GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (54-67) at SAN DIEGO (65-55)

NL: HOUSTON at SAN DIEGO

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HOUSTON (3) AT SAN DIEGO (1) - EVENT LOG
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Houston Starting Lineups -- C Biggio 2B, M Loretta SS, L Berkman RF, C Lee LF,
M Lamb 1B, T Wigginton 3B, J Lane CF, B Ausmus C, W Williams RHP.

San Diego Starting Lineups -- B Giles RF, G Blum 2B, M Cameron CF, A Gonzalez 1B,
M Ensberg 3B, K Greene SS, T Sledge LF, J Bard C, J Peavy RHP.

Umpires -- Larry Poncino (HP), Bruce Dreckman (1B), Todd Tichenor (2B),
Gary Darling (3B).

Gametime Weather: 73 degrees, Clear, wind left to right at 8 mph.


HOUSTON 1ST: C Biggio struck out swinging. M Loretta singled to center.
L Berkman flied out to right. C Lee struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 1ST: B Giles lined out to pitcher. G Blum flied out to left.
M Cameron popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, SAN DIEGO 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: M Lamb walked. T Wigginton struck out swinging. J Lane
singled to left, M Lamb to second. B Ausmus flied out to right. W Williams
struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 2ND: A Gonzalez singled to right. M Ensberg walked, A Gonzalez
to second. K Greene flied out to right. T Sledge singled to left, A Gonzalez
to third, M Ensberg to second. J Bard struck out looking. J Peavy grounded
into fielder's choice to shortstop, T Sledge out at second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, SAN DIEGO 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: C Biggio struck out swinging. M Loretta grounded out to
third. L Berkman homered to right. C Lee lined out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 3RD: B Giles fouled out to catcher. G Blum flied out to right.
M Cameron fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
SAN DIEGO 0.

HOUSTON 4TH: M Lamb grounded out to first. T Wigginton struck out
swinging. J Lane popped out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
SAN DIEGO 0.

SAN DIEGO 4TH: A Gonzalez singled to center. M Ensberg struck out looking.
K Greene singled to center, A Gonzalez to third. T Sledge grounded out to
second, A Gonzalez scored, K Greene to second. J Bard grounded out to pitcher.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, SAN DIEGO 1.

HOUSTON 5TH: B Ausmus struck out swinging. W Williams grounded out to
first. C Biggio lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 5TH: J Peavy struck out swinging. B Giles flied out to left.
G Blum singled to center. M Cameron hit by pitch, G Blum to second. A Gonzalez
flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, SAN DIEGO 1.

HOUSTON 6TH: M Loretta grounded out to first. L Berkman walked. C Lee
struck out swinging. M Lamb singled to left, L Berkman to second. T Wigginton
flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 6TH: M Ensberg grounded out to third. K Greene flied out to
center. T Sledge flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1,
SAN DIEGO 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: J Lane struck out swinging. B Ausmus struck out swinging.
W Williams struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 7TH: J Bard flied out to left. R Mackowiak hit for J Peavy.
R Mackowiak lined out to left. B Giles doubled to left. G Blum struck out
looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 1, SAN DIEGO 1.

HOUSTON 8TH: H Bell relieved J Peavy. C Biggio grounded out to shortstop.
M Loretta singled to center. E Bruntlett ran for M Loretta. L Berkman homered
to right center, E Bruntlett scored. C Lee grounded out to shortstop. M Lamb
lined out to second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 8TH: C Qualls relieved W Williams. E Bruntlett at shortstop.
C Burke at second base. M Cameron grounded out to third. A Gonzalez singled to
right. M Ensberg flied out to center. K Greene singled to center, A Gonzalez
to second. T Sledge struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3,
SAN DIEGO 1.

HOUSTON 9TH: C Meredith relieved H Bell. T Wigginton grounded out to
second. J Lane hit by pitch. J Lane caught stealing second, catcher to
shortstop. B Ausmus reached on infield single to shortstop. C Burke reached on
bunt single to pitcher, B Ausmus to second. O Palmeiro hit for C Qualls.
O Palmeiro grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3,
SAN DIEGO 1.

SAN DIEGO 9TH: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. J Bard grounded out to second.
P LaForest hit for C Meredith. P LaForest struck out swinging. B Giles tripled
to deep right center. G Blum struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 1.</div>

 

Berkman homers twice to lead Astros past Padres

<h3>HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 1</h3>By Tim Powers
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer




SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Lance Berkman belted a pair of homers tolift the Houston Astros over the San Diego Padres, 3-1, on Friday.

Woody Williams (7-12) turned in a solid effort against hisformer team, yielding one run and six hits over seven inningsfor the Astros, who ended a brief two-game slide to win for thefourth time in six contests.


Berkman snapped a 1-1 tie in the eighth with a two-run shotagainst Heath Bell (5-4). It was the second homer of the nightfor Berkman - who also homered in the third - and his firstmulti-home run game of the season.


Bell, who has taken over as the primary eighth-inning optionsince Scott Linebrink was traded to Milwaukee before thedeadline, had not surrendered a run in seven appearancesentering Friday's game.


The righthanded setup man yielded a one-out single to MarkLoretta before Berkman drove a 2-0 offering over the wall inright for the game-winner.


Williams has surrendered just four earned runs in his last fouroutings, a stretch of 20 innings which he has gone 2-0. Hewalked one and struck out four against San Diego, where he spentthe last two seasons before signing with Houston as a freeagent.


Chad Qualls worked around a pair of singles in a scorelesseighth before Brad Lidge came on to retire the side in the ninthfor his 10th save in 15 chances.


San Diego starter Jake Peavy matched Williams for seven innings,allowing only Berkman's solo shot and leaving with the gametied at 1-1.


The All-Star righthander fanned 11 batters - the sixth time thisseason he has reached double digits in strikeouts - and yieldedfour hits while walking two.


San Diego tied the game in the fourth with singles by AdrianGonzalez and Khalil Greene and a run-scoring groundout byTerrmel Sledge.


Gonzalez had three hits for the Padres (65-56), who fell fourgames behind first-place Arizona (70-53) in the National LeagueWest standings.

 

Berkman homers twice to lead Astros past Padres

<h3>HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 1</h3>By Tim Powers
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Lance Berkman belted a pair of homers tolift the Houston Astros over the San Diego Padres, 3-1, on Friday.

Woody Williams (7-12) turned in a solid effort against hisformer team, yielding one run and six hits over seven inningsfor the Astros, who ended a brief two-game slide to win for thefourth time in six contests.


Berkman snapped a 1-1 tie in the eighth with a two-run shotagainst Heath Bell (5-4). It was the second homer of the nightfor Berkman - who also homered in the third - and his firstmulti-home run game of the season.


Bell, who has taken over as the primary eighth-inning optionsince Scott Linebrink was traded to Milwaukee before thedeadline, had not surrendered a run in seven appearancesentering Friday's game.


The righthanded setup man yielded a one-out single to MarkLoretta before Berkman drove a 2-0 offering over the wall inright for the game-winner.


Williams has surrendered just four earned runs in his last fouroutings, a stretch of 20 innings which he has gone 2-0. Hewalked one and struck out four against San Diego, where he spentthe last two seasons before signing with Houston as a freeagent.


Chad Qualls worked around a pair of singles in a scorelesseighth before Brad Lidge came on to retire the side in the ninthfor his 10th save in 15 chances.


San Diego starter Jake Peavy matched Williams for seven innings,allowing only Berkman's solo shot and leaving with the gametied at 1-1.


The All-Star righthander fanned 11 batters - the sixth time thisseason he has reached double digits in strikeouts - and yieldedfour hits while walking two.


San Diego tied the game in the fourth with singles by AdrianGonzalez and Khalil Greene and a run-scoring groundout byTerrmel Sledge.


Gonzalez had three hits for the Padres (65-56), who fell fourgames behind first-place Arizona (70-53) in the National LeagueWest standings.

 

Berkman homers twice to lead Astros past Padres

<h3>HOUSTON 3, SAN DIEGO 1</h3>By Tim Powers
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer




SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Lance Berkman belted a pair of homers tolift the Houston Astros over the San Diego Padres, 3-1, on Friday.

Woody Williams (7-12) turned in a solid effort against hisformer team, yielding one run and six hits over seven inningsfor the Astros, who ended a brief two-game slide to win for thefourth time in six contests.


Berkman snapped a 1-1 tie in the eighth with a two-run shotagainst Heath Bell (5-4). It was the second homer of the nightfor Berkman - who also homered in the third - and his firstmulti-home run game of the season.


"Both (home run pitches) were breaking balls that were up alittle bit," Berkman said. "I saw the ball well and got the baton both of them. It certainly feels good to get a few hits andcontribute to the team and do my part."


Bell, who has taken over as the primary eighth-inning optionsince Scott Linebrink was traded to Milwaukee before thedeadline, had not surrendered a run in seven appearancesentering Friday's game.


The righthanded setup man yielded a one-out single to MarkLoretta before Berkman drove a 2-0 offering over the wall inright for the game-winner.


"I've got to go out there and make a perfect pitch becausethat's who I am and our pitching staff is really good," Bellsaid. "Lance is a good hitter. If you make a mistake, he'sgoing to make you pay just like he did tonight, twice."

Williams has surrendered just four earned runs in his last fouroutings, a stretch of 20 innings which he has gone 2-0. Hewalked one and struck out four against San Diego, where he spentthe last two seasons before signing with Houston as a freeagent.


"There is always a comfort level when you have pitched somewherefor so long," Williams said. "It was a good time in my careerto play here in San Diego. Petco Park has been good to me."

"Woody did a masterful job," Houston manager Phil Garner said."He has certainly pitched better this second half, but we'restarting to get a lot more confidence in him. He's holding thedamage down and he's very capable of pitching a game like he didtonight. He did a nice job tonight."


Chad Qualls worked around a pair of singles in a scorelesseighth before Brad Lidge came on to retire the side in the ninthfor his 10th save in 15 chances.


San Diego starter Jake Peavy matched Williams for seven innings,allowing only Berkman's solo shot and leaving with the gametied at 1-1.


"(The home run) was a curveball, the one and only one I threwtonight," Peavy said. "He's a good hitter and he made it hurt."

The All-Star righthander fanned 11 batters - the sixth time thisseason he has reached double digits in strikeouts - and yieldedfour hits while walking two.


"I thought Jake pitched outstanding, and Woody matched himpitch-for-pitch," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It was agreat pitchers' duel."


San Diego tied the game in the fourth with singles by AdrianGonzalez and Khalil Greene and a run-scoring groundout byTerrmel Sledge.


Gonzalez had three hits for the Padres (65-56), who fell fourgames behind first-place Arizona (70-53) in the National LeagueWest standings.