[sharknut]

We started September 8-4 and have a 2 game lead as we open our last 2 games against the Astros.

In the bottom of the 2nd, reserve catcher Dan Graham hit his 7th home run in just 130 at bats to give us a 1-0 lead off their ace Scott Garrelts. In the top of the 3rd, the Astros loaded the bases with 1 out when Andy Araujo walked Willie Darkis and injured his elbow and had to be pulled and we brought in Rick Moore to face Mike MacFarlane who greeted him with an infield single to give the Astros a 3-1 lead. Moore then walked Chris Clark and Larry Martin added a sac fly and it was 4-1 after 2 1/2.

MacFarlane hit his 20th home run of the season off Jeffrey Hanslovan to make it 5-1 Astros after 5. In the bottom of the 6th, Dave Clark and Tom Brunansky drew walks off Garrelts, and that was the end of his day. Jeff Carter singled off Danny Cox to make it 5-2, but a double play snuffed out that threat.

Cox lost home plate in the 7th walking Brunansky with the bases loaded to make it 5-3 Astros, his 3rd walk of the inning. Jeff Carter then unloaded the bases with a triple and suddenly it was 6-5 Dodgers.

James Meiland gave up singles to Larry Martin and Dan Howitt and with Greg Vaughn at the plate, surrendered the lead as Vaughn cracked a double and it was 7-6 Astros.

And that was how it ended, so our lead is down to 1.