Hail, Houston
Astros lose to Mets, but lock up NL Central crown
Posted: Tuesday September 15, 1998 01:49 AM
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Jose Lima (left) celebrates the Astros clinching their second straight NL Central title AP |
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Astros finally
got to break out the champagne and cigars, though the celebration came a
little later than they wanted.
The Astros were three outs away from clinching their second straight NL
Central title on the field before the New York Mets rallied to
a 7-4 victory Monday night, forcing the Astros to put their party on hold.
But they still got the championship about an hour later when
second-place Chicago lost to San Diego 4-3. The Cubs' defeat dropped them
into a tie with the Mets for the wild-card lead.
"This is not the way we wanted to clinch but after the last two games,
we'll take it any way we can get it," second baseman Craig Biggio
said. "It's been very exciting for us. Now we have the title early and
still some games to play."
Brian
McRae hit a tying homer in the ninth inning, then hit a two-run double
in the 13th for the Mets. For the second straight night, the Astros wasted
a late lead when they had a chance to clinch.
Houston also won division titles in 1980, 1986 and last season.
The Mets trailed 4-2 when McRae hit a two-run homer off Astros relief
ace Billy
Wagner in the ninth.
As the ninth started, a message on the Astrodome screen cautioned fans
to celebrate in the stands, not on the field.
"It was like they were saying the game was over," McRae said. "We saw
that and it made us a little angry. You don't do that. It really fired me
up."
In the 13th, Edgardo
Alfonzo led off with a double and continued to third when right fielder
Derek Bell
misplayed the ball for an error. John Olerud
grounded out and Mike Piazza, who
had four hits, was intentionally walked by Mike Magnante
(4-7).
"Unfortunately we had to rely on someone else tonight, we'd rather do it
ourselves but I think everyone expected more of us this year," third
baseman Sean
Berry said.
McRae followed with his go-ahead double off Doug Henry and
later scored on a wild pitch.
The Astros remained in the clubhouse and watched the Padres rally past
the Cubs, clinching the title for Houston.
Ken
Caminiti, a former Astros third baseman, homered in the eighth to put
the Padres ahead and the Astros, still subdued from their loss, started to
get lively.
"I'd like to tell him thanks," Jeff Bagwell
said. "I'm glad he did it for them but it also helps us. Anytime Cammy hits
a home run I'm happy because he's a good friend. But this one has a special
meaning for us."
When the game ended, in came the champagne.
"It's not the way we wanted to do it," manager Larry Dierker said. "Even
though we didn't win in on the field, I think everyone knows the potential
of this club."
Greg
McMichael (4-4) was the winner. John Franco got
his 37th save, breaking his own team record.
A day earlier, the Astros blew an eighth-inning lead and lost to St.
Louis 3-2, keeping Houston's magic number at one.
The Astros scored four times in the first, highlighted by Carl Everett's
homer, but were held scoreless for the final 12 innings. Houston had a
runner at third with one out in the 11th, but failed to score.
Piazza hit a 480-foot, two-run homer in the first inning. The All-Star
catcher also made a key play in the eighth with the Mets trailing 4-2,
retrieving a pitch by Jeff Tam that went to the backstop and recovering to
throw out Craig Biggio at the plate.
"Lost in all the commotion was the hardest home run I've ever seen,"
Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "The only way that ball was coming down
was if something got in its way."
The switch-hitting McRae hit his 21st home run, but only the second as a
right-hander. Piazza led off the ninth with a single and McRae followed
with his homer, giving Wagner his fourth blown save in 33 chances.
Astros starter Jose Lima retired
the first two batters of the game before Olerud doubled. Piazza followed
with his 31st homer, a shot that just missed the upper deck in center
field.
Mets starter Masato Yoshii got off to a rough start. He walked Biggio to
lead off and Bill
Spiers hit an RBI double. Jeff Bagwell singled home a run and Everett
hit his 14th homer.
Everett equaled his career high of 14 homers with the Mets in 1997, and
raised a fist skyward as he trotted down the first-base line. The Mets
traded Everett to Houston in the off-season for John Hudek.
After Everett's homer, Yoshii retired the next 15 batters in a row until
Bagwell singled with two outs in the sixth inning. Yoshii pitched six
innings and allowed four hits.
Notes: The Mets have had three straight successful road trips and
have a 38-37 road record. ... Yoshii has one victory, eight losses and 10
no-decisions in his last 19 starts. ... Bell had his hitting streak end at
nine. ... Piazza's homer was the team-leading 30th given up by Lima this
season.
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