Pence (front), Loretta tag-team Mets.
(c) Reuters
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The Astros topped the Mets Saturday night, 5-4, in ten innings in one of those games filled with wild and controversial plays. From the home run that turned into a double play to the game-tying runs that scored in tandem to the game-winning sacrifice liner, this was one of those games that will certainly have some eyes bulging and tongues wagging as it is recounted.
Hard-luck starter Johan Santana had a 4-1 lead over hard-luck starter Roy Oswalt heading into the late innings when the bullpens took over. While Houston's revolving door bullpen proved up to the challenge, New York's escaped trouble repeatedly until the bottom of the ninth when ex-Astro Billy Wagner had an unhappy homecoming. With the bases full, pinch-hitter Geoff Blum lined a single to left where runners Mark Loretta and Hunter Pence arrived at the plate at almost the same time, bowling over Met catcher Ramon Castro for a dogpile. Castro lost the ball and both runners counted to tie the game at four.
Wagner escaped further trouble but, in the 10th, Aaron Heilman was not so lucky. Lance Berkman started the inning with a walk, advanced to third on a Carlos Lee single and scored the winning run when Fernando Tatis speared Darin Erstad's sinking liner to left but was unable to stay upright while Berkman tagged up and slid home. The win was Houston's sixth in their last eight games.
The Astros go for the improbable sweep Sunday afternoon in a 1:05 Central start when Randy Wolf (6-10) takes the hill against Oliver Perez (7-6), who is starting in place of the ailing John Maine.
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