Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Carlos Lee hit a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, as the Houston Astros scored three times in the frame to come back and shock the Washington Nationals, 6-4, in the finale of a four- game set at Minute Maid Park.
After Blown Save, Astros Stun Nationals With Walk-Off Blast
Lance Berkman finished 2-for-5 with solo homer and reached on a two-base error by right fielder Cristian Guzman that allowed the tying run to score in the home ninth. The Astros, who dropped the opener of the set, took the last three and have won four of five overall. Lee drove in three runs and Kevin Cash added a solo homer in the victory.
Matt Lindstrom (2-1) picked up the win despite giving up two runs on three hits in the top of the ninth. Houston starter Brian Moehler worked 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits with three strikes and one walk.
Willie Harris had an RBI triple and Guzman contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the ninth for Washington, which has dropped five of its last six.
Matt Capps (0-3) suffered the loss for giving up two hits and three unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth. Nationals starter J.D. Martin worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs -- two earned -- with four strikeouts and one walk.
In the top of the ninth and Houston clinging to a 3-2 lead, Lindstrom came in and appeared to have things under control after retiring the first two batters. However, pinch-hitter Mike Morse singled and Harris hit a bloop triple down the left field line that scored Morse to tie it. Guzman followed with a run-scoring single to center for a 4-3 Nationals lead.
Capps came on to work the bottom half for the Nationals and surrendered a one- out double to Michael Bourn, then retired Jeff Keppinger on a groundout to shortstop. Berkman hit a line drive to right field that Guzman misplayed into a two-base error that made it a 4-4 game. Lee stepped up to the plate a crushed an 0-1 slider into the left-field seats to give the Astros the dramatic win.
Houston put up a first-inning run off Martin. With runners on the corners and one out, Lee's single scored Keppinger, who reached on an error. Hunter Pence followed with a base hit to left, but Berkman was thrown out at the plate by Josh Willingham.
Cash’s one-out solo homer to left in the second and another solo blast from Berkman in the third made it 3-0. The Nationals got a run back in the fourth on a run-scoring base hit by Willingham.
Roger Bernadina made it 3-2 with an RBI single in the sixth, but it could have been more. Bernadina then stole second, putting runners on second and third with two outs before Adam Kennedy ground out to first.
Washington and Houston split six meetings a season ago...Guzman, who started at shortstop and shifted to right field as part of a double switch in the eighth, committed three errors...Washington went 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven, while Houston finished 4-for-12 with RISP and left eight.
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