Sat Jun 28 23:05:29 2008

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Astros beat Sox in slugfest

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Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Lance Berkman's two-run double highlighted a three-run eighth inning as Houston outslugged Boston, 11-10, in the second of a three-game interleague set at Minute Maid Park.

Berkman knocked in three as did Carlos Lee for the Astros, who have won four of six. Mark Loretta added a three-run home run and Ty Wigginton a solo shot.

Doug Brocail (3-3) evened his record by recording the last two outs in the eighth inning. Jose Valverde allowed a run, but struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth to record his 20th save.

Mike Lowell went 4-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored and three RBI for the Red Sox, whose three-game win streak ended. Kevin Youkilis picked up two hits and drove in three runs, while Manny Ramirez added two RBI and scored two runs in the loss.

Manny Delcarmen (0-2) was saddled with the loss and a blown save, charged with three runs and three hits in one inning of relief.

Wigginton greeted Delcarmen in the eighth with an opposite field homer which knotted the game 9-9. Pinch-hitter Darin Erstad singled then moved to second on a sacrifice from Brad Ausmus. Michael Bourn went down on strikes but Hunter Pence walked, and Berkman laced a two-run double down the left-field line to give the Astros an 11-9 edge.

In the ninth, Valverde allowed a one-out homer to Lowell which cut the Sox deficit to one, but got Youkilis and Jason Varitek swinging to lock up the game.

A two-run double to left-center by Ramirez put the Sox ahead in the third. Dustin Pedroia singled with two down and J.D. Drew followed with a walk to set up the hit. Lowell chased home Ramirez with another two-bagger and Youkilis made it 4-0 with a line single to center.

The Astros struck back with a five-spot in the home half. Lester began the frame by drilling Backe, then Bourn bunted for a base hit. Pence's groundout moved both runners over and Lee's single two batters later halved Houston's deficit.

Miguel Tejada bounced a ball off Lester's leg for a single which put two men on for Loretta, who cranked a pitch into the left-field seats to put the home team ahead by a run.

Lee's one-out solo shot to left gave Houston a 6-4 advantage, then Boston rallied to take the lead with a big sixth.

Julio Lugo worked a leadoff walk then scored when Pence misjudged Jacoby Ellsbury's line drive into an RBI triple. Backe exited for Geoff Geary, who allowed a game-tying double to Pedroia. Drew dropped a short single to center then Ramirez walked which loaded the bases.

Lowell lifted a sacrifice fly which put the Sox ahead 7-6, and Youkilis chased home two with a double to left-center but was thrown out trying to reach third.

Houston slashed its deficit to 9-8 in the home half against Craig Hansen, on Berkman's RBI single and a passed ball by Varitek. Hansen recovered to retire the next three batters to keep it a one-run game.

Game Notes

It was the Astros' first-ever win over the Red Sox in five tries in interleague play. Boston swept a three-game series in 2003 at Fenway and also won Friday...Houston improved to 6-11 in interleague action in 2008, 3-5 at home, while Boston fell to 11-6, 4-3 on the road...The last time Houston allowed nine or more runs and won came on August 2, 2007 in a 12-10 win over Atlanta...Delcarmen had retired the last 14 batters he faced before Wigginton's homer...Astros starter Brandon Backe yielded nine hits and six runs over 5 1/3 innings, while Sox hurler Jon Lester let up nine hits and six runs over five frames.