Astros Blast Phillies

Lance Berkman and Brad Ausmus each drove in two runs in a six-run seventh inning that carried the Houston Astros to their fifth straight win, 8-2 over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

The Astros, who matched their season high for consecutive victories, moved three games ahead of Chicago in the NL Central. The Astros also won five straight from May 13-17.

Philadelphia, which came into the game trailing Atlanta by one game in the NL East, lost its fifth straight for the first time this season.

Pedro Astacio (8-14) was the beneficiary of the big inning, improving his record to 2-1 since being acquired by the Astros from Colorado. He allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking two.

Nelson Cruz and Billy Wagner each pitched an inning to finish the game.

The Astros were limited to three hits through the first six innings against Nelson Figueroa (4-4) before breaking the game open in the seventh.

With one out, Houston strung together four straight hits, including a RBI single by Jeff Bagwell and a two-run double by Berkman, giving the Astros a 5-2 lead. Reliever Jose Santiago got Moises Alou to ground out, then surrendered three consecutive hits, capped by Ausmus` two-run triple.

Figueroa allowed six runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings.

The Astros took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning when Craig Biggio doubled off the right-field fence and scored on Jose Vizcaino`s RBI single.

Bobby Abreu`s RBI groundout in the sixth tied the game at 2.

The Phillies opened the scoring in the second inning on Johnny Estrada`s RBI double.

Vinny Castilla`s RBI double, the Astros` first hit off Figueroa, tied the game 1-1 in the fourth.

Notes:
Mike Arbuckle, Phillies director of scouting and player development, said the family of top pick Gavin Floyd rejected the team`s final contract offer of $4 million. Floyd, an 18-year-old right-handed pitcher, will attend the University of South Carolina. ... Bagwell extended his hitting streak to 12 games. ... Ausmus has four triples this season. ... Figueroa has allowed 11 earned runs in his last 12 1-3 innings. ... Phillies manager Larry Bowa was ejected for the third time this season after arguing an out call at second base in the sixth inning.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News