Post by Bornthrilla on Oct 3, 2004 19:25:51 GMT -5
Bring on Atlanta: Astros advance
Houston to play Braves on Wednesday to open NLDS
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- It's probably a good thing that Brandon Backe had only an hour or so to prepare for what was undoubtedly the biggest start of his career Sunday. After all, if he was given an entire night to think about it, his stomach may have been in worse shape than Roger Clemens'.
Instead of crumbling under the pressure of knowing the entire season was riding on his shoulders, Backe pitched the game of his life, and it was enough to lead the Houston Astros to a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies and clinch the National League Wild Card before 43,082 fans who packed Minute Maid Park to mark the 24th sellout of the season.
Backe had just emerged from the the training room around 11 CT the morning of Sunday's game when pitching coach Jim Hickey walked over to his locker to tell him he was starting the game. Clemens, who was slated to pitch on three days' rest, had come down with a stomach virus during the night and was deemed unavailable, thus thrusting Backe into the sudden spotlight.
The right-hander answered the call like a veteran. He struck out six and held the Rockies to five hits and two walks. The two runs charged to his record didn't occur until after he left the game in the sixth.
Other than the surprising news that Clemens was ill, Sunday's game went pretty much as planned. The starter lasted five and a full effort by the bullpen finished the job. Even if Clemens had pitched, manager Phil Garner likely would have conducted the game the same way.
As usual, a myriad of relievers -- six, this time -- absorbed four innings. And Brad Lidge was typically the icing on the cake, entering the game in the eighth with a runner on first and two out. He fanned Garrett Atkins on a called third strike, establishing a new single-season National League record for relievers with his 154th strikeout.
Lidge struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 29th save.
The running game was clearly on for the Astros from pitch one. They recorded three stolen bases in a span of two innings, and not so coincidentally, scored five runs during that stretch.
Jose Vizcaino, who singled in the second to advance Morgan Ensberg to third, stole second, putting two runners in scoring position for Backe, whose bloop single to shallow right plated both runners to give the Astros a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Jeff Bagwell reached on an error by second baseman Aaron Miles, stole second and scored on Lance Berkman's double. Berkman stole third and scored on Jeff Kent's base hit to left, and after Kent stole second and advanced to third on catcher J.D. Closser's throwing error, Kent scored on Vizcaino's base hit.
The Astros ended their regular season with a club-record 18 consecutive home wins. Their last loss occurred Aug. 22, when they dropped an 11-6 decision to the Cubs.
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs
Houston to play Braves on Wednesday to open NLDS
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
HOUSTON -- It's probably a good thing that Brandon Backe had only an hour or so to prepare for what was undoubtedly the biggest start of his career Sunday. After all, if he was given an entire night to think about it, his stomach may have been in worse shape than Roger Clemens'.
Instead of crumbling under the pressure of knowing the entire season was riding on his shoulders, Backe pitched the game of his life, and it was enough to lead the Houston Astros to a 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies and clinch the National League Wild Card before 43,082 fans who packed Minute Maid Park to mark the 24th sellout of the season.
Backe had just emerged from the the training room around 11 CT the morning of Sunday's game when pitching coach Jim Hickey walked over to his locker to tell him he was starting the game. Clemens, who was slated to pitch on three days' rest, had come down with a stomach virus during the night and was deemed unavailable, thus thrusting Backe into the sudden spotlight.
The right-hander answered the call like a veteran. He struck out six and held the Rockies to five hits and two walks. The two runs charged to his record didn't occur until after he left the game in the sixth.
Other than the surprising news that Clemens was ill, Sunday's game went pretty much as planned. The starter lasted five and a full effort by the bullpen finished the job. Even if Clemens had pitched, manager Phil Garner likely would have conducted the game the same way.
As usual, a myriad of relievers -- six, this time -- absorbed four innings. And Brad Lidge was typically the icing on the cake, entering the game in the eighth with a runner on first and two out. He fanned Garrett Atkins on a called third strike, establishing a new single-season National League record for relievers with his 154th strikeout.
Lidge struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 29th save.
The running game was clearly on for the Astros from pitch one. They recorded three stolen bases in a span of two innings, and not so coincidentally, scored five runs during that stretch.
Jose Vizcaino, who singled in the second to advance Morgan Ensberg to third, stole second, putting two runners in scoring position for Backe, whose bloop single to shallow right plated both runners to give the Astros a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Jeff Bagwell reached on an error by second baseman Aaron Miles, stole second and scored on Lance Berkman's double. Berkman stole third and scored on Jeff Kent's base hit to left, and after Kent stole second and advanced to third on catcher J.D. Closser's throwing error, Kent scored on Vizcaino's base hit.
The Astros ended their regular season with a club-record 18 consecutive home wins. Their last loss occurred Aug. 22, when they dropped an 11-6 decision to the Cubs.
Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs
