Lance Berkman drove in four of the Astros five runs, including a two-out, two strike bases clearing
double in the 9th as the Astros split the rain shortened series in Philadelphia with a 5-3 victory Wednesday evening.
Andy Pettitte started and allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Trever Miller pitched out of trouble in the 7th and retired MVP canidate Ryan Howard in the 8th,
Dan Wheeler came on and retired the two batters he faced to earn the win.
Brad Lidge pitched the ninth, allowing an unearned run, for his 30th save, with a huge assist to the Astros outstanding defense.
The Astros scored a run in the first inning after a walk to
Craig Biggio and a double into the right-center gap by Berkman. In the fourth,
Chris Burke doubled with one out and
scored on a single by
Brad Ausmus.
With the score notted at 2-2 in the ninth,
Orlando Palmeiro pinch-hit for
Adam Everett and singled.
Eric Bruntlett ran for Palmeiro and was sacrificed to second by Ausmus.
Mike Lamb , who entered the game in the 8th on a double switch, was intentionally walked.
Willy Taveras loaded the bases with a single to right. After Biggio struck out, Berkman sliced a liner down the left field line to break the tie.
Lidge dodged a bullet in the 9th. Bruntlett made a nice stop in the hole for out number one.
Aubrey Huff dropped a fly ball in right field for an error, then Lidge hit the next batter to bring the tying run to the plate. Phillie shortstop Jimmy Rollins hit a shot to right center that should have been an easy double, if the speedy Rollins had hustled, that is. Taveras gunned down the stunned Rollins at second base for a huge out number two with only one run scoring. Lidge got the third out on a grounder to first to keep the Astros in the wild card chase.
Day off tomorrow, next up is Friday night in Milwaukee,
Roy Oswalt vs. Ben Sheets.
