Aubrey Huff, sporting a new haircut, stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the 9th inning of a scoreless game at Minute Maid Park and hit a fielders choice grounder to the firstbaseman, who dived across the bag to snare the hard hit, then slapped the base with his glove to make sure he got the out at first before throwing to the catcher, who failed to recognize the force play was off and did not attempt the tag on the sliding Mike Lamb as he scored the winning run.
Lamb had singled with one out in the 9th, scampered to third on a line single to right field by Craig Biggio, and remained at third as Lance Berkman was intentionally walked to set the stage for Huff’s game winning roller as the Astros won game two of the series.
Roger Clemens started and struck out nine in seven scoreless innings, with thanks to several good plays by center fielder Willy Taveras. Clemens allowed only three hits and a pair of walks. Dan Wheeler pitched a scoreless 8th and Brad Lidge gained the victory with a scoreless 9th.
Taveras gunned down Brewer Jeff Cirillo trying to stretch a double into a triple in the 4th with one out. The ball hit the base of the wall in right center and trickled away from Taveras, who grabbed it and threw an accurate one hopper to Lamb at third as Cirillo slid short and never reached the base.
Taveras showed his speed in the 6th with one out. Brewer pitcher Dave Bush hit a shot to deep left center that Willy ran down at the warning track after sprinting from his position in shallow center.
Clemens got into a bit of a jamb in the 7th, loading the bases with two outs and a full-count on David Bell, who hit a rope to just right of center that Taveras snared with a diving catch for the third out.
The Astros had few scoring opportunities in the game.
Biggio, who is 9th on the all-time doubles list, hit his 30th of the season with two outs in the 4th inning. Following a Berkman walk, Huff flied out to end the threat.
Luke Scott led off the bottom of the 8th inning with a double to left but failed to score as the next three hitters were retired.
Game three tomorrow evening at 7:05, Andy Pettitte vs. fellow lefty Doug Davis.