Surging Astros win ninth straight

The clock hasn't stopped ticking on the Astros, who keep staging one of the greatest stretch-drive comebacks in major league history. No matter how long it takes.

Roy Oswalt picked up a weary bullpen by going seven innings and Houston ran its improbable winning streak to nine games, enduring a long rain delay before beating the Pirates, 3-0, last night in Pittsburgh. The Astros moved within one-half game of NL Central-leading St. Louis, which has lost eight of nine. The Astros were 8 1/2 games out Sept. 20.

The Astros needed nearly five hours to win Wednesday night. This time, they waited 3 1/2 hours just to play.

Oswalt (15-8), winning his sixth in a row and fifth straight this month, beat the Pirates for the third time in three starts, allowing only two runs in 20 innings. He gave up four hits, struck out six, and walked two.

There weren't many witnesses for his latest victory. There were fewer than 500 in the stands after a rain delay pushed the starting time from 12:35 p.m. EDT to 4:01 p.m. -- believed to be one of the longest delays to start a game in Pirates history. Major League Baseball didn't want the Astros to possibly return to Pittsburgh for a makeup game Monday.

Adam Everett's single drove in the first run of a three-run fifth notable mostly for rookie lefthander Tom Gorzelanny's wildness -- he walked two and hit another batter after retiring the first 13 batters he faced. Houston's only three hits came in the inning, with Chris Burke and Jason Lane also getting singles ahead of Everett's single. Oswalt and Morgan Ensberg walked with the bases loaded to force in the other two runs.

Brewers 9, Cardinals 4 -- Jason Marquis got just six outs against Milwaukee and host St. Louis fell behind by eight runs in extending its season-ending swoon.

Bill Hall hit a two-run homer in the first off Marquis (14-16), who allowed six runs, five hits, and two walks in two-plus innings. Doug Davis (11-11) won for the first time in four starts despite walking eight in six innings. He allowed one run and two hits, striking out seven.

Preston Wilson and Scott Rolen homered for the Cardinals.

Dodgers 19, Rockies 11 -- Rookie James Loney tied Gil Hodges's 56-year-old Dodgers record of nine RBIs in a game as Los Angeles kept pace in the playoff chase by winning a slugfest in Denver.

Loney, who entered the game with one career home run and eight RBIs, hit a grand slam in the second, a two-run double in the third, a run-scoring single in the fifth, and a two-run homer in the seventh before striking out in the eighth.

Padres 12, Diamondbacks 4 -- At Phoenix, Jake Peavy (11-14) won his third straight decision and Brian Giles drove in three runs as San Diego maintained its one-game lead in the NL West.

Peavy allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking four. Giles homered and doubled, and Russell Branyan and Rob Bowen also homered for the Padres, who quickly built a 7-0 lead against Miguel Batista (11-8).

Nationals 3, Phillies 1 -- Brian Schneider snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run single in the sixth inning and host Washington prevailed in a game that was delayed at the start by rain for nearly 4 1/2 hours. The game ended at 2:07 a.m.

The loss dropped the Phillies two games behind Los Angeles in the NL wild-card race with only three games to play.

Jon Rauch pitched a perfect ninth for his second career save.

Mets 7, Braves 4 -- At Atlanta, Carlos Delgado drove in four runs and Orlando Hernandez (11-11) matched his season high with nine strikeouts as New York snapped a four-game losing streak.

Reds 5, Marlins 1 -- At Miami, Kyle Lohse (3-5) doubled in two runs and gave up three hits over six innings to help Cincinnati keep its slim playoff hopes alive.

Twins 2, Royals 1 -- Jason Bartlett's bases-loaded single to deep center in the bottom of the 10th enabled Minnesota to move into a tie for first place in the AL Central with Detroit.

Joe Mauer's homer with two outs in the ninth tied the game against Joe Nelson, who blew his first save in 10 chances. Joe Nathan (7-0) pitched the 10th for the win, long after Brad Radke's impressive five-inning return to the mound.

Blue Jays 8, Tigers 6 -- Alex Rios drove in two runs and scored twice as visiting Toronto roughed up Kenny Rogers and built a seven-run lead before holding off Detroit.

Rogers (17-7), who likely will start the Tigers' first playoff game since 1987, gave up seven runs -- five earned -- on eight hits, a walk, and a hit batter. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings.

Angels 2, Athletics 0 -- John Lackey (13-11) allowed four hits over eight innings and had a career-high 11 strikeouts to lead Los Angeles past visiting Oakland, which rested several regulars.

Indians 5, Devil Rays 4 -- Grady Sizemore and Andy Marte hit two-run homers and Ryan Garko doubled home the go-ahead run in a three-run seventh for host Cleveland.