Braves Fit to Be Tied, Lose to Astros

Is eight enough? Usually, but not this time, not Thursday night in Atlanta when the Braves scored eight runs for John Smoltz and still lost.

The Braves blew another chance to move closer to their third consecutive National League West title by losing to the Houston Astros, 10-8, when their ninth-inning rally fell short.

When the San Francisco Giants defeated the Dodgers, 3-1, at Dodger Stadium, the Giants joined the Braves atop the NL West with identical 101-58 records and three games remaining.

“It was just one of those nights where things steamrolled on us and we couldn’t stop it,” Brave Manager Bobby Cox said. “We didn’t pitch well and couldn’t hold them.

Presumably, other than that, it was a perfect night for the Braves. But it was far from that. The Braves failed to take advantage of a bases-loaded, one-out threat in the sixth inning.

Instead of a big inning, Atlanta got only one run and finished the inning trailing, 7-5. Otis Nixon hit a sacrifice fly off Astro reliever Xavier Hernandez (4-5) and Jeff Blauser singled to reload the bases, but Ron Gant struck out and Fred McGriff, after fouling off several 3-2 pitches, fouled out to third.

Suddenly, the Braves don’t look so overpowering. The Braves are 4-4 since taking a 3 1/2-game lead over the Giants 10 days ago. However, there may be some good news for the Braves--Atlanta finishes its season with three games at home against Colorado, which is 0-10 against the Braves.

Smoltz (15-11) labored before leaving in the fifth inning when the Astros scored three times to go ahead, 7-4. He gave up five hits, walked six and struck out six. He was charged with six runs, five earned.

“I felt good. I was strong warming up in the bullpen, but I never got in a groove,” said Smoltz. “I was a little too excited. Normally I’m not. It was my fault. I had good enough stuff to win. I just couldn’t put the ball where I wanted to.”

Atlanta scored three runs in the ninth off Doug Jones. But with runners on first and third and two out, Nixon fouled out to third.

The Braves lost two of three games to Houston. They had won 14 consecutive series since dropping two of three to Montreal on Aug. 6-8.

“It was a very satisfying series. We set out to take this series, and we did,” Houston Manager Art Howe said. “We’re in a pennant race of our own (for third place).”

Craig Biggio and Ed Taubensee each drove in three runs for Houston.

The Braves trailed, 10-5, going to the ninth, but Terry Pendleton hit a run-scoring single with one out and Damon Berryhill followed with another. Mark Lemke grounded into a forceout that scored one run and pinch-hitter Ryan Klesko singled.

Nixon ran the count full before fouling out to third base.