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Albers silences Dodgers bats in Astros win

Aug 15, 2007 - 6:18 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Just about every opposing pitcher is making the the Los Angeles Dodgers look silly.

Matt Albers tossed six-plus strong innings and the Houston Astros used a six-run sixth inning to snap a tie en route to downing the struggling Dodgers, 7-4, on Tuesday.

Even though Los Angeles pushed three or more runs across the plate for just the second time in nine games, the anemic offense has batted just a major league-low .224 (98-for-437) in August, the worst mark in the majors.

As a result, Los Angeles has lost 13 of its last 16 games after being tied for first in the National League West Division with the Arizona Diamondbacks back on July 31.

"We are still confident that we can get this turned around, but it's still disappointing," Dodgers manager Grady Little said.

With the score tied, 1-1, in the sixth, the Astros broke through against Dodgers starter Brett Tomko (2-10), when Mark Loretta singled to begin a stretch of four Houston hitters to reach base. Lance Berkman walked and moved to third on a single from Carlos Lee before Luke Scott plated the go-ahead run with an RBI single.

"Three hits and a walk came back to get me," Tomko said. "They got good at-bats against me in that inning and they put runs on the board. I felt like that was the best I've thrown the ball in a while."

Joe Beimel relieved Tomko and could not stop the bleeding as Mike Lamb's sacrifice fly scored Berkman for a 3-1 advantage. Consecutive RBI singles from Jason Lane and Eric Munson doubled the lead to 5-1.

"They overtook our bullpen in the sixth inning and, by then, it was too much for us to come back from," Little said.

Rudy Seanez relieved Beimel one batter later and surrendered Chris Burke's two-run single to increase the bulge to 7-1 before Loretta struck out to end the inning.

"Right now we are getting hits when they count," Burke said. "It's always good to put up big numbers in one inning because it always seems like it takes the other team out of the game."

Albers (3-5) held the Dodgers in check for the most part after allowing Matt Kemp's first-inning solo shot, yielding three runs and seven hits over 6 2/3 innings. However, Mark McLemore allowed three straight Dodgers hitters to open the ninth, bringing on closer Brad Lidge, who stranded the two baserunners he inherited for his ninth save in 14 tries.

"I felt good all game," Albers said. "I just wanted to go out and be aggressive and make them go after my pitches and get quick outs."

Tomko surrendered five runs and six hits with four walks and five strikeouts over five frames for the Dodgers, who lost their fourth consecutive contest and extended a long winless streak for their starting pitching, which has not recorded a victory since Brad Penny's decision on July 26. Los Angeles' recent play has been so bad that it has dropped six straight games at home and 15 of their last 20.

"This just has to come to an end," Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre said. "It's just really frustrating for us because it seems like no matter how hard we play, we are on the losing end."