Astros Act Like They Own the Road

L.A. Times Archives

July 24, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

In the tumultuous National League Central, the Houston Astros seem to be taking charge by winning five consecutive road games.

Thomas Howard homered and drove in three runs and the Astros completed an undefeated five-game trip with a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

“It was good to show St. Louis we’re not here to mess around,” Howard said. “We’re here to try to take over this thing. It’s been a crazy, up-and-down year for everybody in the Central, and I just hope we go ahead and take over.”

The road sweep, starting with three victories in Montreal and ending with two in St. Louis, was the team’s first of more than three games since May 26-31, 1989, when they had a 6-0 trip.

Astro starter Chris Holt was pulled with one out and the bases loaded in the fifth. Mike Magnante (3-0) pitched a perfect 3 2/3 innings and has not given up a run in his last 14 innings.

Astro outfielders made three big plays in the early innings. Center fielder Howard robbed Ray Lankford of a home run with a catch above the wall in the first, and caught up to John Mabry’s drive to the wall to start the fourth. Right fielder Derek Bell ran down Gary Gaetti’s drive to the gap with the bases loaded in the fifth, making the Cardinals settle for a sacrifice fly.

“That was the game,” Magnante said. “If that ball falls, more than likely the bases are cleared and they’ve got all the momentum. It’s got to break their back.”

The Astros, who begin a 10-game homestand today, have won seven straight road games. They’re 10-3 since the All-Star break and 7-2 against the Cardinals, last year’s Central champions.

Astro Manager Larry Dierker wasn’t reading a lot into it, however.

“It’s not like we’re 15 or 20 games over .500,” Dierker said. “It shows the guys they can do it, so if we ever go cold again they’ll be able to remember how they were at this point and realize they can do it again.”

Todd Stottlemyre (9-7) had his worst outing in more than a month, giving up five runs and throwing 96 pitches in four innings. Stottlemyre, who had won five of his previous six starts, walked five and struck out four.

“It was one of those nights where I couldn’t get them fishing for my slider,” Stottlemyre said. “They had me working all night.”

Chicago 3, Atlanta 1--Kevin Tapani was a bit nervous, but his pitching was anything but jittery in his debut with the Cubs at Chicago.

Pitching for the first time this season after finger surgery in April, Tapani gave up five hits in a little more than seven innings--retiring 14 consecutive batters in one span.

The surgery that removed scar tissue around a ligament in his right index finger prevented him from throwing his split-finger pitch. But that was about his only limitation.

After five rehabilitation starts, he was activated off the disabled list before the game and then walked none and struck out nine to gain his first victory since Sept. 20.

“I’d love to have that [split-finger] pitch right now,” he said. “It was a lot of fun to be back out there and be a competitive pitcher in the big leagues again.”

Florida 8, Cincinnati 1--Darren Daulton didn’t do anything unusual in his starting debut with the Marlins. The biggest difference was in the way it all felt.

In the victory at Cincinnati, Daulton tripled home a run and scored on a jarring slide into a Reds’ reliever, providing a spark and, hopefully for the Marlins, a glimpse of what’s ahead.

On Monday, the Marlins obtained Daulton from Philadelphia--the worst team in the major leagues--in hopes of putting some punch in their lagging offense.

“This game means something,” Daulton said. “[In Philadelphia], wins are important but they’re not in a pennant race. There’s a big difference. It’s a lot better being in a pennant race.”

Daulton was far from a one-man show. Bobby Bonilla and Charles Johnson homered as the Marlins pulled away for only their second victory in six games, ending a three-game losing streak.

Alex Fernandez (11-8) gave up six hits in eight innings and singled home a run. He lost his shutout bid when Reggie Sanders led off the eighth with his third homer in two games.

San Diego 9, Pittsburgh 1--Tony Gwynn went two for two and drove in three runs before leaving after the third inning with tightness in his left hamstring, as the Padres won at home.

Pete Smith (4-1) gave up one run and five hits in seven innings and has won all three of his starts this season.

Rookie Mandy Romero went three for four, including a solo homer, and scored three runs.

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