Bogusevic: Scores game-winner
(c) Associated Press
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If you can't make the playoffs yourself, the next best thing is to keep a rival from making them. That's the young Astros' mission for the final series of the season. In Monday's edition, Houston kept St. Louis one game behind Atlanta for the final National League playoff spot with a 5-4 ten-inning victory.
Former Astro Octavio Dotel gave up a leadoff double to Brian Bogusevic in the tenth then mishandled consecutive bunts by Jason Bourgeois and Angel Sanchez to allow the winning run to score.
Wandy Rodriguez was in position to end his season with a winning record in perhaps his final appearance in a Houston uniform but ex-teammate Lance Berkman spoiled that with a lined two-run double in the eighth off the Crawford scoreboard.
Before that, the Astros had jumped to a 4-1 lead. Two of the runs were a home run by Matt Downs against Jaime Garcia in the fourth. It was Downs' 10th homer of the year while playing largely a bench role. Could that power be his ticket to a larger role in 2012?
Henry Sosa (3-5) will get his chance to add to the Redbirds' angst when he pitches for Houston Tuesday night in a 7:05 Central start. Jake Westbrook (12-9) will throw for St. Louis. For Astros fans, this is as close to playoff intensity as we'll see in Houston, although it may boil down to whether you want to watch Berkman or Michael Bourn in the postseason next week.
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