Atlanta Braves (71-68) at Houston Astros (68-71), 8:05 p.m.
Sports Network | September 10, 2009
(Sports Network) - Derek Lowe tries to resuscitate Atlanta's fleeting playoff hopes this evening, when the Braves play the rubber match of their three-game series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Lowe lost for the second time in his last three decisions Friday against Cincinnati, as the Reds reached him for three runs and seven hits in seven innings. That dropped Lowe to 13-9 to go along with a 4.36 earned run average on the year.
The 36-year-old right-hander defeated the Astros the last time he faced them and is 3-3 lifetime against them with a 3.10 ERA in eight starts.
Atlanta's postseason hopes may have been dealt a death knell on Wednesday, when Miguel Tejada's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth gave Houston a 2-1 victory.
Down a run, Houston scored twice in the home half of the ninth off Rafael Soriano (1-5). After Michael Bourn went down swinging, Kaz Matsui singled, Lance Berkman doubled, and Carlos Lee was intentionally walked to load the bases. Tejada then stepped to the plate and laced the game-winning base hit up the middle.
"With the bases loaded and less than two outs, I am definitely going to try to hit the ball up the middle," Tejada said.
Wandy Rodriguez gave up just one run on three hits with six strikeouts in seven innings of work to take a no-decision for the Astros, who have won five of their last six games. Jose Valverde (4-2) tossed a scoreless ninth to take the win.
The Braves wasted another spectacular performance from rookie Tommy Hanson, who pitched a career-high eight scoreless frames and allowed five hits while striking out seven to take a no-decision
"That last ball is a perfect double play ball if it's near anybody," Braves manager Bobby Cox said of Tejada's game-winning hit. It just went right over the mound."
Atlanta has now dropped six of seven and is nine games back of the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East and 8 1/2 games behind Colorado for the Wild Card lead.
Hoping to put the Braves further away tonight will be righty Roy Oswalt, who is 8-5 with a 3.77 ERA. Oswalt did not get a decision on Saturday against Philadelphia, as the Phillies reached him for a pair of runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings of his team's 5-4 win.
Oswalt, though, has never beaten the Braves in his big league career, having gone 0-2 against them in six starts while pitching to a 6.18 ERA.
Houston took two of three from the Braves earlier in the season.
