TORONTO, 23 August 2005 — Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings and Chris Burke hit a three-run homer, powering the Houston Astros to an 8-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in National League play Sunday in Houston.
Pettitte (11-9) allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks to win for the eighth time in his past 10 decisions, helping the Astros stay within game of the NL wild card leading Philadelphia Phillies.
The Astros completed a 13-game homestand with a disappointing 6-7 record, but still have the best home field record in the majors at 42-22. Burke also had two doubles for Houston, giving him three hits, three runs scored and three RBI, as he tied his career-best for hits and RBI.
Adam Everett hit a two-run homer for the Astros in the second inning and Burke followed with his three-run shot in the third to put Houston in front 5-0.
Geoff Jenkins had a two-run double in the top of fourth to make it 5-2, but the Astros got another two runs in their fourth.
Jason Lane was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in one run and Jose Vizcaino added a run-scoring single. Lane’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning accounted for the other Houston run. Willy Tavares and Everett both added two hits for Houston. Lyle Overbay had two of Milwaukee’s seven hits and drove in the other Brewers run in the eighth.
Victor Santos (4-12) allowed seven runs on nine hits over 3 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking two, to take the loss.
In Philadelphia, Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer as the Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 to keep the NL wild card lead by game over Houston.
Ryan Madson (6-4) pitched 1 2/3 innings and striking out two for the win. Billy Wagner pitched one inning for his 30th save.
Rick White (3-6) got two outs, allowing one run on two hits and walking one to take the loss. Brad Eldred homered for the Philllies.
In Miami, Jason Vargas pitched a complete game as the Florida Marlins beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-1.
Vargas (4-1) allowed one run on six hits, walking one and striking out seven. Juan Pierre and Alex Gonzalez had two hits and drove in two runs for the Marlins.
Derek Lowe (8-12) pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out three to take the loss. Milton Bradley had three hits for the Dodgers.
In New York, Christian Guzman had two hits and drove in two runs as the Washington Nationals beat the Mets 7-4.
Esteban Loaiza (8-9) pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out eight for the win.
Kris Benson (9-5) got two out, allowing six runs on eight hits to take the loss. Mike Jacobs homered for the Mets.
In other NL games played Sunday, Wily Mo Pena hit two three-run homers as the Reds beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 13-6 in Cincinnati; Edgardo Alfonzo drove in two runs for the San Francisco Giants who beat the Cardinals 4-2 in St. Louis and Jorge Piedra hit a three-run homer as the Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 9-7 in Denver.
In Atlanta, the Braves scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the San Diego Padres 6-2.
Johnson Pounded by White Sox Batters in Yankees Loss
Tadahito Iguchi, Aaron Rowland and Paul Konerko hit consecutive home runs off Randy Johnson in the fourth inning as the White Sox downed the New York Yankees 6-2 in American League play in Chicago on Sunday.
It was the first time in Johnson’s major league career that he had allowed three consecutive home runs and a fourth homer by Chris Widger later in the same inning, marked another unwanted first for the ‘Big Unit’.
Leading 1-0, Johnson served up the three solo homers to Iguchi, Rowland and Konerko, before Jermaine Dye and Juan Uribe singled to set up Widger’s three-run homer in a six-run fourth.
Johnson (11-8) stayed in the game and completed it, allowing just those six runs on 10 hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
The big fourth inning was more than enough offense for Chicago starter and former Yankee Jose Contreras. Contreras (8-7) allowed two runs — just one earned — on 11 hits in eight innings, striking out five and walking none, to help Chicago end a seven-game losing streak.
Damaso Marte pitched a scoreless ninth to finish up for the Sox, who got two hits from Pablo Ozuna.
Robinson Cano had an RBI groundout in the third inning for New York, while Tino Martinez added a run-scoring single in the sixth to account for the New York runs.
Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Tony Womack and Derek Jeter all had two hits for New York.
In Los Angeles, Edgar Renteria hit a three-run homer as the Boston Red Sox beat the Angels 5-1. Mike Timlin (5-2) pitched two innings, walking one and striking out two for the win. Manny Ramirez homered for the Red Sox.
Paul Byrd (9-8) pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out two to take the loss. Steve Finley had two hits and drove in one run for the Angels.
In Oakland, Emil Brown singled in the winning run in the top of the 12th inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Athletics 5-4. Jimmy Gobble (1-0) pitched three innings for the win. Matt Stairs had two hits and drove in two runs for the Royals.
In Cleveland, C.C. Sabathia pitched eight strong innings as the Indians beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-1. Sabathia (10-9) allowed one run on three hits, walking two and striking out five. Travis Hafner had three hits and drove in four runs for the Indians.
In Detroit, Carlos Pena and Curtis Granderson hit three-run homers as the Tigers mauled the Toronto Blue Jays 17-6. Sean Douglass (5-2) pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out four for the win.
In other games, Jonny Gomes homered as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Texas Rangers 6-3 in St Petersburg and Lew Ford hit a three-run homer as the Minnesota Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 8-3 in Minneapolis.
