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Moehler strong, Lee injured in Astros win over Reds

Aug 10, 2008 - 3:49 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Brian Moehler's latest strong effort for the Houston Astros was overshadowed by an injury to the red-hot Carlos Lee.

In winning his third straight start, Moehler threw seven strong innings and Miguel Tejada homered as the Houston Astros posted a costly 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

Moehler (8-7) allowed one run and five hits with three strikeouts. The righthander did not walk a batter en route to winning his fourth straight decision.

Lance Berkman had an RBI single for Houston, which has won 11 of its last 15 games. However, the Astros will have to try and stay hot without Lee, who is expected to miss six to eight weeks after suffering a broken left pinkie when he was hit by Bronson Arroyo in the third inning.

"It's unfortunate," Moehler said. "He's obviously the biggest bat we have in our lineup, RBI-wise. It hurts, no matter who you call up or who you get, no offense to those guys. It's just you can't replace that guy, it's definitely a blow to our lineup."

Lee will be placed on the disabled list Sunday and is scheduled to undergo surgery in Houston on Monday.

It is a huge loss for the Astros. Lee had been on fire since June 20, leading the majors with a .390 batting average and 47 RBI while ranking fifth with 13 home runs during that span.

"(Lee has) just been an awesome player, getting big hits after big hits, he basically kind of carried us for about a month and a half," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "Home runs, base hits, he played terrific defensively. It's a big hole to fill but we can fill it."

Houston took a 1-0 lead in the first. Kaz Matsui led off the frame with a walk, Tejada singled and Berkman followed with a base hit.

It remained that way until Moehler chipped in with his bat. A career .045 hitter (6-for-133), Moehler led off the fifth with a double to center and later scored on a wild pitch.

"Outstanding performance by Brian Moehler," Cooper said. "He couldn't get much better than that, not just only pitching seven solid innings but getting a base hit and scoring a big run for us as well."

Tejada's 12th home run of the season in the seventh provided some breathing room against the Reds, who broke through against Moehler in the bottom half. Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips each singled with one out before Edwin Encarnacion delivered an infield hit to plate Bruce.

"We're feeling good now," Tejada said. "We have to give the credit to the pitching. They're pitching great games and if they go past the sixth inning we have a chance."

Geoff Geary and Tim Byrdak combined for a hitless eighth and Jose Valverde threw a perfect ninth for his 28th save in 34 chances.

Arroyo (10-9) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings.

"How much more can you say when you're losing like this," said Reds manager Dusty Baker, whose team has dropped a season-high five straight. "You can only come up with so many things after a while."