Carlos Lee's 2-run double in 8th inning sparks Astros to 6-5 win over Nationals
By KRISTIE RIEKEN | Associated Press | May 6, 08 10:27 PM CDT in
Sports
Carlos Lee had the go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning and Lance Berkman had a career-high five hits to lead the Houston Astros to a 6-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.
Miguel Tejada and Berkman both singled in the eighth before Lee's hit to right field. Austin Kearns dived for the ball, but it bounced just in front of him.
After scoring, Tejada stood near the plate and motioned for Berkman to head home. Berkman, whose five hits tied a franchise record for a nine-inning game, has nine hits in the last two games.
The Astros had tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on a balk before Kearns' homer to left field off Doug Brocail (2-0). Before the home run, Brocail hadn't allowed a run in six straight appearances and 13 of his last 15 games.
Brocail still got the win, while Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save as the Astros won their fourth straight. Houston also has a winning record (17-16) for the first time since April 22.
Luis Ayala (1-2) allowed three hits and two runs in the eighth inning for the loss.
The bottom of the seventh was marred by Washington blunders. Berkman got a double when his fly to center bounced off the glove of Lastings Milledge to start the inning. Berkman stole third before Hunter Pence walked.
Berkman tied it at 4 when he scored on a balk by Saul Rivera.
Astros starter Shawn Chacon received his seventh straight no-decision. The last pitcher to start seven games without a decision was Doug Davis in 2005. He allowed eight hits and four runs with eight strikeouts and four walks in seven innings.
Aaron Boone's pinch-hit homer in the seventh gave the Nationals a 4-3 lead.
Hunter Pence hit Houston's third single of the fifth inning to score Berkman and tie it at 3.
Cristian Guzman's double scored Wily Mo Pena to tie it at 2 in the fifth. Ryan Zimmerman followed with an RBI double to give Washington a 3-2 lead.
Milledge singled after Nick Johnson was intentionally walked, but Zimmerman was thrown out at home to end the inning.
Houston took a 2-1 lead in the third inning on a run-scoring single by Berkman.
Johnson put Washington ahead early with his home run in the second. Houston evened it at 1 in the bottom of the second when Berkman doubled and scored on a double by Carlos Lee. Shawn Hill intentionally walked J.R. Towles to get to Chacon, but the pitcher singled to load the bases. Hill got out of trouble by striking out Michael Bourn to end the inning.
Notes:@ Hill allowed eight hits and three runs in 5 1-3 innings. ... Tejada has a 10-game hitting streak.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.