Kemp Hits 12th Homer In Loss To Astros
HOUSTON (AP)—J.R. Towles broke out of an 0 for 32 slump with three hits, including an RBI single with two outs in the ninth that gave the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
Brett Wallace doubled off Matt Guerrier (2-3) and after Bill Hall flied out for the second out, Towles lined a drive into center field, scoring Wallace.
Houston Astros ' J.R. Towles hits a game-winning single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday, May 25, 2011, in Houston. The Astros beat the Dodgers 2-1.
Mark Melancon (4-1) pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two.
Ted Lilly gave up a home run to Michael Bourn on the first pitch of the game for a 1-0 Houston lead, but held off the Astros after that.
Aneury Rodriguez allowed only one runner until Matt Kemp singled in the fourth inning for the Dodgers' first hit. Kemp hit a tying home run in the sixth.
Rodriguez gave up four hits and struck out five in six innings.
Lilly, who has a 7-2 career record against the Astros, allowed only three runners to reach second base in six innings. He allowed six hits.
Bourn's homer was his first career leadoff shot and the first by an Astro since Kaz Matsui on Sept. 23, 2008.
Houston missed a chance to take the lead in the seventh with two out. A pitch from reliever Mike MacDougal got past catcher Dioner Nararro and Towles raced home from third. But the ball bounced back to Navarro, who made the tag to end the inning.
Notes: The Astros won consecutive series for the first time this season. They took two of three from Toronto before beating Los Angeles two out of three. … Houston RHP Rubby De La Rosa pitched a scoreless eighth inning in his major league debut Tuesday night. He had just been called up from Double-A Chattanooga. … Dodgers RF Andre Ethier pinch-hit in the seventh. He also pinch-hit Tuesday night after running into the fence on Sunday.
