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In a season where the Astros made the playoffs by the thinnest of margins and then rode it all the way to their first World Series, it's hard to single out just one game and say it was the most important. However, Houston's 8-6 victory at Philadelphia's Citizen Bank Park in early September could be as vital as it was improbable.
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At the end of the regular season, the Astros finished at 89-73, one game ahead of the Phillies for the only National League Wild Card spot but, on September 7th, Houston owned a one-game lead over surprising Florida for the final spot and two games over Philadelphia, having edged out wins of 4-3 and 2-1 to begin the three-game series. Wednesday's finale would start with Brandon Backe (8-7) squaring off against Nicaraguan-born Vicente Padilla (8-12).
Coming off an LCS appearance the year before, the Astros came in with high hopes but, instead, stumbled to an 18-32 beginning, a full 15 games behind the red-hot Cardinals and in sixth place in their own division. The Houston Chronicle famously printed a tombstone for the team and pronounced them dead. However, the Astros fought back with a 16-9 June and a 22-7 July to overtake the Mets, Cubs, Marlins, Phillies and Nationals to lead the wild card race by August 1st.
Still clinging gingerly to a lead that September night in Philadelphia, Lance Berkman put the Astros ahead early with a solo homer to center to lead off the 2nd, his 18th bomb of the season. Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard answered with his own two-run shot off Backe in the bottom half.
Philadelphia upped the lead to 3-1 in the third. Backe's night ended an inning later as he was recovering from a ribcage strain. Houston tallied once more to trail, 3-2, after five frames.
Berkman walked to start the sixth and Jason Lane followed with a double. Mike Lamb teed off on a 2-2 pitch, lining it into the right field seats for a three-run homer that put Houston ahead, 5-3. Now the bullpen had to protect the lead.
While Russ Springer and Mike Gallo tamed the Phils the next two innings, Dan Wheeler ran into trouble in the bottom of the eighth. After a walk to pinch-hitter Jason Michaels, former Houston prospect Bobby Abreu drilled a two-run homer to center that tied the score at five. Soon the bases were loaded and Shane Victorino singled to right, plating Howard with the go-ahead run off Chad Qualls although Lane threw out David Bell at the plate, keeping the Philly lead at one.
Phillies skipper Chalie Manuel turned to one of the most lethal closers in the game to protect that lead in the ninth. Billy Wagner had been with Houston for nine seasons. The 5-10 lefty with the 100-mph fastball was the Astros' all-time leader in saves with 225. Traded away in 2003 after criticizing the owner, Wagner had found a new home in Philadelphia. He entered the game with 32 saves, a 1.69 ERA and a 4-2 record after losing the previous night's game.
The first two outs came rather easily but third baseman Bell misplayed a grounder from Jose Vizcaino then speedy Willy Taveras beat out an infield hit to put two aboard. Craig Biggio stepped up, hitless in four trips. He turned on Wagner's third pitch and belted it into the left field stands as most of the crowd of 29,026, as well as veteran announcer Harry Kalas, let out a groan. The Astros led again, 8-6.
Houston's new closer was Brad Lidge. He had an uneventful ninth, striking out two of the three batters he faced for his 35th save. Without that win, the Astros might not have made it to the playoffs to defeat rivals Atlanta and St. Louis for their first and only National League pennant.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Craig Biggio learned enough from watching Billy Wagner pitch to know how to beat his former teammate.
Biggio hit a three-run homer off Wagner with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Houston Astros completed a three-game sweep with an 8-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.
Houston, which has a one-game lead over Florida in the NL wild-card race, won its 12th straight over Philadelphia. The free-falling Phillies fell 2-1/2 games behind with their fifth straight loss.
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"That's the first time I've ever faced Billy," Biggio said of his close friend and teammate for eight years in Houston. "He threw me a fastball in, then inside again. The last pitch was 99 mph, so I could have popped it up."
Bobby Abreu hit a tying two-run homer in the eighth, and pinch-hitter Shane Victorino gave the Phillies a short-lived lead with an RBI single, his first major league hit in more than two years.
Wagner (4-3) retired the first two batters in the ninth before Jose Vizcaino reached on third baseman David Bell's fielding error. Willy Taveras beat out an infield single to shortstop, and Biggio followed with a drive into the left-field seats for his 20th homer.
"I tried to get it up, but that's his zone," Wagner said. "You have to make sure it's up enough."
Making matters worse for Philadelphia's All-Star closer, Biggio just signed a jersey for Wagner's son.
"Here you go, son, here's a jersey from the guy who just homered off your dad," said Wagner, who got the loss for the second straight game after not facing Houston the first nine times the teams met since he was traded to Philadelphia in 2003.
Chad Qualls (5-4) got the final two outs in the eighth. Brad Lidge finished for his 35th save.Light-hitting Mike Lamb hit a three-run homer and Lance Berkman hit a solo shot for Houston.
The Phillies rallied in the eighth against Dan Wheeler. Pinch-hitter Jason Michaels walked to start the inning. After Chase Utley sent Taveras to the center-field wall on a flyout, Abreu hit a drive deep into the Phillies' bullpen in center field to tie it at 5. The normally low-key Abreu shouted at his teammates in the dugout on his way to first base and slowly jogged around the bases.
Pat Burrell followed with a walk, and Howard doubled to put runners on second and third. Endy Chavez ran for Burrell, and Bell was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Qualls entered and got pinch-hitter Michael Tucker on a grounder to first base that forced Chavez at the plate. But Victorino lined the next pitch to right to score Howard. Bell was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Jason Lane.
It was Victorino's first hit in the majors since May 14, 2003.
Despite the Phillies being in the playoff chase, only 29,026 turned out at Citizens Bank Park. Most fans spent the first seven innings voicing their displeasure with the Phillies. They booed manager Charlie Manuel when he walked out to the mound for a pitching change, chanted "E-A-G-L-E-S" randomly throughout the game and jeered whoever failed to deliver in clutch spots.
Abreu got a standing ovation when he came through in a crucial spot, but the team left the field to a chorus of boos.
"This is a hard loss," Manuel said. "We had it and we gave it away. We have to get our act together and start winning games."
Before connecting off Vicente Padilla in the sixth, Lamb was hitting just .208. He hadn't gone deep since Aug. 2.
Berkman walked to start the inning and went to third on Lane's double. Lamb then lined a 2-2 pitch into the right-field seats for his eighth homer, giving Houston a 5-3 lead.
Padilla allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings, one of his poorest outings since the All-Star break. The right-hander has been Philadelphia's most consistent starter since early July. Since nearly being pulled from the rotation and almost losing his roster spot after starting 3-8 with a 6.69 ERA, Padilla was 5-4 with a 2.60 ERA in his previous 11 starts.
Howard gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead in the second on his 15th homer, a liner into the seats in right-center field. The slugging first baseman filling in for the injured Jim Thome leads NL rookies with 15 homers, even though he spent most of the first three months in Triple-A.
Utley's fielder's choice grounder scored Jimmy Rollins to make it 3-1 in the third.
Berkman gave the Astros a 1-0 lead in the second with his 18th homer and fifth in seven games. Houston cut it to 3-2 in the fourth on a fielder's choice grounder by Adam Everett.
Brandon Backe, making his first start since July 23 after being sidelined with a strained left ribcage, allowed three runs and three hits in four innings.
"Wagner's tough. We all know how good he is," Astros manager Phil Garner said. "We just buckled down."
Game data courtesy of Retrosheet
Houston Astros 8, Philadelphia Phillies 6 Game Played on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 (N) at Citizens Bank Park HOU N 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 3 - 8 9 0 PHI N 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 - 6 8 1 BATTING Houston Astros AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Taveras cf 5 1 3 0 0 1 2 0 Biggio 2b 5 1 1 3 0 0 2 2 Scott lf 5 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Berkman 1b 3 3 2 1 1 0 6 1 Lane rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 Lamb 3b 3 1 1 3 1 0 3 1 Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gipson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Everett ss 3 0 0 1 1 1 3 2 Ausmus c 4 0 1 0 0 1 8 2 Backe p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Burke ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Quintero ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Springer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gallo p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wheeler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vizcaino 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bruntlett pr,3b 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 36 8 9 8 3 6 27 9 BATTING - 2B: Berkman (32,off Padilla); Lane (29,off Padilla). HR: Berkman (18,2nd inning off Padilla 0 on 0 out); Lamb (8,6th inning off Padilla 2 on 0 out); Biggio (20,9th inning off Wagner 2 on 2 out). GDP: Quintero (3,off Madson). Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING - SB: Taveras (33,2nd base off Padilla/Lieberthal). Philadelphia Phillies AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Rollins ss 5 1 3 0 0 0 0 4 Lofton cf 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 Michaels ph,lf 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 Utley 2b 5 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 Abreu rf 3 1 1 2 1 1 3 0 Burrell lf 2 1 0 0 2 2 3 0 Chavez pr,cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Howard 1b 4 2 3 2 0 1 9 0 Bell 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 Lieberthal c 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 Tucker ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pratt c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Padilla p 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 Madson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Perez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Urbina p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Victorino ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Wagner p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 33 6 8 6 6 7 27 10 FIELDING - DP: 1. Bell-Utley-Howard. E: Bell (19). BATTING - 2B: Rollins (24,off Backe); Howard (11,off Wheeler). HR: Howard (15,2nd inning off Backe 1 on 1 out); Abreu (23,8th inning off Wheeler 1 on 1 out). IBB: Bell (4,by Wheeler). Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING - SB: Rollins (30,3rd base off Backe/Ausmus). CS: Rollins (6,2nd base by Backe/Ausmus). PITCHING Houston Astros IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Backe 4 3 3 3 3 4 1 17 Rodriguez 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 Springer 1.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 6 Gallo 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Wheeler 0.1 2 3 3 3 0 1 6 Qualls W(5-4) 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 Lidge SV(35) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 Totals 9 8 6 6 6 7 2 39 IBB: Wheeler (3,Bell). Inherited Runners - Scored: Qualls 3-1. . Philadelphia Phillies IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Padilla 5.1 7 5 5 3 5 2 26 Madson 1.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 Urbina 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Wagner L(4-3) 1 2 3 0 0 0 1 6 Totals 9 9 8 5 3 6 3 39 Inherited Runners - Scored: Madson 1-0. . Umpires: HP - Larry Poncino, 1B - Paul Nauert, 2B - Mark Wegner, 3B - Gary Darling
Time of Game: 3:09 Attendance: 29026
Starting Lineups: Houston Astros Philadelphia Phillies 1. Taveras cf Rollins ss 2. Biggio 2b Lofton cf 3. Scott lf Utley 2b 4. Berkman 1b Abreu rf 5. Lane rf Burrell lf 6. Lamb 3b Howard 1b 7. Everett ss Bell 3b 8. Ausmus c Lieberthal c 9. Backe p Padilla p ASTROS 1ST: Taveras struck out; Biggio grounded out (catcher to first); Scott was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Phillies 0. PHILLIES 1ST: Rollins singled to right; Rollins was caught stealing second (catcher to shortstop); Lofton grounded out (second to first); Utley grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 0, Phillies 0. ASTROS 2ND: Berkman homered; Lane struck out; Lamb grounded out (first unassisted); Everett walked; Ausmus flied to right; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Phillies 0. PHILLIES 2ND: Abreu was called out on strikes; Burrell walked; Howard homered [Burrell scored]; Bell flied to left; Lieberthal popped to second; 2 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 1, Phillies 2. ASTROS 3RD: Backe grounded out (pitcher to first); Taveras singled to second; Biggio flied to center; Taveras stole second; Scott grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 1, Phillies 2. PHILLIES 3RD: Padilla was called out on strikes; Rollins doubled to right; Rollins stole third; Lofton walked; Utley forced Lofton (shortstop to second) [Rollins scored]; Abreu walked [Utley to second]; Burrell was called out on strikes; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Astros 1, Phillies 3. ASTROS 4TH: Berkman doubled to left; Lane flied to center [Berkman to third]; Lamb walked; Everett forced Lamb (shortstop to second) [Berkman scored]; Ausmus struck out; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Phillies 3. PHILLIES 4TH: Howard struck out; Bell popped to third; Lieberthal popped to third; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 2, Phillies 3. ASTROS 5TH: BURKE BATTED FOR BACKE; Burke flied to left; Taveras singled to center; Biggio flied to left; Scott grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Phillies 3. PHILLIES 5TH: RODRIGUEZ REPLACED BURKE (PITCHING); Padilla popped to shortstop; Rollins singled to left; Lofton lined to third; Utley flied to center; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 2, Phillies 3. ASTROS 6TH: Berkman walked; Lane doubled to left [Berkman to third]; Lamb homered [Berkman scored, Lane scored]; Everett struck out; Ausmus singled to center; MADSON REPLACED PADILLA (PITCHING); QUINTERO BATTED FOR RODRIGUEZ; Quintero grounded into a double play (third to second to first) [Ausmus out at second]; 3 R, 3 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Phillies 3. PHILLIES 6TH: SPRINGER REPLACED QUINTERO (PITCHING); Abreu flied to left; Burrell struck out; Howard singled to right; Bell flied to right; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Astros 5, Phillies 3. ASTROS 7TH: Taveras grounded out (shortstop to first); Biggio grounded out (shortstop to first); Scott was called out on strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Phillies 3. PHILLIES 7TH: Lieberthal grounded out (shortstop to first); PEREZ BATTED FOR MADSON; Perez popped to shortstop; GALLO REPLACED SPRINGER (PITCHING); Rollins grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Phillies 3. ASTROS 8TH: URBINA REPLACED PEREZ (PITCHING); Berkman flied to right; Lane flied to left; Lamb popped to third; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 5, Phillies 3. PHILLIES 8TH: MICHAELS BATTED FOR LOFTON; WHEELER REPLACED GALLO (PITCHING); Michaels walked; Utley flied to center; Abreu homered [Michaels scored]; Burrell walked; Howard doubled to right [Burrell to third]; CHAVEZ RAN FOR BURRELL; Bell was walked intentionally; TUCKER BATTED FOR LIEBERTHAL; QUALLS REPLACED LAMB (PITCHING); VIZCAINO REPLACED WHEELER (PLAYING 3B); Tucker forced Chavez (first to catcher) [Howard to third, Bell to second]; VICTORINO BATTED FOR URBINA; Victorino singled to right [Howard scored, Bell out at home (right to catcher), Tucker to second]; 3 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Astros 5, Phillies 6. ASTROS 9TH: MICHAELS STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING LF); CHAVEZ STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING CF); PRATT REPLACED TUCKER (PLAYING C ); WAGNER REPLACED VICTORINO (PITCHING); Everett flied to left; Ausmus lined to right; Vizcaino reached on an error by Bell; BRUNTLETT RAN FOR VIZCAINO; Taveras singled to shortstop [Bruntlett to second]; Biggio homered (unearned) [Bruntlett scored (unearned), Taveras scored (unearned)]; Scott grounded out (shortstop to first); 3 R (0 ER), 2 H, 1 E, 0 LOB. Astros 8, Phillies 6. PHILLIES 9TH: LIDGE REPLACED SCOTT (PITCHING); GIPSON REPLACED QUALLS (PLAYING LF); BRUNTLETT STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 3B); Rollins grounded out (second to first); Michaels struck out (catcher to first); Utley struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Astros 8, Phillies 6. Final Totals R H E LOB Astros 8 9 0 4 Phillies 6 8 1 6