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Scott's walk-off triple lifts Astros over Cubs

Sep 12, 2007 - 5:35 AM By Gene Duffey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Houston Astros outfielder Luke Scott made a minor adjustment in the 11th innning and it helped end the game and knock the Chicago Cubs out of first place in the National League Central.

Scott tripled off Chicago closer Ryan Dempster, scoring pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett from first, to beat the Cubs 5-4 in 11 innings Tuesday night.

The Cubs, losing their fourth straight in Houston this season, fell one game behind Milwaukee, which won 6-1 at Pittsburgh.

"I made an adjustment from my two previous at-bats," said Scott, who had struck out in the sixth and eighth innings, the former with a runner on second and nobody out. "I made a little more emphasis on keeping my top hand strong. I got good extension and got the head of the bat out in front of the ball."

"I made a stupid pitch," Dempster said. "I walked a guy, made a stupid pitch and lost the game. That's it."

The Chicago bullpen had been nearly flawless until Scott's hit. Cubs relievers Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry and Dempster gave up only an infield single and struck out eight from the sixth through the 10th innings.

"They've got a very good bullpen," Scott said. "Carlos Marmol is one of the best in all of baseball. Howry and Dempster are excellent."

Mark Loretta drew a walk from Dempster (2-6) with one out in the 11th and Scott tripled in pinch runner Eric Brunlett with the game-winner.

Brad Lidge (4-2) earned the win with two innings of relief for the Astros, who received six scoreless innings from their bullpen.

"It's important for me to finish that inning," said Lidge, who threw 45 pitches in his two innnings. "It's a longer inning than you would have liked. They were doing a good job of not (swinging at my slider). Those are my guys on base. I wanted to be the one who gets out of the inning."

Chad Qualls also pitched two innings of scoreless relief for Houston and Chris Sampson and Dave Borkowski contributed one each.

"We wouldn't be talking about winning the game without the bullpen," Cooper said. "(Lidge) made some big pitches tonight. (The guys) have played hard, no matter what the score. That's something I appreciate."

The Astros trailed, 4-1, until rookie Hunter Pence tripled in two runs in the bottom of the fifth and Loretta doubled in another in the sixth to tie it.

Mark DeRosa hit a three-run homer in the third inning for the Cubs (73-71), who fell a game behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. The Brewers (74-70) beat Pittsburgh, 6-1, Tuesday night.

It was DeRosa's ninth homer of the season. He entered the game with a lifetime .194 average vs. Houston, with only 20 hits and one homer in 103 previous at-bats.

With the game tied at 1-1, Cliff Floyd opened Chicago's third inning with a walk and moved to third on a single by Aramis Ramirez. DeRosa then hit a 354-foot line drive over the invitingly shallow wall in left for a 4-1 lead.

The Cubs nearly won it in the eighth when Ryan Theriot hit a drive to left with two out and runners on first and second. But Astros left fielder Carlos Lee made a diving catch to end the inning.

"That's a tough one to swallow," said Derrek Lee, who singled and walked twice.

"We had some chances, we left some runners out there. They made some great defensive plays. We just didn't get it done. We're still in it. You've got to turn the page, come back and try to get them tomorrow."

Houston tied the game on Hunter Pence's two-run triple in the fifth and Mark Loretta's RBI double in the sixth.

"We fell behind early and struggled to get things going," Cooper said. "The biggest hit of the night was Hunter Pence's. We were kind of flat for a while."

"I wouldn't say that," Pence said. "Marquis was just pitching a good game. Fortunately, I found a gap."

Chicago starter Jason Marquis went five-plus innings and was pulled after Lee opened the sixth with a single and Loretta followed with a double to tie the game. Marquis allowed eight hits and three earned runs, striking out one and walking none.

Righthander Brandon Backe made his second start for the Astros since undergoing elbow surgery in September 2006. He lasted five innings, giving up four runs and six hits while striking out three and walking four. He had a poor balls-to-strikes ratio of 44-53.

"I was obviously battling myself, trying to find the strike zone," Backe said. "I had way too many walks. I could not establish the fastball. I'm not using the surgery as an excuse. I had six rehab starts (in the minors). That should be enough."

Houston's Craig Biggio doubled in the first inning to move into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list with 666, one ahead of George Brett.

Pence's two-run triple in the fifth set an Astros' rookie record with 51 extra-base hits in a season, surpassing Luis Gonzalez and Lance Berkman.

The Astros scored their first run in the second on Scott's single, a groundout, a wild pitch and a passed ball.