Astros’ Rally 11 Years in the Making

The Astros hadn’t done this in 11 years.

Not since April 9, 1992, had Houston trailed by four runs in the ninth inning and come back to win.

That’s what happened Wednesday night, when Craig Biggio’s two-run single capped a five-run ninth inning in an 8-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Houston.

“When you’re down by four with their closer on the mound, you don’t expect to win,” Biggio said. “But those guys ahead of me did their jobs and you never give up. We gave ourselves an opportunity to win and we’ll sure take it.”

The last time this happened was at the Astrodome, when Houston overcame a 5-1, ninth-inning deficit against Cincinnati and won, 6-5, in 13 innings.

This also was the first time Colorado, which began play in 1993, ever lost on the road after leading by four runs in the ninth inning. The Rockies have lost twice at Coors Field after leading by four runs in the ninth.

Jose Jimenez (0-1) replaced Todd Jones with a 7-3 lead and gave up six hits while retiring only one batter. Jimenez waved off interview requests after the game.

“It’s a lonely feeling for him right now,” Jones said. “But you know if we’re going to do anything this year, we’re going to have to rely on him. It’s just tough for him right now but those are the ups and downs of being a closer.”

Houston’s rally began when Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman and Jeff Kent loaded the bases with singles, and Richard Hidalgo hit a two-run single.

After Brad Ausmus bunted into a forceout at third, Orlando Merced pinch-hit for Billy Wagner (1-0) and had an RBI double that made it 7-6. Jose Vizcaino was intentionally walked, and Biggio singled to left.

New York 4, Chicago 1 -- Sammy Sosa took a big swing and sent a fly ball soaring to left field. Sure it was home run No. 500, he immediately threw his arms up, took a signature hop and clapped his hands.

Instead of history and a tying three-run homer, however, the ball was blown back into the park and fell for a harmless out, exactly the kind of break at the Mets needed in their victory at New York.

Al Leiter gave the Mets the type of pitching performance they lacked in Tom Glavine’s debut, a 15-2 drubbing in Monday’s opener. Cliff Floyd and Roger Cedeno homered, giving Manager Art Howe his first victory in a New York uniform.

Philadelphia 8, Florida 2 -- Randy Wolf took a one-hitter into the seventh inning, Jim Thome had two more hits and Mike Lieberthal added a bases-loaded triple to lead the Phillies at Miami.

It was pretty similar to Monday’s opener, when Kevin Millwood took a shutout into the sixth, Thome had three hits and David Bell added two singles and scored three times in an 8-5 victory.

The biggest difference Wednesday: the crowd at Pro Player Stadium. The opener drew 37,137 fans; fewer than 10,600 showed for the second game of the season.

Pittsburgh 7, Cincinnati 4 -- Kevin Young and Jason Kendall hit two-run homers in the eighth inning, and the Pirates kept the Reds winless in their new ballpark.

Austin Kearns and Ken Griffey Jr. got the Reds’ first homers in Great American Ball Park as Cincinnati finally took its first lead, 4-3.

But Young, who entered the game as part of a late double-switch, hit a two-out homer in the eighth inning off reliever Josias Manzanillo to put Pittsburgh ahead, 5-4.

St. Louis 7, Milwaukee 0 -- Woody Williams pitched a two-hitter into the seventh inning and Mike Matheny had three hits and two RBIs as the Cardinals won at St. Louis.

Williams, limited to 17 starts last season because of a pulled muscle in his left side, didn’t give up a hit until Eric Young tripled to right with two outs in the sixth.

Montreal 3, Atlanta 0 -- Zach Day and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Jose Vidro hit a two-run homer to lead the Expos at Atlanta.

The vagabond Expos, who won’t play in Montreal until April 22, have outscored the Braves, 13-2, in the first two games at Turner Field.