Lee powers Astros past Phils

By Tim McManus
The Phanatic Magazine

Carlos Lee blasted three home runs and drove in six as the Houston Astros toppled the struggling Philadelphia Phillies, 9-6, in the opener of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Lee's stellar night included a grand slam in the third inning, the 10th of his career. His three homers in a game tied a club record.

Morgan Ensberg added a three-run home run for the Astros, who have won three in a row. Ace Roy Oswalt (2-0) picked up win No. 100 on his career despite yielding six runs on seven hits over five innings.

That's because fellow top right-hander Brett Myers (0-2) was tagged for seven runs on three hits and five walks over 3 1/3 frames.

Ryan Howard, Wes Helms, Aaron Rowand and Chase Utley all finished with a run and an RBI for Philadelphia, which has dropped five of six.

The Phillies used some small ball and a bit of fortune to build a 3-0 first- inning lead. The rally started with two outs, when Utley and Howard drew back- to-back walks before Helms drove in the game's first run with a bloop single. A Jayson Werth walk and infield singles by both Rowand and Rod Barajas helped push two more runs across.

Lee, though, essentially wiped that lead away single-handedly. He put the Astros on the board with a leadoff homer in the second, then belted the 10th grand slam of his career in the third to put his club in front 5-3. Brad Ausmus doubled and Ensberg and Lance Berkman followed with two-out walks to set the table for Lee, who crushed a Myers offering into the seats in left- center.

Ensberg's three-run homer in the fourth put the Astros up 8-3.

The Phils fought back, plating two runs in the home half of the fourth on back-to-back RBI singles by Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino. They threatened again in the fifth, putting runners at the corners following a pair of walks and a Greg Dobbs groundout, and Rowand trotted home to make it 8-6 after Oswalt was charged with a balk.

The Houston bullpen combined for four scoreless innings from there, however, with Dan Wheeler working the ninth for his second save on the year.

The Houston offense also added a run in the top of the ninth on Lee's third homer of the night.