Aug 15, 2007 1:19 am US/Pacific
Off The Mark: Dodgers Find New Way To Lose
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
Chris Burke capped a six-run sixth inning with a two-run single, Mike Lamb also drove in a pair of runs, and
the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4 on Tuesday night.
Matt Albers (3-5) won for the first time in three starts since returning to the Astros' rotation.
It was the right-hander's second start in place of rookie Chris Sampson, who is on the disabled list
because of a sprained elbow.
Albers allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings, striking out one and walking two in his Dodger Stadium debut.
The game ended on a strange play.
After Mark McLemore allowed a run on a pinch-hit single by Mark Sweeney in the ninth, Brad Lidge came on to get three outs for his ninth save in 14 chances.
With one out and two on, Juan Pierre hit a towering popup in foul territory behind home plate.
For some reason, Sweeney jogged toward second, and when Brad Ausmus threw to Lance Berkman, Sweeney was
the final out.
Brett Tomko (2-10) allowed five runs, six hits and four walks over five-plus innings and struck out five.
The right-hander is 0-5 with a 6.06 ERA in seven starts at home this season.
The Dodgers, who led the NL West by 1 1/2 games on July 26, have lost 13 of 16 since then and trail first-place Arizona by 6 1/2 games.
Now in fourth place, their postseason chances took another hit before the game when third baseman Nomar Garciaparra was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left calf.
The Astros broke open a 1-1 tie in the sixth after loading the bases with none out.
Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt went to the mound for a chat with Tomko, but it didn't help as Luke Scott capped a nine-pitch at-bat with an RBI single to right field to put Houston ahead to stay.
Joe Beimel replaced Tomko, giving up Lamb's sacrifice fly, a run-scoring infield hit by Jason Lane and an RBI single by Eric Munson.
In his previous 60 appearances this season, the Dodgers' left-hander had allowed only four of 35 inherited baserunners to score.
Albers induced groundball outs by 10 of his first 15 batters, including Jeff Kent, who hit into a double play.
The Dodgers' cleanup hitter snapped an 0-for-25 drought with an RBI double in the sixth.
Kemp opened the scoring in the first with his seventh homer.
The Astros tied it in the fourth on Lamb's fielder's choice grounder with the bases loaded.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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