5/5/2008 3:31 AM Print this article  

Astros' Pence pounces on chance in 12th

Associated Press

HOUSTON - Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 12th to lead the Houston Astros to an 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Pence's home run to left field scored Lance Berkman and completed Houston's comeback for its third straight win. The Astros trailed by as many as four.

Mitch Stetter (1-1) gave up Pence's homer, his fourth of the season.


Berkman had four RBIs and tied his career high with four hits, including a homer and a pair of doubles.

With two outs in the 12th, Houston's Tim Byrdak (1-0) loaded the bases with walks but left fielder Darin Erstad caught J.J. Hardy's pop fly for the final out.

Houston trailed by 2 entering the ninth and got singles from Erstad and Geoff Blum off closer Eric Gagne before Michael Bourn walked. Erstad scored on a groundout by Kaz Matsui to make it 6-5.

Miguel Tejada walked to load the bases before Gagne walked Berkman to tie it at 6. Carlos Lee grounded out to send it to the 10th.

Jose Valverde pitched a perfect 10th for Houston and Salomon Torres did the same for Milwaukee. Both allowed a single in the 11th, but neither gave up a run to send it to the 12th.

Ben Sheets was denied his fifth win by Gagne's fifth blown save.

Florida 10, San Diego 3: Greg Maddux failed in his fourth bid to reach 350 victories, when he was outpitched by young Andrew Miller in a loss to Florida.

Maddux (2-3) twice failed to hold a lead, and he allowed 11 hits and five runs, four earned, in 52/3 innings.

Miller (2-2) earned his seventh career win with his best performance since joining the Marlins in the offseason trade that sent Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to Detroit. The left-hander allowed four hits and two runs in a season-high six innings.

Philadelphia 6, San Francisco 5: Pat Burrell had two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Phillies past the Giants for manager Charlie Manuel's 500th career victory.

Atlanta 14, Cincinnati 7: Chipper Jones drove in five runs and the Atlanta Braves scored seven runs in the second inning and beat the Cincinnati Reds 14-7 to complete a three-game sweep.

Colorado 7, L.A. Dodgers 2: Aaron Cook gave the Rockies the strong outing they needed, Matt Holliday had two hits and two RBIs and the Rockies beat the Dodgers to end a four-game losing streak.

N.Y. Mets 5, Arizona 2: First baseman Conor Jackson's ninth inning throwing error allowed Carlos Beltran to score the go-ahead run from second and the Mets went on to beat the Diamondbacks.

The Mets won at Arizona for the 15th time in 17 tries and handed the Diamondbacks' just their second series loss of the season.

The only other series Arizona lost was its season-opening three-game set at Cincinnati.

American League

N.Y. Yankees 8, Seattle 2: Derek Jeter had four hits and the New York Yankees got consecutive homers from Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano during a six-run outburst, beating the slumping Seattle Mariners 8-2 to finish a lopsided three-game sweep.

Boston 7, Tampa Bay 3: Kevin Youkilis had four RBIs and Jon Lester pitched six innings to lift Boston over Tampa Bay, spoiling the return of Rays ace Scott Kazmir.

Minnesota 7, Detroit 6: Joe Mauer capped a Minnesota rally from a six-run, first-inning deficit, slapping a two-run single up the middle in the seventh to lift the Twins past the Tigers.

Bothered by that inconsistency, Leyland promised before the game to drastically shake up the lineup beginning Monday at home against Boston. After the game, he declined to specify.

"I'm not talking about that. There will be changes tomorrow," Leyland said.

L. A. Angels 6, Baltimore 5: Gary Matthews Jr. and Torii Hunter homered in the first inning and Los Angeles beat Baltimore despite a poor outing by still-unbeaten Joe Saunders (6-0).

Toronto 4, Chicago White Sox 3: Roy Halladay won for the first time in four starts, Matt Stairs scored twice and drove in two runs and Toronto handed Chicago its season-high fifth straight loss.

Kansas City 2, Cleveland 0: Gil Meche pitched seven shutout innings, a throwing error by third baseman Casey Blake broke a scoreless tie and Kansas City beat Cleveland.

The loss provided even more frustration for Cleveland manager Eric Wedge. Cleveland, which was held to four hits, didn't advance a runner to third base and got only one runner to second. Following the game, Wedge hinted some roster changes might be ahead.

Oakland 3, Texas 1: Jack Cust's two-run homer in the seventh inning helped Oakland end the Rangers' four-game winning streak.

Santiago Casilla (1-0) threw a scoreless seventh for the win, and has yet to allow a run in 161/3 innings.

©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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