Johnson: One hot stick
(c) Associated Press
|
It wouldn't be surprising if the rookie-laden Astros had a late-inning meltdown to lose a game but, on Monday night, it was division-leading Atlanta who watched their game blow up on them in 10-4 Houston triumph.
The teepee caved in on the Braves in the seventh inning of a 4-4 tie. Geoff Blum singled off Kyle Farnsworth and Jason Bourgeois was sent in to run for him. Farnsworth's pickoff throw sailed wide and Bourgeois moved up a base. After a wild pitch moved him to third and Angel Sanchez walked, Bourgeois scored on a single by Jeff Keppinger to break the deadlock.
After Hunter Pence was walked, Carlos Lee drove Sanchez home with a base hit against Pete Moylan. Chris Johnson then hit a single to left to drive in two, and when catcher Brian McCann tried to nail Lee at third, his throw flew back into left field, allowing Lee and Johnson to score.
Before that, an error by Alex Gonzalez in the sixth also gave Houston their fourth run. Bud Norris gave up four runs, including two homers, in 6-2/3rd innings but it was Tim Byrdak who came away with the win.
Five Astros had multi-hit games, including Johnson who drove in three and raised his batting average to .356.
J.A. Happ (1-1) makes his third start as an Astro when he faces Jair Jurrjens (4-4) in a 7:05 Central contest on Tuesday. Happ is 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA lifetime against the Braves.
|