Game Wrapup


	Balester struggles

Astros 6, Nationals 4

Manager Manny Acta takes the ball from starter Collin Balester in the fifth inning. (Nick Wass/AP)

By Zachary Osterman / MLB.com

After two solid outings to begin his Major League career, Nationals starter Collin Balester more closely resembled the rookie he is against the Astros on Saturday, allowing six runs, four earned, on 11 hits over just 4 2/3 innings.

Complete story >

Nationals Coverage

Tickets | Multimedia | Shop

Series at a glance:

Fri. 07/11: WSH 10, HOU 0
Sat. 07/12: HOU 6, WSH 4
Sun. 07/13: HOU 5, WSH 0

Houston (43-51)
Won 1

Houston 6, Washington 4

Washington (36-59)
Lost 1

July 12, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Houston	1	0	0	2	3	0	0	0	0	6	13	0
Washington	1	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	9	2

Houston	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Erstad, CF-LF	5	1	1	0	0	0	1	.295
Matsui, 2B	4	2	2	0	1	0	1	.280
Berkman, 1B	5	1	2	2	0	0	2	.347
Lee, LF	5	0	3	1	0	0	0	.299
Bourn, CF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.218
Tejada, SS	5	1	1	0	0	1	5	.275
Blum, 3B	5	0	0	0	0	1	6	.212
Valverde, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Pence, RF	3	1	2	3	1	0	0	.263
Ausmus, C	4	0	1	0	0	2	2	.222
Rodriguez, P	3	0	1	0	0	2	3	.080
Sampson, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.150
a-Newhan, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.261
Geary, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Wigginton, 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.276
Totals	40	6	13	6	2	6	20
a-Popped out for Sampson in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Matsui (17, Balester), Berkman (30, Balester). HR: Pence (12, 4th inning off Balester, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Erstad; Matsui 3; Berkman 3; Lee 3; Tejada; Pence 5; Ausmus; Rodriguez. RBI: Lee (73), Pence 3 (46), Berkman 2 (72). 2-out RBI: Pence. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Blum; Rodriguez 2; Ausmus. GIDP: Berkman. Team LOB: 9. FIELDING DP: 4 (Rodriguez-Tejada-Berkman, Matsui-Tejada-Berkman, Sampson-Ausmus-Berkman, Tejada-Matsui-Berkman).

Washington	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Harris, CF	4	2	2	1	0	0	1	.224
Lo Duca, 1B	4	1	2	0	0	0	1	.226
Guzman, SS	3	0	0	1	0	1	2	.315
Kearns, RF	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.204
Belliard, 3B	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.233
Flores, C	3	0	1	2	0	0	0	.270
Pena, LF	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	.205
Lopez, 2B	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.233
Balester, P	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.500
Colome, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
a-Langerhans, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.194
Rivera, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
b-Casto, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.210
Hanrahan, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	31	4	9	4	1	3	11
a-Grounded out for Colome in the 5th. b-Lined out for Rivera in the 7th.
BATTING 2B: Harris (4, Rodriguez), Belliard (12, Rodriguez), Lopez (17, Rodriguez). HR: Harris (5, 6th inning off Rodriguez, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Harris 6; Lo Duca 2; Belliard 3; Flores; Lopez 2; Balester. RBI: Guzman (30), Flores 2 (37), Harris (13). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Langerhans. SF: Guzman. GIDP: Lopez; Harris; Pena; Kearns. Team LOB: 3. FIELDING E: Belliard (5, throw), Guzman (10, throw). DP: (Guzman-Lo Duca).

Houston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Rodriguez (W, 4-3)	5.1	8	4	4	1	1	1	3.48
Sampson (H, 5)	1.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.62
Geary (H, 5)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2.35
Valverde (S, 24)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3.80

Washington	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Balester (L, 1-2)	4.2	11	6	4	0	3	1	5.87
Colome	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	5.53
Rivera	2.0	2	0	0	1	1	0	3.40
Hanrahan	2.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	4.01

HBP: Flores (by Sampson).
Pitches-strikes: Rodriguez 80-53, Sampson 13-10, Geary 11-7, Valverde 15-11, Balester 91-60, Colome 4-3, Rivera 36-21, Hanrahan 20-13.
Ground outs-fly outs: Rodriguez 9-6, Sampson 2-2, Geary 2-0, Valverde 2-1, Balester 4-7, Colome 0-0, Rivera 4-1, Hanrahan 2-3.
Batters faced: Rodriguez 23, Sampson 5, Geary 3, Valverde 3, Balester 26, Colome 1, Rivera 8, Hanrahan 7.
Inherited runners-scored: Sampson 3-1, Colome 3-0.
Umpires: HP: Kevin Causey. 1B: Sam Holbrook. 2B: Scott Barry. 3B: Charlie Reliford.
Weather: 87 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 0 mph, None.
T: 2:37.
Att: 30,682.

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner

Below is an advertisement.