Noah Lowry pitched a five hitter as the Giants won their ninth game out of their last 10 as they beat the Stros for the second straight game in San Francisco, 5-1.
The win allowed the Giants to remain a half game in front of the Cubs in the NL Wild Card playoff race and to pull within a half game of the Dodgers in the NL West Division. With the loss, The Stros fell three games behind the Giants and two and a half games behind the Cubs in the Wild Card race. For all practical purposes, the Stros late season surge to make the playoffs is over.
Roy Oswalt — pitching despite a rib cage injury — had won his last five decisions, but never got into a rhythm Wednesday night. He allowed 10 hits, five earned runs, struck out three and walked four in 5 2-3 innings.
Meanwhile, the Stros biggest bugaboo for most of this season — lackluster hitting — has reappeared with a vengeance during this series. Three runs on nine hits in two games is simply not going to get it done against the Giants.
The Stros take a flyer on Brandon Backe this afternoon against the Giants’ Jason Schmidt, which looks like the mismatch of the week. Schmidt has not been as dominant over the past month as he has for most of the season, but the way the Stros are hitting, they are a convenient cure for Schmidt’s problems. The Stros go to Milwaukee for a weekender with the Brew Crew after the game. When does OktoberFest begin?