Time Runs Out on Astros After 5-2 Loss

The Houston Astros went down meekly, losing to last-place Milwaukee for the second straight day, 5-2, Saturday at Houston. The Astros began the day half a game behind Chicago, which swept Pittsburgh in a doubleheader and won its first division title since 1989.

“This whole week has been a playoff atmosphere because every game, every pitch has meant something,” Astro catcher Brad Ausmus said. “You’re a little drained at the end of each game, but certainly we’ve been ready at the start. We just didn’t end up on top the last two games.”

The loss sent the Astros wondering what went wrong down the stretch, but Astro General Manager Gerry Hunsicker saw it coming.

“I guess it was two days ago I sensed that we were trying to force something out there,” Hunsicker said. “We were trying to make things happen and the guys were too tight. They were trying too hard, making forced errors.”

St. Louis 3, Arizona 2 -- Eduardo Perez homered at Phoenix and Edgar Renteria became the first NL shortstop in 18 years to drive in 100 runs. Montreal’s Hubie Brooks was the last NL shortstop to have at least 100, in 1985.

Philadelphia 7, Atlanta 6 -- Jim Thome hit two homers to take the league lead with 47 and Atlanta’s Javy Lopez hit his major league-record 42nd homer as a catcher this season at Philadelphia. Lopez’s homer broke Todd Hundley’s 1996 mark for the position. Lopez also has one homer as a pinch-hitter.

New York 9, Florida 3 -- A day after the Marlins clinched the wild-card spot, Manager Jack McKeon used a makeshift lineup and Florida lost to Jae Weong Seo and the Mets at Miami.

Colorado 10, San Diego 2 -- Denny Stark combined with three relievers on a two-hitter and the Rockies hit four homers at San Diego.

Cincinnati 4, Montreal 2 -- Sean Casey and Russell Branyan each hit two-run homers for the Reds at Cincinnati.