HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM
White Sox overcome Astros lead to go up 2-0 in series




By: Russ Rose
Special to Yankees Talk Shop
October 24, 2005

Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. That is exactly what the Houston Astros did to fall behind the Chicago White Sox 2-0 in the best of 7 World Series.

For five innings the Astros did everything right and in the last four they did just about everything wrong.

In a downpour of cold rain a less than sharp Andy Pettitte did his best to keep his team in Game 2, and gave them a chance to take the series home tied one game apiece. Pettitte weathered eight hits and two runs in six innings before turning the ball over to his relief corps.

The night started well for the Astros when in the second inning the Astros scored first on a Morgan Ensberg home run to deep left field. The White Sox answered in the bottom of the frame scoring twice on an RBI single by Joe Crede and a ground out by Juan Uribe that got A.J. Pierzynski home from third base.

Houston got those runs back in the top of the fifth when catcher Brad Ausmus doubled to left field. Two outs later Willy Tavares singled with Ausmus taking third base. Lance Berkman then doubled to left scoring Ausmus and Tavares.

Pettitte held the line in the fifth and sixth innings leaving the game with a 4-2 lead. Right-hander Dan Wheeler replaced Pettitte in the bottom of the seventh and immediately ran into trouble. With one out Juan Uribe doubled to left center field. Wheeler got the next batter, Scott Podsednik, to strike out. Tadahito Iguchi walked and Jermaine Dye was apparently hit on the hand with a 3-2 pitch. However, television replays showed the ball hit Dye’s bat. Home umpire Jeff Nelson awarded Dye first base giving White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko a bases loaded situation and a chance to do some damage.

In the meantime, Houston manager Phil Garner replaced Wheeler with Chad Qualls. Sadly for Qualls Konerko deposited his first pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam giving the White Sox a 6-4 lead.

In the ninth inning the Astros struck back against White Sox closer Bobby Jenks. Jenks, who had a terrific Game 1, was unable to repeat his heroics.

Jeff Bagwell led off the inning with a single. After Jason Lane struck out Chris Burk singled to put men on first and second. Brad Ausmus grounded out advancing Bagwell to third and Burk to second. Pinch hitter Jose Vizcaino came to the plate and singled to left field. The play scored Bagwell and Burk to tie the game at six. Mike Lamb flied out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth Garner went to his closer Brad Lidge to hold the fort down. Lidge hadn’t pitched since losing Game 5 of the NLCS when he gave up a three-run bomb to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. It was déjà vu for Lidge when with one out Scott Podsednik hit a walk off, solo home run to win the game 7-6 for the White Sox.

The loss leaves the Houston Astros in a deep hole. Out of twelve World Series match ups where a team has gone up on its opponent two games to none eleven of those teams have gone on to win the World Series. As the Astros head for home history is clearly not on their side.

Game 3 is set for Tuesday evening at Minute Maid Park with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET. It will be Jon Garland against NLCS MVP Roy Oswalt. The Astros need to regroup or their first trip to the World Series may turn out to be a short one.

PLAY BALL!



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