Astros 10 Mariners 3
WP: R. Oswalt (7-4)
LP: J. Washburn (5-6)
Biggio didn't play, still 11 to go.
APDuBoseThe Astros will be sorry to see the Mariners leave town. 12 more hits today. Lamb, who was playing for the “under the weather” Berkman got the big one in the first. Loretta walked, Pence bunted for a single, then Ensberg worked a 2 out walk to set up the grand slam by Lamb. Washburn got tired of throwing balls and grooved one knee high. Lamb knocked it into the bullpen.
Staked to a 4 run lead, Roy didn’t have to be perfect. But he was trying. Of his first 24 pitches, 21 were strikes. But in the 2nd, with 2 on and 2 outs, he walked the pitcher. Setting up Ichiro with the bases loaded. He lines a single to center. Pence charges in, loops a one hopper to Ausmus who puts the one handed tag on the trailer trying to score from second.
The Good Guys get the run and more back in the bottom. Oswalt singles, bouncing a liner off the pitcher. Then Burke cracks a double off the Box wall. 2nd and 3rd, the Mariners pulled the infield in and Loretta popped a short fly over 3rd. Burke, noticing that the worm had turned and hits were starting to drop in, didn't hesitate and was right behind Oswalt to make the score 6-1.
Roy continued to throw challenge fastballs and the Mariners continued to hit the ball. Double, walk, single in the 3rd, 6-2. But Roy got one of his 6 Ks and a pop out to end that inning.
Lamb got it back in the bottom, Ensberg hustled around from 1st on the double.
Oswalt eked out the 4th, runners on 1st and 3rd, two outs, he got the Japanese catcher to pop out. But his luck ran out with 2 outs in the 5th. An RBI single with 2 on ran the score to 7-3. The 12 hits and 6 Ks took their toll, the normally economical Oswalt ended his evening with 114 pitches. Miller came on and struck out the lefthanded Ibanez with a high curve ball.
Another hitting barrage in the 8th, highlighted by a pinch hit RBI single by Palmeiro and a 2 run single from Pence put the game out of reach.
Borkowski, Qualls, and the newly reinstated White closed out the last 3 innings. The Mariners got 3 more hits but again their free swinging ways cost them 4 Ks.
