|
HOUSTON(AP)
Michael Bourn
was the
Houston Astros
' catalyst from his first at-bat against Florida on Wednesday night.
The leadoff man had three hits, two stolen bases and two runs scored in the Astros' 6-3 win over the Marlins. Bourn also made
a dazzling catch in center field, helping the Astros win for the third time in nine games.
''I'm proud of all of it,'' said Bourn, who has 46 steals this season. ''I went out there and tried to play my game and I
was able to do that. I had an all-around good day.''
The Marlins reached 10 hits for the 15th straight game, matching the longest streak since the St. Louis Browns had one that
long in 1937, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
But Florida committed three errors and stranded 16 runners, both season highs.
''We got a lot of hits,'' Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ''We just couldn't touch that home plate.''
Humberto Quintero
hit a solo homer, and
Lance Berkman
,
Jeff Keppinger
and
Miguel Tejada
drove in runs for the Astros.
Jose Valverde
worked around a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances.
The Marlins took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against
Yorman Bazardo
.
Chris Coghlan
singled, went to second when
Hanley Ramirez
walked and scored on
Jorge Cantu
's single.
Dan Uggla
drove in Ramirez with a single up the middle. Ramirez has scored a run in eight straight games, two shy of the franchise record.
Bourn led off the Houston first with a bunt single off
Sean West
(4-5). He stole second on West's first pitch to Keppinger and took third when catcher
John Baker
's errant throw skipped into center field.
''I felt like I got a good read on that lefty,'' Bourn said. ''Once I saw him lift his leg up, I just took off. I knew I had
a pretty good jump and I made it.''
Bourn scored when Keppinger's sharp grounder rolled between Cantu's legs at third for an error.
Keppinger scored on Berkman's double. Tejada then snapped out of an 0-for-19 drought with an RBI double to the left-field
corner.
Quintero made it 4-2 in the fourth when he homered to left center, his second of the season.
Tim Byrdak
relieved Bazardo in the fifth and walked
Jeremy Hermida
to load the bases with two outs.
Gaby Sanchez
pinch-hit for West,
Sammy Gervacio
(1-0) relieved and struck out Sanchez.
''That was huge for us,'' Houston manager
Cecil Cooper
said. ''That kept things on our side a little bit.''
Bourn led off the fifth with a single off
Brian Sanches
. He stole second and raced to third on another bad throw by Baker, Florida's third error.
The Astros improved to 6-2 this season in games in which Bourn steals more than one base.
''
Michael Bourn
was huge, not only on the defensive side, but on the offensive side,'' Cooper said. ''He had some great at-bats.''
Jeff Fulchino
started the sixth for Houston and Coghlan led off with a triple to the right-field corner.
Ross Gload
doubled to left to score Coghlan. Bourn then made a nice running catch against the bullpen fence in left center to rob Cantu
of an extra-base hit.
''I didn't think I could've dived because it was too close to the fence,'' Bourn said. ''I was able to get a good angle on
it and I was able to get there.''
Pinch-hitter
Emilio Bonifacio
beat out a bunt with two outs in the seventh for Florida's 10th hit. The Marlins are the fifth team in history to get at least
10 hits for 15 consecutive games, according to Elias. The record is 18 straight games, set by the Browns in 1922 and matched
by the
Cleveland Indians
in 1925.
Jason Michaels
led off the Houston seventh with a double off
Renyel Pinto
. Bourn tripled off the left-field scoreboard, then scored on Keppinger's broken-bat single for a 6-3 lead.
Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a two-out single off
LaTroy Hawkins
in the eighth.
NOTES: Marlins 1B
Nick Johnson
was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game to nurse a sore hamstring. ... The Astros announced that LHP
Mike Hampton
has a partially torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder. Hampton (7-10, 5.30 ERA) went on the 15-day DL on Tuesday and
an MRI taken on Wednesday revealed the extent of the injury.
|