Houston – The Houston Astros were being aggressive even though they had the lead in the wild-card chase. And it cost them.
Charles Gipson was cut down at home plate for the final out following Luke Scott’s double into the right-center gap, and the Chicago Cubs beat Houston 3-2 on Thursday night to cut the Astros’ lead over the idle Philadelphia Phillies to two games going into the final weekend of the regular season.
Gipson was waved home by third-base coach Doug Mansolino, and when the speedy pinch runner headed toward home, he saw the relay throw to the plate. He tried to knock over Henry Blanco, but the catcher applied the tag and held on.
“No question about it, he’s got to send him,” Astros manager Phil Garner said. “I’d been upset if he hadn’t sent him. If the throw’s off at all, he’s got a chance to be safe.”
Instead, the Cubs made two perfect throws to end the game.
Ryan Dempster walked Orlando Palmeiro with one out, Gipson pinch ran and pinch-hitter Mike Lamb struck out before Scott pinch hit.
Center fielder Corey Patterson cut off Scott’s drive and threw to second baseman Jose Macias, who made the relay to Blanco, well ahead of Gipson.
“When you draw up a relay play, that’s the way to draw it up,” said Dempster, who struck out two and got his 32nd save.
Derrek Lee broke a sixth-inning tie with his 46th homer, and the Cubs led by one run entering the ninth.
Padres 1, Giants 0 (11)
San Diego – Brian Lawrence held San Francisco to three hits over nine innings, and Damian Jackson drove in the winning run with his fourth hit, a one-out single in the 11th.
The Padres improved to 80-79. They need to win two of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend to finish with a winning record. No division winner has finished a nonstrike year with a losing record.
Since 1969, and excluding strike years, the 1973 New York Mets own the lowest winning percentage of a division champion by going 82-79 (.509) to win the NL East.
David Ross started the winning rally with a bunt single leading off the 11th against Jeremy Accardo (1-5) and advanced on Sean Burroughs’ groundout. Jackson then singled down the left-field line. Reliever Scott Cassidy (1-1) pitched two perfect innings for the victory.
Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 2
Los Angeles – Alex Cintron drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, Dustin Nippert (1-0) allowed one hit over five innings for his first major-league victory, and Arizona spoiled Los Angeles’ home finale.
Brewers 2, Reds 0
Milwaukee – Gary Glover (5-4) allowed two hits over seven innings and struck out a career-high 10 to lead Milwaukee on “free admission” day at Miller Park.
