Nationals 8 - 3 Astros
Final
  for this game

Streaking Astros aim for sixth straight win

May 8, 2008 - 2:41 PM Washington (14-20) at Houston (18-16) 8:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - The surprising Houston Astros will be looking for their sixth straight win Thursday when they host the Washington Nationals in the finale of a three-game series.

The Astros are riding high of late, winning 12 of their last 16 to pull two games over .500 and into third place in the National League Central. Their most recent winning streak coincided with Lance Berkman's latest hot streak at the plate. The slugging first baseman is 13-for-17 over the last four games with seven RBI.

His homer in the fourth inning Wednesday gave him 11 on the season and tied a franchise record with a hit in his eighth consecutive plate appearance.

Berkman was on base again in the ninth inning when Carlos Lee sealed Houston's fifth straight win with a single to center that scored Kaz Matsui with the winning run in the 4-3 victory.

Washington will try to avoid the sweep with lefthander John Lannan (2-3, 3.74 ERA). The 23-year-old is coming off his worst start of the season Friday, allowing six runs - five earned - and six hits with two walks in three innings to suffer a loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Houston will counter with righthander Brandon Backe (2-3, 4.42). The oft-injured hurler gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking five while striking out three to pick up a win during Saturday's 6-2 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.








  • NL
    FINAL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    WASHINGTON 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 1 8 12 0
    HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 10 1 (FINAL)

    BATTERIES: WAS - JOHN LANNAN, SAUL RIVERA (7TH), LUIS AYALA (8TH), JON RAUCH
    (9TH) AND WIL NIEVES
    HOU - BRANDON BACKE, TIM BYRDAK (7TH), OSCAR VILLARREAL
    (8TH), WESLEY WRIGHT

    May 8 11:06 PM


  • NL
    AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
    NICK JOHNSON HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING CRISTIAN GUZMAN.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 8
    HOUSTON 3 TOP, 9TH
    DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: A KEARNS (.218, 1-FOR-3, BB, 2 RBI)

    Nationals 8, Astros 3  Top 9, 0 OutsMay 8 11:01 PM


  • NL
    AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
    FIELDER'S CHOICE BY TY WIGGINTON SCORED LANCE BERKMAN.
    SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, T WIGGINTON ON FIRST, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 7
    HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM, 8TH
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J TOWLES (.164, 0-FOR-3)

    Nationals 7, Astros 3  Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 8 10:50 PM


  • NL
    AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY CARLOS LEE SCORED MIGUEL TEJADA.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C LEE ON FIRST, L BERKMAN ON SECOND, 0 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 7
    HOUSTON 2 BOTTOM, 8TH
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.258, 1-FOR-3, RBI)

    Nationals 7, Astros 2  Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 8 10:45 PM


  • NL
    AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
    TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ROB MACKOWIAK (1) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
    THE 8TH OFF OSCAR VILLARREAL SCORED AUSTIN KEARNS.
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 7, HOUSTON 1
    DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: W NIEVES (.333, 0-FOR-3)

    Nationals 7, Astros 1  Top 8, 0 OutsMay 8 10:34 PM


  • NL
    AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
    WILD PITCH BY OSCAR VILLARREAL ALLOWED RYAN ZIMMERMAN TO
    SCORE.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A KEARNS ON FIRST, 1 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 5
    HOUSTON 1 TOP, 8TH
    DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R BELLIARD (.200, 0-FOR-3)

    Nationals 5, Astros 1  Top 8, 0 OutsMay 8 10:21 PM


  • NL
    AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY AUSTIN KEARNS SCORED CRISTIAN GUZMAN AND RYAN
    ZIMMERMAN.
    SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A KEARNS ON FIRST, N JOHNSON ON SECOND, 0 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 4
    HOUSTON 1 TOP, 6TH
    DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: R BELLIARD (.203, 0-FOR-2)

    Nationals 4, Astros 1  Top 6, 0 OutsMay 8 9:43 PM
  • 5
    roots
    DDrake Added 5 roots

    Nationals 2, Astros 1  Top 6, 0 OutsMay 8 9:38 PM


  • NL
    AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY HUNTER PENCE SCORED MIGUEL TEJADA.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, H PENCE ON FIRST, L BERKMAN ON SECOND, 1 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 2
    HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 4TH
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.256, 1-FOR-1)

    Nationals 2, Astros 1  Bot 4, 0 OutsMay 8 9:13 PM


  • NL
    AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY WILLIE HARRIS (1) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
    THE 3RD OFF BRANDON BACKE.
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 2, HOUSTON 0
    DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: C GUZMAN (.301, 0-FOR-1)

    Nationals 2, Astros 0  Top 3, 0 OutsMay 8 8:45 PM


  • NL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    WASHINGTON 1 1 1 0
    HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

    CURRENT PITCHERS: WAS - JOHN LANNAN
    HOU - BRANDON BACKE

    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M BOURN (.195, 3 HR, 5 RBI)
    K MATSUI (.275, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
    M TEJADA (.331, 5 HR, 25 RBI)

    Nationals 1, Astros 0  Bot 1, 0 OutsMay 8 8:13 PM

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