Rookie
Taylor Buchholz was pounded for 8 runs in his 4+ innings as the Dodgers jumped to a large lead and held on as the Astros mounted a late rally that was too little, too late. The defeat was the 6th loss in a row for the home sick Houston squad.
Buchholz was torched for 3-run homers in the first and second innings, then
allowed three more hits-among his 12 allowed-in the 5th before finally getting the hook.
The Astros finally crossed home plate in the 7th, as
Eric Bruntlett knocked a 2-run double and
Willy Taveras had a run scoring single to bring the score to 9-3.
Lance Berkman hit a 3-run bomb in the 9th to cut the lead to 9-6.
"We're going to have to stop them from scoring here pretty soon, and we've got to keep them in the ballpark once in a while," manager
Phil Garner said.
The Astros hope to avoid the sweep in LA Thursday afternoon at 2:10 cst,
Wandy Rodriguez vs. Derek Lowe.
