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Biggio, Pence, Berkman help Astros hold off Rangers

Jun 25, 2007 - 5:55 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Craig Biggio hit a go-ahead double and the Houston Astros scored three times in the 10th inning to post a 12-9 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

Biggio, who is now four hits shy of 3,000 for his career, doubled to left field to score Morgan Ensberg and help the Astros avoid a sweep and snap a three-game losing streak.

Ensberg led off the 10th with a single against C.J. Wilson (0-1) off the third base bag and was sacrificed to second by Eric Bruntlett.

Biggio doubled to left, bringing in the go-ahead run. Rookie Hunter Pence singled Biggio to third and the future Hall of Famer scored on a single by Lance Berkman. Carlos Lee then walked and Pence scored on a groundout by Mark Loretta.

"It was a pretty special hit," Biggio said.

"It was a big run for us at the time. To come back like that shows the team's character. We had a lot of heroes. It was a pretty emotional day. It was nice to come back and win that one. It makes it all better. The fans cheering for you, it's great. I love Texas, the fans have been great to me, to get to win this way was exciting."

Meanwhile Wilson took all the blame for the loss.

"I had two strikes on every guy, and I didn't strike any of them out," Wilson said. "And this year, I'd been doing that. It's not that big of a deal. I mean, I blew it, it's my fault."

Dan Wheeler (1-4) recorded the win despite allowing home runs to Marlon Byrd and Ian Kinsler in the ninth inning. Chad Qualls logged the 10th for his second save.

"I made some bad pitches and major league hitters make you pay for that," Wheeler said.

Prior to Wheeler blowing his third save, Houston scored twice in the top of the ninth to take a 9-7 lead. Loretta hit a 3-2 pitch into center field against Eric Gagne, scoring Pence and Berkman, who scored when center fielder Kenny Lofton misplayed his single.

"That's the ultimate of winning ugly," Houston manager Phil Garner said. "The good thing is our offense did a super job and pulled it out for us."

Pence, a native of Arlington, had a season high-tying four hits, including his eighth home run of the season, and also scored four times.

"It's always fun when you win, especially at the ballpark where I watched so many games as a kid," Pence said. "I remember watching so many games from the stands here."

Houston seemed to have the game in control, leading 7-3 after seven frames, but Texas erased a four-run deficit in the eighth as Sammy Sosa hit a two-run single off Rick White and Frank Catalanotto smacked a two-run homer off Wheeler.

The Rangers dug themselves a hole in the fourth as the Astros broke open a 4-2 game with three runs despite the lack of a single hit.

Texas starter Robinson Tejeda walked in a run and with two outs, Pence hit a routine grounder to third base that should have ended the inning, but Ramon Vazquez's throw to second sailed into right field, allowing Scott and Bruntlett to score, and chasing Tejeda.

"Obviously, we would have loved to have won that game, but you have give the Astros credit," said Michael Young, who went 0-for-5.

"They came in and had some great at-bats against our bullpen, which has done a great job all season long. We scored some runs late with some great at-bats, we just didn't finish up with the win. Effort-wise, I think we're all pretty happy right now."