Miller Connects and Dodgers Fall

Orlando Miller caught up with Joey Eischen, just in time.

Miller hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, giving the Houston Astros a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever won a game with a home run,” Miller said. “I’ve been kind of struggling so it was a good time for me to hit one.”

Miller’s 11th home run came on the second pitch by Eischen (0-1), who had entered to start the inning.

“I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and he got a fastball up over the plate,” Miller said. “In L.A., he threw me a lot of fastballs inside and I was swinging late. This time, he threw me a curve and and then came with the fastball.”

Eischen made no excuses.

“I felt good,” Eischen said. “I probably had the best stuff I’ve had in a long time. I didn’t get a chance to see where the pitch was.”

Danny Darwin (9-9) pitched two innings for his second victory with the Astros since being traded from Pittsburgh. He struck out two, gave up three hits and had one intentional walk.

“It’s a pretty good ratio [two straight victories],” Darwin said. “It has been an adjustment process. The thing I told myself today, you can’t go out there and try to blow everyone away. I have to remember I don’t throw 94 [mph] anymore.”

Darwin struck out Mike Piazza in the ninth with a runner on base to keep the score tied, 2-2.

“You can’t be too careful with the meat of their order,” Darwin said. “I didn’t want to put him on but I sure didn’t want to give him anything to hit. Fortunately, he chased it.”

The Dodgers took an early 2-0 lead behind Ismael Valdes, who did not permit a runner to reach second base until the sixth. John Cangelosi singled, took third on Craig Biggio’s double and scored on Derek Bell’s sacrifice fly.

The Astros tied it in the seventh. Kirt Manwaring reached base on a force play, went to third on pinch-hitter Derrick May’s double and scored on Cangelosi’s single.

“I felt good,” Valdes said. “It was just a tough game, what can I say?”

Mark Guthrie then relieved and preserved the tie by striking out Biggio and Jeff Bagwell end the inning with runners at first and third.

The Dodgers got run off Shane Reynolds in the third on singles by Valdes, Wayne Kirby and Mike Piazza.

Greg Gagne hit his seventh homer in the fourth. Reynolds struck out seven in seven innings.

“These guys caught fire against Atlanta and finished with San Diego and the Dodgers,” Astros Manager Terry Collins said.

Interim Dodger Manager Bill Russell praised the pitching on both sides.

“This was a pitcher’s game today and it came down to both bullpens,” Russell said. “Shane Reynolds pitched well, so we didn’t have very many opportunities today.”