Luke Scott slammed a 3-run home run to give the Astros a 7-4 victory Saturday night at Minute Maid Park, setting off the fireworks and sending the frenzied crowd home happy, as the good guys took game three of this crucial series still hanging on in the playoff chase 4½ games behind the division leading Cardinals with 8 games to play.
Scott, after failing to catch a sinking liner in left field in the top of the 9th that tied the game, made up for his error in a big way by blasting his second homer of the game. He also had a two-run shot into the Crawfords in 3rd inning.
“I couldn’t tell if he could have made that play or not,” manager Phil Garner said. “But he sure did something to make up for it.”
“It was another tough play,” Scott said. “I didn’t know if it would stay up or sink.”
The play was originally scored an error, but later changed to a double.
Roy Oswalt started and pitched 7 innings, but gave up a game tying 2-run homer that hit the left field fair pole in the 7th to get a no decision. Dan Wheeler picked up the victory after blowing the save in the 9th.
Aubrey Huff hit a go-ahead solo shot in the bottom half of the 7th and Lance Berkman added four hits, including a run-scoring double in the 1st.
This was the second game of the TZ doubleheader, although most of the original opening day crowd failed to attend. Many thanks to Hudson Hawk for setting this up.
Roger Clemens goes on short rest at 7:05 this evening, matched against Jeff Weaver in the ESPN Sunday Night special.