With the game on the line trailing 8-6 to the Mets in the bottom of the ninth and former Astro Billy Wagner throwing darts, things did not look promising. But, with one out, the Crimson Chin himself, Eric Bruntlett , who is now sporting a full beard, doubled down the left field line and scored on a single by Craig Biggio to bring the winning run to the plate in the form of Lance Berkman. After fouling off several 100 mph fastballs and a few wicked sliders, Berkman ended the threat with a grounder to short as the Astro had their six game winning streak snapped.
Wandy Rodriguez started and pitched decent, but ran into some bad luck as shortstop Adam Everett threw wildly to first on a slow roller to allow two runs to score in the 2nd inning. He also allowed a run in the third, and was out of the game after four innings.
The Astro finally got to Mets starter Tom Glavine in the 4th frame. Biggio doubled with one out and went to third on a Berkman single. Jason Lane singled in the first run and another single by Morgan Ensberg loaded the bases. Chris Burke got an RBI as he drew a walk from Glavine, then Everett lined out to first with Burke narrowly missed being doubled up off the base. New backup catcher Humberto Quintero , making his first start for the big club this year, singled in a pair of runs with a shot to right. Burke later scored on a wild pitch to complete the five run uprising as the Astros took a 5-3 lead.
The lead didn’t last long. Dave Borkowski relieved in the 5th and promptly allowed a bases clearing double over the reach of Lane in right field as the Mets went back in front, 6-5.
The Astros tied it in the bottom half of the 5th when Willy Taveras jumped Beltran in center for a triple. Beltran took the wrong route to the ball and it sailed over his head much to the delight of the Boo Beltran crowd. Lane hit a deep sac fly to score Taveras. Included in the inning was a strange out call by the HP ump on a phantom foul tip that actually hit Biggio.
Borkowski retired the Mets in order in the 6th, and Trever Miller did the same in the 7th, but Russ Springer allowed two runs in the 8th as the Mets took the lead for good.
Tomorrow, Jason Hirsh vs. John Maine at 6:05