|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
HOUSTON (AP) – Roy Oswalt felt right at home from the opening
pitch.
|  | | Roy Oswalt struck out four and walked none in his first major league start. |
Oswalt allowed two hits over six impressive innings to win his
first major league start and the Houston Astros beat the Los
Angeles Dodgers 2-1 Saturday for their fourth straight victory.
"I wasn't nervous because I've been a starting pitcher all my
life ever since Little League," Oswalt said. "I've done that a
lot more than pitch out of the bullpen so that was no problem."
Oswalt (3-1) retired 18 of the 20 batters he faced, striking out
four and walking none. He also doubled in the fifth inning for his
first big league hit.
Oswalt, a gold medal winner at the 2000 Olympics, moved into the
starting rotation in place of Jose Lima after making eight relief
appearances.
"I didn't change anything from what I've done before," Oswalt
said. "I try to stay ahead and keep the ball down and fortunately,
I had pretty good movement today."
As a reliever, Oswalt compiled a 1.93 ERA and allowed three
earned runs in 14 innings. Oswalt hadn't pitched above the Double-A
level until this season.
"He made some great pitches and he changed his speeds well. He
pitched a fine game," Dodgers manager Jim Tracy.
That said, Tracy was just as impressed with Dodgers pitcher
Darren Dreifort.
"It was an excellent pitched game," Tracy said. "Our starting
pitcher did a phenomenal job and I'm going to go on record and say
his changeup was the best of his major league career."
Dreifort (3-4) kept the game close, pitching out of trouble in
the fifth and sixth. Oswalt doubled and took third on Dreifort's
wild pitch, but the Astros couldn't get a run home.
Dreifort had runners at first and second with one out in the
sixth and he struck out Daryle Ward and Vinny Castilla to end the
threat. Dreifort pitched seven innings, allowed seven hits, and he
walked three and struck out seven.
"My changeup was pretty good but you have to give a lot of
credit to (catcher Paul) LoDuca. He made the right calls at the
right time. That makes a big difference."
LoDuca liked both pitchers.
"Darren pitched a heck of a ball game and so did Oswalt,"
LoDuca said. "That kid has a great arm. He's got a good fastball
and he keeps you honest with his breaking stuff. He has a great
future."
The Astros took a 1-0 lead on a first-inning grounder by Jeff
Bagwell. They made it 2-0 on Craig Biggio's RBI single in the
third.
Oswalt retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced until Adrian
Beltre hit a solo homer with two outs in the fifth, his third of
the year.
Dave Hansen's second-inning single was the only other hit off
Oswalt.
Billy Wagner pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 14
opportunities.
The Dodgers continued their road slump. They are 9-17 on the
road this season and have won three of their last 14 away from
home.
"I can't explain it," LoDuca said. "We keep playing better at
home. It seems to me that we made be a little lackadaisical on the
road. But there's no panic here."
Game notes
The Dodgers are 8-3 with Marquis Grissom subbing in left
field for injured regular Gary Sheffield. ... In the Astros' last
23 games, 15 have been decided by two or fewer runs. They have won
eight one-run games.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
| |
OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Yankees 9
Cleveland 4
Baltimore 7
Oakland 0
Boston 2
Toronto 1
Chi. White Sox 5
Detroit 3
Texas 3
Minnesota 2
Anaheim 3
Kansas City 2
Seattle 7
Tampa Bay 4
St. Louis 8
Cincinnati 5
Colorado 7
San Francisco 5
Houston 2
Los Angeles 1
NY Mets 7
Florida 1
Chicago Cubs 10
Milwaukee 4
Montreal 12
Philadelphia 5
Atlanta 0
Pittsburgh 0
Arizona 2
San Diego 1
|
