The Houston lineup stepped on the ATL's throat early and never let up Sunday. The Astros led 9-3 after only three innings, and eventually won 14-4 behind some big hits from Eric Munson and Jason Lane. The win pulled them back to .500 at 32-32.
The fireworks began in the 1st, when Preston Wilson drove in a run on a groundout. Jason Lane then launched a homer to right field to make the score 4-0. Atlanta got a run back in the 2nd, but Craig Biggio and Lance Berkman answered with a run-scoring double and single, respectively. Biggio's double scored Wandy Rodriguez from first, and Berkman's single scored two.
The Braves got their fair share of hits off Rodriguez, including two solo homers in the 3rd and another in the 5th, but Houston's offense was too overwhelming. Eric Munson went yard in the 3rd for a run, and then again with a three-run blast in the 6th.
Lane led the Astros with three hits and five RBI, pulling his average above the Mendoza line for the first time since May 27. Biggio also had three hits. Munson was 2x5 with four RBI. Wandy lasted six innings, and the rest of the cleanup duty was split between Chris Sampson, Trever Miller, Philip Barzilla, and Dave Borkowski.
The Astros have a day off on Monday before the start of a three game series at Wrigley against the Cubs. Here's hoping they do better this time. Andy Pettitte will face Sean Marshall at 7:05pm CDT.
