With two outs in the ninth inning and facing MLB's all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman, Lance Berkman was well aware the Astros were just moments away from an 0-3 start, but he didn't let that happen. Hoffman delivered a fastball to Berkman on a 3-1 count and he smashed it to deep center field for a three-run home run to give the Astros a 9-6 win.
After a stagnant showing of one run in the first 18 innings of the season, the Houston team was well aware this wasn't the start this powerful offense was expecting. The Astros exploded for four home runs which included solo blasts by Geoff Blum, Ty Wigginton and Carlos Lee. With a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom on the second inning, Wandy Rodriguez allowed the Padres back into the game with four unanswered runs for the 4-3 Padres lead.
The Astros would tie the score at four all in the top of sixth, but the Padres would strike back in the bottom half for the 5-4 lead. In the eighth, the Astros tied it up all again at five a piece, but once again, the Padres would take a 6-5 lead as they headed in the ninth inning which lead to Berkman's heroics.
These two teams finish out the four game series today at 2:35 p.m. as Shawn Chacon faces Randy Wolf.
Flickr photo: leath
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