Posted on 10/02/2005 3:24:40 PM PDT by Michael Goldsberry
The Houston Astros clinched the NL wild card on the final day of the regular season - just like they did last year.
Roy Oswalt became the first pitcher since 2001-02 with consecutive 20-win seasons, throwing six innings and driving in a run in a 6-4 victory today over the Chicago Cubs. The Astros, who completed a remarkable comeback from a miserable start of the season back into the playoffs.
The Astros, 15-30 after a loss to the Cubs on May 24, became the first team since the 1914 Boston Braves to make the playoffs after being as many as 15 games under .500 in the same season.
Houston (89-73) will play Atlanta in a rematch of last year's NL division series, won by the Astros in five games for their first postseason series victory. The Braves were 5-1 against Houston this season, including a four-game sweep in Atlanta, where Game 1 is Wednesday.
By winning their regular season finale, the Astros avoided a tie with Philadelphia for the wild card, and having to go on the road for a one-game tiebreaker. The Phillies (88-74) won 9-3 at Washington on Sunday to finish a game behind Houston.
Houston trailed 4-3 when Oswalt (20-12) threw his last pitch in the sixth. The game was tied by time Jeff Bagwell pinch hit for him in the bottom of the inning. Jason Lane's 26th homer, on the second pitch of the sixth, tied the game at 4-all. That came after the Cubs had scored twice in the top of the inning on several bloop hits.
Adam Everett had a one-out single before Bagwell, limited to pinch-hitting duties since missing 115 games because of shoulder surgery, hit a grounder. Shortstop Neifi Perez's throw to second was wide of the base, allowing Everett to score the go-ahead run and Bagwell to go all the way to third. Bagwell was the last batter faced by Greg Maddux (13-15), who finished with a losing record for the first time since going 6-14 as a rookie for the Cubs in 1987. The four-time NL Cy Young Award winner allowed six runs and 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings.
Michael Wuertz's wild pitch allowed Charles Gipson, running for Bagwell, to score for a 6-4 lead.
Brad Lidge worked the ninth for Houston for his 42nd save, his second in a row since his blown save Friday night that cost the Astros.
Chicago's Derrek Lee was 0-for-4, but still wrapped up the major league batting title at .335 - the first Cub to do so since Bill Buckner in 1980.
He finished with 199 hits - 99 for extra bases (50 doubles, three triples and 46 home runs). Oswalt finished with the ninth 20-win season in Astros history, joining Joe Niekro (1979-80) as the only Houston pitchers to do it twice.
He is the first in the majors with consecutive 20-win seasons since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling both accomplished the feat in 2001 and 2001 for Arizona. Still, Oswalt had his troubles Sunday.
Nomar Garciappara had a one-out single and Jeromy Burnitz and Michael Barrett followed with bloop hits in the sixth for a run. Center fielder Willy Taveras prevented another bloop hit with his diving catch, but Perez put the Cubs up 4-3 with another softly hit single.
Michael Barrett led off the Cubs fifth with his 16th homer, and Matt Murton and Perez followed with consecutive singles. Maddux then bunted the ball right back at Oswalt to start a double play before Corey Patterson's RBI double made it 3-2.
The Astros had gone ahead 3-0 on Oswalt's infield RBI single in the fourth, which came after the Cubs intentionally walked Adam Everett with two outs and a runner at third to get to the pitcher's spot. Oswalt hit a grounder deep into the hole that shortstop Perez backhanded, and beat a strong throw to first.
With Philadelphia already ahead in its game, Houston got off to a fast start. Biggio hit Maddux's second pitch of the game for a double, and after Taveras had a sacrifice bunt, scored on Morgan Ensberg's single. Mike Lamb also had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.
Notes: The Astros announced that Jeff Bagwell will be on the post-season roster and the team also signed Craig Biggio to a one-year deal for the 2006 season ... Maddux had won at least 15 games every season since his rookie season, matching Cy Young's record with 17 straight 15-win seasons.
Good luck Astros, you took out my Phillies, but I'm on your bandwagon now.
And somewhere, Larry Bowa chuckled softly to himself....
Good luck from a die hard Cub fan....
I'll always side with the NL, but not the Cards
St. Louis........100 62 .617
Houston...........89 73 .549
Milwaukee.......81 81 .500
Chi Cubs.........79 83 .488
Cincinnati........73 89 .451
Pittsburgh........67 95 .414
Congratulations from a Phillies fan.
I know this is a few days old, but this is the first I saw the thread. Your Phillies sure played great ball down the stretch. I'm glad the 'Stros didn't have to face you again for a tie-breaker. And you can take solace in the fact that your team has the Rookie of the Year in Ryan Howard.
In the interests of full disclosure, I am an Ohioan by birth. :) I just moved to Texas a few years ago. I am happy with my adoptive state, but I think that most native Texans would not approve of my presumption in taking the title!
As an Ohioan, I am a fan of the Thomenator. He's nearing the end of his great career, and I hope an arrangement can be reached that satisfies everyone. But it's sure looking like Thome could end up being a Wally Pipp with respect to a Gehrig-esque Howard.
Thanks for taking the 'Stros on as your team. We sure need the fan support. I hope Tammy doesn't rain on today's game!
Perhaps one of trhe best games ever played.
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