The Astros pulled off the four game sweep against the division leading Cardinals with a 7-3 victory on Sunday evening, making the central division race interesting with a week to play. The Astros trail by 3½ games with 7 to play.
Roger Clemens took the hill on short rest and went 5 innings, leaving with much fanfare and a 3-1 lead. He wound up with a no decision. Wandy Rodriquez relieved in the top of the 6th and promply walked the only batter he faced, bringing on Brad Lidge, who allowed a couple of hits but kept the game at 3-2. Lidge then walked the leadoff hitter in the 7th, sending him to the showers with another inneffective outing. Trever Miller gave up the tying run on a ground out. Chad Qualls got the final out of the inning, and struck out two in a perfect 8th. Dan Wheeler allowed a two out double in the 9th, but struck out former Astro Preston Wilson to end it.
Brad Ausmus put two runs on the board in the 4th when he doubled into the left field corner, scoring Luke Scott and Aubrey Huff. In the 5th, Mike Lamb tripled and scored on a sac fly by Lance Berkman.
After the Cards tied it, Eric Bruntlett led off the 7th with a double down the 3rd base line. Craig Biggio laid a bunt down the first base line in no mans land and beat the throw to first as Bruntlett scampered to third. The Cards brought in a lefty to face Lamb, but the Astros countered with Morgan Ensberg, who flailed at breaking balls and struck out. Berkman hit a chopper to second base, Biggio took off for second and leaned away from the tag, sliding safely into second as Bruntlett scored the go ahead run. LaRussia came out of the dugout and argued for a moment, but the right call was made, despite the ramblings of the idiot ESPN ‘color’ man. Scott walked and Huff then powered a 3-run blast to right for a four run lead.
“It was a great deal of fun,” Clemens said. “I wish we could take these last four crowds we’ve had here with us on the road. I knew what was at stake, you don’t want to be the one to drop the ball. Your energy and your concentration has to be at its highest.”
Was this Roger’s last performance in Houston? “I’m not going to say a whole lot right now,” Clemens said. “I just threw my hands and really, tipped my cap to the crowd for them, not for me. I was tipping my cap to them for all they’ve done while we’re at home.”
The Astros have a make up game with the Phillies Monday on their way to Pittsburgh for a three game set. Matt Albers will battle Randy Wolf @ 6:05 cst.
Attendance was recorded at 43,704 yet there were many empty seats. The mark pushed the Astros past the 3 million mark for the year.