| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
MIAMI (AP) -- The last-place Houston Astros did not feel like
celebrating much after a rare victory.
The loss of Craig Biggio for the remainder of the season
overshadowed Scott Elarton's pitching in Houston's 4-3 victory over the
Florida Marlins on Tuesday night.
| |  | |
| Elarton |
"Winning isn't much fun on a night like this," Houston manager
Larry Dierker said. "You always like to win, but this really takes
away from it. Maybe we can salvage something from the season, maybe
we can pass somebody, but none of that really matters."
Biggio tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral
ligaments in his left knee during a collision with Florida's
Preston Wilson in the seventh inning.
"I feel bad for the guy, especially because I've been there,"
said teammate Moises Alou, who missed all of last season with
injuries. "But you still can't really say anything that's going to
make him feel better. We just all wish him well. We can only hope
that he'll be back next year at 100 percent."
With Wilson on first base, Mike Lowell hit a grounder to third.
On Chris Truby's throw to second base, Wilson slid into Biggio, who
was covering the base and landed hard.
Biggio, who will have an MRI on his knee Friday, will go on the
disabled list for the first time in his 13-year career.
Houston, 40-66 and last in the NL Central, saw their season go
from bad to worse with Biggio's injury.
"It's been that kind of year for us," GM Gerry Hunsicker said.
"It seems like there has been one thing after another. It has been
a year to forget, and this just adds to it."
Elarton (11-4) allowed three runs, five hits, struck out seven
and walked two in 8 1/3 innings to win his seventh game in eight
starts, and his eighth since June 5.
"Even though I didn't have my best stuff, I was able to bear
down on each hitter and each situation and throw the right pitch,"
Elarton said. "That's the one thing I've been able to do lately."
Florida's Chuck Smith (1-4) took a no-hitter into the sixth
inning before giving up four unearned runs, including a two-run
single by Alou.
"I wasn't conscious of it," Smith said of his no-hit bid. "I
was trying to run off as many innings as I could. I just got in a
grind. I was trying to do too much with my pitches. Some days you
have good stuff and lose, and some days you win with bad stuff."
Smith started the sixth by striking out Truby before Raul Chavez
broke up the no-hitter by lining a single to right. Smith struck
out Elarton for the second out.
Julio Lugo then walked and Biggio extended the inning by hitting
a chopper in front of the plate that drew a wild throw from catcher
Ramon Castro that hit Biggio in the back.
With the bases loaded, Smith walked Jeff Bagwell and Lance
Berkman to make it 2-0. Alou's single drove in Biggio and Bagwell
to give the Astros a 4-0 lead.
Smith was going for his second win in as many starts after going
winless in his first seven outings.
Smith retired the first nine batters, three by strikeout, and 13
of the first 14. He allowed a one-out walk to Alou in the fifth,
but got out of the inning when Richard Hidalgo hit into a double
play.
Elarton lost his shutout in the ninth. After Mark Smith walked
and Wilson singled in the ninth, Derrek Lee hit a two-run triple
off Elarton with one out to make it 4-2. Dave Berg drove in another
run with a sacrifice fly off Octavio Dotel, who got two outs for
his fourth save in as many opportunities.
Game notes
The Astros will start Brian Powell on Thursday against the
Marlins in place of Shane Reynolds, who is recovering from
tightness in his lower back. Powell will be called up from
Triple-A. ... The Astros, the NL Central winners last year, didn't
win three in a row this year until their 98th game. ... After their
current road trip, the Astros will return home and play 16 of 19
games at Enron Field. ... The Marlins have had four rain delays
this year, plus one rainout. Last year, the team had eight rain
delays and two rainouts by Aug. 1. ... Newly-acquired OF Henry
Rodriguez is expected to join the team before Wednesday's game.
| |
ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
Florida Clubhouse
Astros' Biggio lost for season after tearing knee ligaments
RECAPS
Oakland 3
Toronto 1
NY Yankees 5
Kansas City 4
Tampa Bay 6
Cleveland 5
Baltimore 10
Minnesota 0
Chi. White Sox 4
Texas 3
Detroit 6
Anaheim 3
Seattle 5
Boston 4
Colorado 2
Chicago Cubs 1
Pittsburgh 6
Los Angeles 0
Los Angeles 5
Pittsburgh 3
(2nd game)
Houston 4
Florida 3
Montreal 4
St. Louis 0
NY Mets 3
Cincinnati 2
San Francisco 13
Milwaukee 8
Atlanta 4
Arizona 2
San Diego 10
Philadelphia 9
|
