Bourn: Drives in four.
(c) Associated Press
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While Roy Oswalt beat Cincinnati as he almost always does, the Astros lost their last margin for error in their hopes of making the playoffs. The 8-6 victory on Thursday was the 23rd in 24 decisions by Oswalt over the Reds. After giving up a solo shot to Corey Patterson in the opening inning, Oswalt gave up just one other hit through six innings and left with a 6-1 lead.
Kaz Matsui was 3-for-3, driving in three while Michael Bourn drove in four batting behind him. Geoff Blum and Ty Wigginton also had multi-hit games.
Down 8-1 in the ninth, the Reds exploded for five runs against Alberto Arias and Fernando Nieve, forcing Jose Valverde to come in and get the final two outs for his league-leading 43rd save.
The only way the Astros can make the NLDS now is if the Marlins sweep the Mets, the Cubs sweep the Brewers, the Astros sweep the Braves then beat the Cubs at home in a makeup game from the Hurricane Ike series which would force a three-way tie that would probably require two tie-breaking wins. The script can't be deviated or the Astros are out.
For now, Atlanta is next on the schedule. Brian Moehler (11-8) will start for the Astros in the 7:05 Central start, facing Jorge Campillo (8-7) for the Braves.
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