Author Topic: After blowing late 9-1 lead, Astros win in 13 innings  (Read 1335 times)

Waldo

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After blowing late 9-1 lead, Astros win in 13 innings
« on: June 26, 2006, 01:50:49 am »
Total meltdown was narrowly avoided on Sunday night.  Holding onto a 9-2 lead going into the 8th inning, and riding in the wake of Roy Oswalt's fine game, Russ Springer and Brad Lidge combined to give up seven runs to Tadahito Iguchi and send the game to extras.  However, Houston finally broke through in the top of the 13th and held on for the win, avoiding the sweep at the hands of the White Sox.  The Pale Hose had won nine straight games.

This was a game that the Astros and Oswalt had control of from the 1st inning on.  Preston Wilson had a two-run double in the 1st, and Mike Lamb and Lance Berkman each hit two-run homers in the 5th, giving the Astros a 6-1 lead at the time.  They tacked on three more in the 7th to extend their lead to 9-1.

Paul Konerko homered in the bottom of the 7th to make it 9-2, and Roy pitched the remaining inning before ending his evening.  However, Springer gave up a three-run blast to Iguchi in the 8th.  Brad Lidge took the mound in the 9th, hoping to close out the game.  With two on and two out, Lidge walked Scott Podsednik to load the bases to face Iguchi, who creamed a fat pitch from Lidge into left-center to tie the game at 9-9.  It was the Sox's third grand slam in as many games.

From there, the game went to extra innings, during which both bullpens held until the 13th inning.  With Adam Everett leading off, he hit a blooper down the right field line.  Right fielder Ross Gload dove for the ball and it caromed off his body into foul territory, where it was picked up by a fan.  Everett had already rounded first by the time the ball was interfered with, and he was awarded third base.  Willy Taveras then lined a single to left to score Everett and put the Astros back in the lead.

Fernando Nieve, who had come in to pitch with two outs in the 12th, pitched a mercifully scoreless 13th to end the game and get the win.

Everett led the team with three hits, while four others had two hits.  Brad Ausmus was the only Astro to go hitless.  On the other side of the box score, Jim Thome took home the golden sombrero while going 0x6.

The good guys head to Detroit on Monday to face the Tigers, who currently own the best record in baseball.  Wandy Rodriguez will face Zach Miner at 7:05pm CDT.