Sizzling Astros rally to win again

By Tom Halliburton
The Port Arthur News

May 08, 2008 12:31 am

— HOUSTON – These early-season Astros numbers are a bit staggering. They rally from behind often. Their closer gets the wins. Their cleanup hitter rarely makes an out. They steal bases with ease.
Record-setting Astros were what they were called on Wednesday night… so much so that after the 4-3 win over Washington at Minute Maid Park, club owner Drayton McLane, Jr. stormed into the winning clubhouse with his fist pumping and his hands lifted.
The Astros remained perfect in May, stretching their perfect start of the month to 5-0 after a 13-16 month of April. The win only trimmed Houston’s deficit to 3? games behind St. Louis yet McLane behaved as if the Astros clinched a World Series trip. Even this season’s 10th come-from-behind win seemed to make new manager Cecil Cooper feel a bit giddy too.
“These are hard on me, man,” Cooper said. “But it’s good when you can keep winning games like this on the edge of your seat.”
Houston won in its last at-bat for the third straight game. The team’s closer, Jose Valverde, improved his season record to 4-1 with seven saves even though the sixth-year major league reliever entered this season with a career 9-14 record…. Then there is Lance. And Lance. And more Lance.
Lance Berkman went 2 for 3, delivering two hits in his first two trips to tie a club record eight consecutive hits dating back to the 12th inning of Sunday’s game. Berkman equaled an Astros mark shared by Julio Gotay in June, 1967 and Art Howe in Sept. 1980.
Berkman rested his legs a bit Wednesday after stealing two bases on Tuesday night. He did not steal but the team added four stolen bases, lifting its season total to 32. The Astros swiped only 65 all of last season.
When Lance did not hit a 400-foot home run to left field – as he did in the fourth – his threat to hit affected the outcome anyway. Needing a run to unlock a 3-3 ninth-inning tie, the Nationals gladly walked Berkman intentionally with first base open and one out in the bottom of the ninth.
Washington’s strategy enabled Carlos Lee to drive home the game-winner for the second consecutive night. Lee sent 30,432 fans home happy by drilling a letter-high fast ball to center field for a hit. Kaz Matsui appropriately scored the winning run from third. The Japanese second baseman reached that base when Nationals pitcher Jesus Colome delivered a wild pitch on the previous delivery.
“I can’t blame them for that strategy, no not at all,” Lee said. “When you have a guy like Berkman going 14 for his last 15, I’d take my chances with the next guy.”
Lee had been disappointed with himself to strike out in his previous at-bat on a seventh-inning slider from losing pitcher Joel Hanrahan (0-2).
“I had been real disappointed with the previous at-bat. I never gave myself a chance on that one. I was pretty hot.”
Houston’s only productive hot streak on this night prior to the ninth came when the Astros bunched a three-run fourth against starter Odalis Perez. Astros starter Roy Oswalt pounded out the big blow in that rally, poking a two-run single to center.
Oswalt permitted three runs and six hits over seven innings. He permitted two home runs to Nats third sacker Ryan Zimmerman but twirled a season-high nine strikeouts.
“Both of those pitches were in the same exact spot – right down the middle,” Oswalt said. “They were just bad pitches.”
The Astros will go for another series sweep tonight at 7 when Brandon Backe (2-3) will oppose lefty John Lannan (2-3).
ASTRO NOTES: Brian Moehler has not started a major league since 2006 but the Astros righthander has been named the starting pitcher on Friday night at Los Angeles. Moehler threw a simulated game (his second one) on Wednesday in preparation for the start… Wandy Rodriguez has been out for two weeks with a groin injury. Astros officials are saying Rodriguez will probably have to miss at least two more starts, which means Friday may not be the only game Moehler starts in the immediate future…. The last time the Astros started a game with an above .500 record occurred on May 16, 2007 when Houston opened a home game against the Giants with a 20-19 ledger…. A fan behind the Nationals dugout was removed by stadium officials after the fan yelled at Paul LoDuca, who departed the game in the top of the seventh after hitting a foul ball. LoDuca had been on the DL previously this season with a right hand bruise…. The Astros pitching staff now leads the National League and the Major Leagues in most home runs allowed with 46. The club is ranked third among most major league teams in hitting 40 home runs…. Tejada is 2 for his last 16 at-bats…. With seven straight no-decisions, Shawn Chacon (0-0) is one no-decision away from a major-league record for consecutive starts with no decision.