Houston got shut down in Coors again Sunday, following up a Saturday shutout with a 5-3 loss to the Rockies. The Astros were held to one run in the first eight innings, and found themselves on the wrong end of a sweep for the first time this season.
Jason Lane provided the only scoring for most of the game, leading off the top of the 2nd with a homer. After that, it was all Rockies. The big blow came on a three-run bomb by Todd Helton off Fernando Nieve in the 5th. Nieve worked into the 6th inning, giving up five ER on nine hits. Mike Gallo finished the remainder of the 6th and Dave Borkowski maintained his spotless ERA with two shutout innings in relief.
Rockies starter Aaron Cook lasted into the 9th, trying to complete the first back-to-back complete games by Rockies starters since 1998. That notion died quickly when Morgan Ensberg and Lane reached base to begin the inning, and Cook was pulled. After a GIDP by Brad Ausmus, a triple by Adam Everett and an Eric Bruntlett single cut the Rockies lead to 5-3. However, Craig Biggio, pinch hitting for Borkowski, struck out to end the game.
The Astros will travel to San Francisco on Monday to make up last month's rained out game. Roy Oswalt looks to improve to 6-1 against Noah Lowry. First pitch is 9:15pm CDT.
