, five hits and two walks in sixinnings to lose his fifth straight decision.

"This was a little more satisfying because I took a step in theright direction," Hirsh said.

Six of Colorado's seven hits in the game went for extra basesbut the Rockies could only manage one run off Houston pitching.

"We had our chances and we know we had our chances and weweren't able to convert," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said."They got two big swings of the bat, which was the difference inthe game."

Later in the seventh inning Berkman was ejected for arguing achecked-swing third strike with third base umpire Ed Rapuano.Manager Phil Garner was also thrown out after Houston outfielderCarlos Lee was hit by a pitch in the ninth.

"Unfortunately, their guy threw at our guy and that shouldn'thave been part of the game tonight," Garner said. "Clearly hethrew the ball at Carlos."

With a man on in the ninth, Scott belted his sixth homer overthe left field wall to make it 4-1.

"The homer made it a little easier in the ninth there," Scottsaid. "We got some real good pitching and some timely hitting.It was a good win for us."

Todd Helton had two triples for Colorado, which lost for thefirst time in three games.