| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Astros saved plenty of excitement for
their final regular-season game in the Astrodome.
Jose Lima joined teammate Mike Hampton as the league's only
21-game winners and Craig Biggio homered in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie Saturday, giving the Astros a 3-0 win over
Los Angeles and a one-game lead in the NL Central.
|
SUNDAY'S GAME
|
|
2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, joined in progress)
Robinson Checo (2-1, 8.22) vs. Mike Hampton (21-4, 2.95)
Checo will make just his second start of the season as the Dodgers bypass pitching Kevin Brown on three days' rest. Hampton will start on three days' rest looking to wrap up the NL Central title for the Astros.
Hampton vs. Dodgers: 1-0, 1.26, 14.1 IP, 10 H
Hampton in Sept.: 4-1, 2.82
|
Milwaukee defeated the Cincinnati Reds 10-6, clearing the way
for the Astros to reclaim first place. The Astros could clinch
their third straight title with a victory over the Dodgers on
Sunday. They'll move to Enron Field next season.
"Milwaukee gave us some help against the Reds," manager Larry
Dierker said. "I don't think we're down or up at this stage. We
are on an even keel. After winning this game, we're probably a
little more pumped up."
The Astros and Reds began the day with a one-game lead over New
York for the final two playoff spots. New York beat Pittsburgh 7-0
and tied the Reds for the wild-card spot.
Lima (21-10) snapped a three-game losing streak with a strong 7
2/3 innings. He kept control of the Dodgers with good defensive
backup until Biggio delivered his 16th homer on the first pitch
from Chan Ho Park (13-11) to start the sixth inning.
"I went seven innings and kept my team in the ballgame, that's
what they wanted and that's what I did," Lima said. "This was an
emotional day for me because the Reds lost and we have a chance.
"I was looking at the scoreboard from batting practice on to
see the Reds' score."
Pinch-hitter Bill Spiers added a two-run single in the eighth.
"This is a storybook ending," Spiers said. "It's amazing that
the season has come down to the last game in the Astrodome with the
division title on the line.
"Last year we were favored to win it all but San Diego got us.
We just want to get into the playoffs. Getting there is the
secret."
The victory was good tonic for the Astros, who recently won 12
games in a row but have lost nine of their last 14.
"Hopefully we'll play more relaxed, I think we been playing a
little tight," Spiers said.
Lima came into the game with losses in his previous three starts
since winning his 20th game Sept. 11.
Eric Young led off the game with a single to center and after Mark Grudzielanek flied out, Lima walked Todd Hollandsworth. Lima
then struck out five of the next six batters to take control.
"Lima pitched a whale of a game," Dodgers manager Davey
Johnson said. "He's a good young pitcher and they are a good
team."
Devon White led off the fifth with a double to deep right field, but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. Lima struck
then out Todd Hundley and got Adrian Beltre on a groundout.
"I can't say enough about Jose," Dierker said. "I knew he had
a resilient arm but to go on three days rest is remarkable."
Lima got in trouble again with two out in the sixth when
Grudzielanek doubled, Hollandsworth walked and Eric Karros reached on an infield hit to load the bases but Raul Mondesi's
grounded force the third out.
Lima allowed seven hits and struck out eight before Billy Wagner came on with two outs in the eighth to pick up his 39th save.
Karros hit Wagner's first pitch for a single but Mondesi forced
Karros for the third out.
Park (13-11) had won seven straight decisions and he started out
just as effectively against the Astros. After walking Carl Everett to start the second inning, Park retired nine of the next 10 in a
row before a hit and error got him in trouble in the fifth.
Park held Houston to four hits over seven innings, walking three
and striking out five.
"I did well, especially against their good hitters," Park
said. "I knew I would be going against Lima. I knew I had to do my
best. He's a very good pitcher."
Game notes
Gary Sheffield needs to keep his batting average at .300 or better in the final games of the season to become only the second
player in Dodgers franchise history to hit .300 and also reach at
least 100 RBIs, runs and walks. Duke Snider did it in 1955. Dodgers
manager Davey Johnson has said he would rest Sheffield in the final
two games. ... Dierker has benched slumping regular right fielder Derek Bell for the rest of the regular season. Bell, coming off a rib cage injury, will be available for spot duty. ... The Astros
and Dodgers had a tense playoff in 1980, too. Houston led the
division by three games with three to go but lost three straight in
Los Angeles and had to beat the Dodgers 7-1 in a one-game playoff
to claim the title.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 7
Cleveland 3
Seattle 10
Oakland 2
NY Yankees 3
Tampa Bay 2
Boston 8
Baltimore 0
Chi. White Sox 6
Minnesota 1
Detroit 4
Kansas City 3
Anaheim 15
Texas 3
Florida 1
Atlanta 0
Milwaukee 10
Cincinnati 6
Chicago Cubs 6
St. Louis 3
San Francisco 16
Colorado 7
Houston 3
Los Angeles 0
Montreal 13
Philadelphia 3
NY Mets 7
Pittsburgh 0
Arizona 7
San Diego 5
|
