Houston, TX - Carlos Lee belted the go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning and gave the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the finale of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.
Eric Munson also homered for the Astros, who have won three of four.
Houston starter Matt Albers threw five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Chad Qualls (6-3) gave up two hits and one run in one inning for the win and Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save in eight opportunities.
Jeff Kent homered for the Dodgers, who have lost five of seven.
Los Angeles starter Derek Lowe was lifted after facing one batter in the fifth. It is unknown why he was removed, but he was visibly angry as he left the field and he threw his glove in disgust in the dugout. He surrendered one run on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts. D.J. Houlton (0-2) pitched two innings. The only hit he allowed was Lee’s homer.
Munson hit his third homer of the year in the third, a one-out shot to right.
Houston threatened in the fourth. Lee singled with two outs, stole second and advanced to third on a single by Mike Lamb. Lowe, though, got out of trouble by inducing Luke Scott to ground out to first, ending the inning.
Kent’s lead-off homer in the seventh marked his 15th of the season, tying the game.
Lee, however, put the Astros ahead for good with his 20th homer of the season in the home half, a bomb to left leading off.
Game Notes
Kent has reached base safely in 36 straight games, the longest streak in the majors this season…It was Albers’ first start since May 23 after appearing in eight games as reliever since he was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on June 28…A day after saying he would retire at the end of the season, Craig Biggio became the 21st player to appear 2,800 games in his career…Attendance was 31,498.
