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Pence drives in game-winner as Astros down Brewers

Sep 20, 2007 - 5:38 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros may be out of the race in the National League Central Division, but they certainly will have a say in who wins.

Hunter Pence singled in the winning run an inning after slamming into the right field wall, giving the Astros a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in 10 innings on Wednesday.

Carlos Lee homered and drove in two for Houston, which avoided a sweep of the three-game series.

Pence said he was just trying to stay focused during his game-winning at-bat against Brewers righthander Matt Wise (3-2).

"He's got a good changeup and some tough pitches," Pence said. "I just tried to get over the plate and make sure anything he threw there, I was going to hit.

"I just wanted to make sure I didn't chase anything in the dirt. I got a ball over the plate, and when he threw it there, I just tried to get it out to the outfield."

The loss dropped the Brewers (78-73) one game behind the Chicago Cubs (80-73) in the NL Central with just 11 days remaining in the regular season. The Cubs slipped past the Cincinnati Reds, 3-2, on Wednesday.

Milwaukee entered the ninth trailing, 4-2, but tied the contest against embattled Houston closer Brad Lidge. J.J. Hardy belted a one-out double to right-center field to get the rally started before Rickie Weeks lined a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall to tie the game at 4-4.

It was the seventh blown save this season for Lidge.

"That was exactly where I wanted it - I wouldn't change a thing about it," Lidge said of the home-run pitch. "I went back and watched the replay and it was exactly what (catcher Brad) Ausmus said - a 98 mile-per-hour fastball and he hit a home run on it.

"I tell you what, for whatever reason, against the Brewers this year, it's been tough. For whatever reason, I've been snake-bit against them."

Weeks took a simple approach to his at-bat.

"I hit the ball pretty hard, and I felt it was going out when I hit it," Weeks said. "I figured he'd try to start me with a slider. You just try to get ahead in the count and hope he comes with a fastball. I got a fastball, and I just tried to hit it hard.

"Every game is important to us, period. We pitched well tonight, the bullpen did a good job. The Astros just put some good swings on the ball."

Pence, playing right field, seemed to forget where the wall was and ran into it at full speed in pursuit of Weeks' homer, slamming to the ground and staying down for several seconds before being attended to by team trainers.

The rookie sensation elected to stay in the game and delivered the game-winning hit an inning later.

"It just kind of knocked the wind out of me, a little whiplash, kind of a car wreck," Pence said of the collison. "I couldn't move there for a second. Once I caught my breath, I was fine.

"I feel it mainly in my neck and my spine. I was kind of shocked at first. I needed to catch my breath and I had to get back up."

Pence, no doubt, felt better after the game than Wise.

"Walking (Orlando Palmeiro to lead off the 10th) makes me want to throw up," Wise said. "That's inexcusable. That's not an effective way to lead off an inning. My second half has been something to forget.

"Mentally, every day is a battle. The results are killing me, and it's just frustrating. I haven't been able to string together some zeros. I've just got in some bad habits, mechanically."

Prince Fielder hit his NL-leading 47th home run to lead off the fourth inning and give Milwaukee an early 1-0 lead. The blast also extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games.

Corey Hart followed with a double to left-center field and eventually scored on Johnny Estrada's sacrifice fly to center to open up a 2-0 advantage.

That was all Milwaukee would manage against Astros starter Juan Gutierrez, who surrendered five hits and two runs in six innings while walking two and striking out five.

Lee belted his 30th home run with two outs in the fourth off Brewers starter Dave Bush to pull Houston within 2-1.

Bush lasted six frames, allowing four hits and one run while striking out three without a walk. Bush also helped his cause by singling twice.

The 27-year-old righthander entered the game with a 4-1 career record and 3.75 ERA against the Astros. All of his wins vs. Houston had come in Milwaukee.

"Anytime you lose a game, it's tough to watch," Bush said. "There's a lot more at stake now, so it's even tougher."

The Brewers have a chance to pick up one-half game Thursday when they play at Atlanta. The Cubs are idle.

"We've played two less games (than the Cubs), so we've got to win a significant number of games down the stretch," Bush said. "Every game's important. Obviously, we'd like to win them all."

The Astros tied the game in the seventh, when Ty Wigginton managed a two-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch before coming home on a single by pinch hitter Mark Loretta off Brewers reliever Brian Shouse.

Houston took the lead in the eighth as Lee plated Josh Anderson with a single and Pence drove in Lance Berkman with a sacrifice fly.