Jeff Bagwell cranked a two run yak and drove in three runs as the Stros gained ground in the National League Wild Card playoff race by beating the Brew Crew 4-3 on Saturday nigth at the Juice Box. The win was the Stros’ 11th straight at the Juice Box.
Both the Giants and the Cubs lost on Saturday, so the Stros’ win moves them within a game of the Giants for the lead in the NL Wild Card race and within a half game of the Cubs, who remain between the Giants and the Stros at this point. The Marlins lost again, which pretty well makes them toast in the NL Wild Card playoff race.
With his yak tonight, Bags became only the 29th player in major league history to both score and drive in 1,500 runs. As has been their custom over the past 30 games whenever Roy O and the Rocket are not pitching, the Stros cobbled together pitching performances from four pitchers before Brad Lidge secured the win by pitching the ninth. It was Lidge’s 24th save in 28 chances.
The Rocket takes the pill in a rare Sunday evening game (it is the ESPN Sunday night telecast) against the Brewers’ Doug Davis, and then it’s a travel day on Monday as the Stros go to San Francisco for their big showdown series with the Giants beginning next Tuesday.