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Astros' offense still a postseason flop
Updated: Wednesday October 10, 2001 6:09 PM
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Killer Bs still aren't delivering any playoff sting for the Houston Astros. The Bs -- Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Lance Berkman -- went a combined 2-for-10 and the Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves 1-0 Wednesday, dropping into an 0-2 deficit in their first round series. "We just didn't find a way to win and the Braves always seem to find a way to win," said Bagwell, who went 2-for-2. "That said, our team will go over there and battle." The Astros are in a familiar playoff position, down and almost out. They haven't done well in those situations. They've never won an elimination game and have an 0-6 playoff series record. Bagwell and Biggio have slumped throughout the Astros' 1997, 1998 and 1999 playoff ventures. Berkman, making his first postseason appearance, has joined the fizzle. After two games against the Braves, Bagwell is 3-for-5 but Biggio and Berkman both are 1-for-8. The longer it goes, the harder the Astros try to keep a positive outlook. "There are a lot of teams who haven't been to the playoffs in four years, you have to look at it like that," Bagwell said. "We were good enough to get here. I'm a lot happier to be a player who had the opportunity to play. "I could have played my whole career and never gone to the playoffs," he said. Biggio went 0-for-4 Wednesday. He almost got the game started with a leadoff hit, but shortstop Rey Sanchez leaped and grabbed his line drive. "We couldn't get a break," Biggio said. "Somewhere along the line, you expect to get a break. We haven't gotten any breaks yet. I thought I had a leadoff double and the guy leaps up and grabs it. "Those are things that don't show up in the box score." What did show up in the box score were a division series-record seven double plays. Three were turned against the Astros and Berkman hit into two of those. "That was good playoff baseball right there," Berkman said. "It was good pitching and we were looking for just a slight break. We didn't get it. No success is the norm against (Tom) Glavine and (Greg) Maddux." The Astros now must go to Atlanta and win on Friday and Saturday to stay in the series. A fifth game would return to Houston on Sunday. The Astros pin their hopes on pitchers Shane Reynolds, Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller. It might be better for the Astros going on the road where they had the best record in the NL in the regular season. Also, the Braves are the only team to make the playoffs with a losing record (40-41). "I don't feel good going on the road 0-2," manager Larry Dierker said. "I wouldn't feel good staying here being 0-2. It's difficult to get down this far to a good team in a five-game series. "We have been a better road team. If we are able to win two games there, then I feel like we're due to win one here (Enron Field)." Bagwell hopes so. "Who knows? We could be having a nice conversation back here on Sunday," he said.
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