Jose Vidro hit a home run and had four runs batted in as the Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros, 8-5, in the finale of a four-game series at RFK Stadium.

Ryan Zimmerman finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and Alfonso Soriano added three hits and scored three runs for the Nationals, who have won three straight.

Tony Armas (5-2) won his fifth straight decision after pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing four runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Chad Cordero notched his seventh save of the campaign by pitching a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts.

Houston starter Andy Pettitte (3-6) was tagged for seven runs on eight hits in just three innings of work in his sixth loss of the season.

Preston Wilson finished 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Astros, who have dropped three in a row.

The Nationals went up 3-0 in the home half of the first to take the lead early. Soriano doubled to lead off the inning and Royce Clayton then laid down a bunt single to put runners on the corners. With one out, Nick Johnson laced a single to right to plate Soriano. A ground out by Jose Guillen moved the runners up a base and Zimmerman's liner to left scored Clayton and Johnson.

The Astros made it a 3-1 game in the second as Pettitte helped himself out with a double that scored Wilson, who singled to start the inning.

Vidro's three-run homer in the home half of the second pushed Washington's lead to 6-1. Soriano and Clayton both singled with two outs before Vidro crushed a 1-1 pitch into the bullpen in left.

Zimmerman's sacrifice fly in the third scored Marlon Byrd, who tripled to center earlier in the frame to make it a 7-1 contest.

A one-out RBI double in the fourth by Adam Everett followed by Orlando Palmeiro's pinch-hit single put runners on the corners. Chris Burke's sacrifice fly then made it a 7-3 game.

Eric Bruntlett singled to lead off the sixth inning and then swiped second base and later third. Pinch hitter Willy Taveras then sliced a single to right to make it a 7-4 game.

Jon Rauch walked Morgan Ensberg to start the seventh and Ensberg stole second and went to third as Matthew LeCroy's throw sailed into center field. After Rauch walked Mike Lamb, Wilson's liner to left made it a 7-5 game.

Soriano singled in the seventh and advanced to second on Clayton's sacrifice bunt. Soriano then stole third and scored on Vidro's sac fly to give the Nationals an 8-5 lead.

Gary Majewski threw a scoreless eighth for Washington while Cordero closed things out in the ninth.

Game Notes

Armas is 5-0 over his last eight starts...Vidro last homered on April 12 before his three-run blast in the second inning...Guillen left the game in the third inning with a right hamstring strain...Houston stole seven bases as Wilson and Bruntlett each had swiped two...Berkman left the game in the third inning with a sore right knee...Houston left 12 runners on base.

The holiday season is here, and the Houston Astros are wrapping up another year of community service to cap an exciting campaign that ended with the club's first World Series appearance.
While the players were busy providing excitement on the field, they also were fixtures in the community through various activities that benefitted children and those in need in and around the Houston area.

March
The Astros extended their community efforts to their Spring Training home in Kissimmee, Fla., with the Spring Training Week of Caring. They invited over 600 students from Hickory Tree Elementary in St. Cloud to Osceola County Stadium for the annual "Make Reading Come Alive" event.

Throughout the rest of the Week of Caring, Astros players and staff participated in community events in the Kissimmee/Orlando area. General manager Tim Purpura took part in the opening ceremonies for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, a celebration of cancer survivorship that raises money for life saving programs of research, education, advocacy, and patient services.

Manager Phil Garner and the Astros played host to a group of children and their families from Give Kids the World at a home game with the Atlanta Braves. Give Kids the World is an Orlando-based non-profit organization that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

April
During the first homestand of the season, the Astros held the inaugural Astros in Action Foundation Leadoff Luncheon benefiting the Bush-Clinton Fund for Tsunami Relief. Headed by former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, the Bush-Clinton Fund was formed at the request of President George W. Bush in response to the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia. The members of the 2005 Houston Astros along with owner Drayton McLane, Purpura and Garner were in attendance at the luncheon to lead off the new season and help raise money for the people and nations affected by the tsunami.

One day earlier, officials from the Astros, Minute Maid, and La Marque/West Texas City Little League cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Bobby Beach Memorial Stadium, and Brandon Backe pitched the first game to 20 La Marque Little League players while Milo Hamilton called the action live from the field.

May
Outfielder Orlando Palmeiro, along with third-base coach Doug Mansolino and assistant general manager Ricky Bennett, traveled to the Houston VA Medical Center (HVAMC) to visit patients and to honor the brave men and women who are veterans of the United States armed services.

On May 28, over 2,000 men, women, and children participated in the third Astros Annual Race for the Pennant 5K Run/Walk and Junction Jack's Kid Fun Run. The race started and ended at Minute Maid Park and proceeds benefitted the Astros in Action Foundation. Participants in the race came from all over the state of Texas. Junction Jack's Kids Fun Run was non-competitive -- all kids 12-and-under received medals.

The Astros played host to 30 young, severely injured veterans from all over the United States at a game with the Cardinals. The group from the Impact Players Partners organization met with Astros players and coaches during batting practice, attended a special meet and greet with Roger Clemens and Purpura, and watched the game from the Harris County Sports Authority suite in center field. During a pregame ceremony, the Impact a Hero Day participants presented Clemens with an award for his outstanding work with the armed forces.

Later that month, pink, green, blue and orange Astros uniforms decorated Minute Maid Park as the Astros Wives took the field for the inaugural Houston Astros Wives vs. Texas Rangers Wives Charity Softball Game. The game benefitted the Texas Chapters of the Autism Society of America (ASA), which is dedicated to increasing public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by individuals with autism and their families. Autism has increased meaning for the Astros because pitcher Russ Springer and his wife, Kelly, have a 6-year-old son, Jake, who is autistic.

The event, chaired by Christi Ensberg and Jennifer Everett, raised over $26,000 for the ASA.

July
The Astros and Cingular Wireless joined forces for the Cell Phones for Soldiers Drive. Astros fans were asked to bring their old cell phones to the Fourth of July game, where volunteers from the Kingwood First Presbyterian Church collected the old phones at all of the Minute Maid Park gates. The drive netted over 1,000 donated cell phones, which went to help purchase phone cards for America's soldiers to call home through Cell Phones for Soldiers, a national non-profit organization started by two Massachusetts teenagers.

Several Astros participated in the annual Methodist Hospital Day. Hall of Fame broadcaster Hamilton emceed the event, while Lance Berkman, Brad Lidge, Morgan Ensberg, Jose Vizcaino and mascot Junction Jack entertained the patients, doctors, and nurses by participating in an assortment of light-hearted contests.

Astros players and coaches, joined by McLane, president of business operations Pam Gardner, Purpura and Garner, visited with injured soldiers July 22 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Following the visit, the Astros attended a BBQ at The Mologne House for patients and their families along with members of the Texas Congressional Delegation. The Mologne House, located on the Walter Reed complex, provides housing for injured soldiers and their families.

The next day, the Astros continued their community outreach in Washington, D.C., with a visit to patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital.

The weekend concluded with Andy Pettitte making a trip to the White House to participate in a T-ball game on the South Lawn. A team from Houston's West University Little League squared off against a team from Williamsport, Pa. Both teams are part of the Little League Challenger Division for children who are mentally or physically disabled.

The Houston Astros had just been swept by the Chicago White Sox in the 101st World Series on Wednesday night, but even that disappointment couldn't completely ruin what had been a magnificent October by the Astros. For the first time since the franchise began play in 1962, Houston reached the World Series with an inspiring October run that won't soon be forgotten.
"[October] was a lot like our season in general," said second baseman Craig Biggio. "Some highs, some lows, but we kept moving ahead until the end. Every day was tense -- every pitch, almost. A lot of emotion swings. Say what you will about it, it was never boring."

Quite the opposite.

Beginning with the Wild Card-clinching win over the Cubs on Oct. 2, right through the Game 4 loss in the World Series to the White Sox, October was a wild ride for the back-to-back National League Wild Card winners.

The Astros capped their unbelievable run from a 15-30 record in May to the playoffs with a come-from-behind win over the Cubs at Minute Maid Park on the final day of the regular season. Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Astros tied the game on Jason Lane's homer, and Adam Everett scored the go-ahead run later on an error in the inning as Houston earned a 6-4 win behind Roy Oswalt.

Oswalt, as he had been so many times during the season, was the stopper in the game the Astros had to have to edge the Phillies for the final NL playoff berth.

The Astros met a familiar foe in the National League Division Series in the Atlanta Braves.

Morgan Ensberg drove in five runs on three hits in Game 1, tying Carlos Beltran's franchise record for RBIs in a playoff game, and Andy Pettitte limited Atlanta to four hits and three runs in seven innings as Houston took a 10-5 victory in the opener.

The Braves evened the series the next day as rookie Brian McCann, in his first career playoff plate appearance, hit a three-run home run off Roger Clemens to help the Braves to a 7-1 win behind John Smoltz.

A sellout crowd at Minute Maid Park saw the Astros regain the series lead with a 7-3 win in Game 3 as Oswalt held the Braves to three runs in 7 1/3 innings. Mike Lamb broke a 2-2 tie with a solo homer in the third, and Biggio, who had three doubles on the day, keyed a four-run Houston seventh with a leadoff two-bagger off Chris Reitsma.

Game 4 of the NLDS made playoff history.

The longest postseason game in Major League history had it all: grand slams by Atlanta's Adam LaRoche and Houston's Lance Berkman, and a game-tying home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth by Astros catcher Brad Ausmus.

The game featured Clemens' first relief outing since July 18, 1984, and his first career pinch-hit appearance. Houston backup catcher Raul Chavez played first base for the first time in his career, and starting catcher Ausmus played some first base, but then moved back behind the plate when Clemens came in the game.

The sellout crowd of 43,413 saw Houston come back from a 6-1 eighth-inning deficit to win, 7-6. They saw 90 years on this earth and 42 years of Major League experience do battle when the 43-year-old Clemens faced 47-year-old Julio Franco.


Home | News | Video | Audio | Photos
When it finally ended, they saw Houston rookie Chris Burke drill a walk-off home run with one out in the 18th inning to send the Astros to the National League Championship Series for the second year in a row against the St. Louis Cardinals.

"It took every single guy we had. It took every single ounce of energy we had," Houston closer Brad Lidge said. "That's why it feels so good right now. It's just incredible. When you win a game like this, you know you've put everything on the line ... that's why it feels great."

The Rocket was literally the last man in the bullpen. He delivered a sacrifice bunt in the 15th in a pinch-hit appearance, and then stayed in the game for the final three innings.

"I've been in a lot of wonderful playoff games, a lot of wonderful World Series -- a couple of them," Clemens said. "I think a couple of the best ones I've been in have been on the losing side. But this game here was incredible."

Burke's next playoff at-bat would come on Oct. 12, when he delivered a pinch-hit two-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 1 of the NLCS at St. Louis. However, the Astros couldn't mount much else offensively against Chris Carpenter as the Cardinals claimed a 5-3 victory.

Game 2 of the NLCS was Oswalt's turn, and once again the right-hander was sensational in a big game. The right-hander gave up five hits in seven innings, although he lost his shutout bid on a solo homer by Albert Pujols in the sixth. Oswalt walked three and struck out six.

"He was outstanding," Everett said. "Every pitch he threw just seemed like it had a little bit extra. His curveball was great; his slider and his fastball [were] tremendous."

Burke, the NLDS hero, contributed a triple, an RBI single and two runs scored. The top third of the order -- Biggio, Willy Taveras and Lance Berkman -- were a combined 6-for-14. Burke, Everett and Ausmus contributed a combined two RBIs and three runs scored.

The Astros returned home for Game 3 and took a one-game advantage in the series, thanks to Lamb's two-run homer and Lane's RBI single and run scored, as the Astros and Clemens won, 4-3.

"Every day was tense, every pitch almost. A lot of emotion swings. Say what you will about it, it was never boring."
-- Craig Biggio

In Game 4, the Astros outpitched, outhit and outplayed the NL Central Division champs in a tight contest that wasn't decided until Houston snuffed out a ninth-inning rally with an improbable double play that even the Astros doubted they could turn.

When Eric Bruntlett and Everett teamed up for the game-ending 4-6-3 double play on a slow grounder off the bat of John Mabry, the Astros had parlayed their October magic into one more win that put them on the cusp of the World Series.

"When that ball left [Mabry's] bat, I thought, 'No way we turn that double play,'" Ensberg said. "I didn't think it was hit hard enough, but Eric made a quick throw, and Adam turned it about as quick as you'll ever see. It was an amazing play, really."

Houston's pitching staff continued to stifle St. Louis, holding the Cards to one run on five hits.

"I think we're all a little shocked right now at the way that game just ended," said Lamb. "It's a great feeling to be up 3-1 on the defending National League champions, but we've still got a long way to go."

That became evident the next night when the Astros came within one strike of clinching the NL pennant.

In Game 5, the Astros appeared to have their first trip to the World Series wrapped up after Berkman's go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh, but Pujols' three-run blast in the ninth off Lidge saved the Cards.

"This is why this game is so great. This is why we all play it and this is why we all love it," said Lane. "This was two great teams slugging back and forth."

Added Ausmus: "It just wasn't meant to be. It was actually a great baseball game to sit and watch. Unfortunately for us, we wound up losing."

It was truly one for the ages, with tension on every pitch and an emotional grind for all. There was the euphoria for the Astros over Berkman's opposite-field three-run homer in the seventh inning off Carpenter that gave Houston the lead, followed minutes later by the disappointment over the Cardinals, one pitch away from elimination, rallying with one of the more incredible comebacks in playoff history against one of the best closers in the game.

"The fans certainly got their money's worth," said Biggio.

Back in St. Louis for Game 6, the Astros turned to their stopper one more time.

With Oswalt pitching another masterpiece in a convincing 5-1 win over the Cardinals, the resilient Astros did what their doubters said they couldn't do -- make it to the World Series for the first time in the 44 years since the franchise began play in 1962.

Lane contributed a home run, and Ausmus had three hits.

"People that thought we would be down or flat after [the loss in Game 5] don't understand this team at all," Ensberg said. "I mean, we came back from 15-30; we came back from devastating losses before. No one in this room doubted we would come back again."

Houston's first World Series game didn't go as well as hoped, as Roger Clemens left in the second inning because of a strained left hamstring.

Lamb hit his third homer of the postseason and Berkman drove in two runs on two hits, but it wasn't enough as the White Sox and Jose Contreras recorded a 5-3 victory at U.S. Cellular Field.

Game 2 proved to be one of the most exciting games of the Series, as Houston was unable to hold a 4-2 lead in the seventh. Pettitte held the White Sox to two runs in six innings, but the White Sox broke through for four runs off the Houston bullpen in the seventh to take the lead.

The Astros weren't finished.

With two on and two outs in the top of the ninth, Jose Vizcaino lined a two-run single off White Sox closer Bobby Jenks to tie the game. Burke slid under the tag of Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski to keep his team alive.

Unfortunately for the Astros, the White Sox had an improbable comeback of their own for the bottom of the ninth.

With one out, Scott Podsednik, who didn't hit a homer in the regular season, hit a solo shot to right-center off Lidge to give Chicago a 7-6 victory and a 2-0 lead in the World Series.

The Astros were rolling along with a 4-0 lead in the fifth in Game 3 at Minute Maid Park. Oswalt was on the mound, the crowd was into it and the Astros seemed headed towards their first Fall Classic win. But a five-run fifth by Chicago, during which it sent 11 men to the plate, erased Houston's lead.

The Astros tied it on Jason Lane's RBI single in the eighth. And it stayed tied until the 14th inning, when former Astro Geoff Blum's home run gave the White Sox the lead in what was the longest World Series game in history.

Brandon Backe shut out the White Sox on five hits in seven innings in Game 4, but Chicago right-hander Freddy Garcia (another former Astro) was just as stingy. The game went to the bullpens, and Jermaine Dye's RBI single with two outs in the eighth was the difference in a 1-0 victory that gave the White Sox their first World Series title in 88 years.

For the Astros, their wild October ended with the tying run at second when Orlando Palmeiro grounded out to end the game.

"I was with a World Series winner [the Angels in 2002], but this was more exciting because we came from so far back and had so much to overcome to get here," Palmeiro said. "This has been an unbelieveable run."

The Houston Astros gave a final salute to their fans at City Hall on Friday, saying one last goodbye during a "Thanks for the Ride" Downtown rally, hosted by Mayor Bill White.
The rally celebrated the National League champion Astros, who were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.

The rally was well-attended on both sides -- thousands of fans showed up to Hermann Square at City Hall, and several Astros participated, including manager Phil Garner, pitching coach Jim Hickey, hitting coach Gary Gaetti, and players Brandon Backe, Dan Wheeler, Craig Biggio, Adam Everett, Mike Lamb, Lance Berkman and Willy Taveras. Their wives and children accompanied them on stage.

From the front office side, club owner Drayton McLane headed a troop that included Tal Smith and Pam Gardner, club presidents, and general manager Tim Purpura.

Play-by-play radio announcer Milo Hamilton emceed the event.

Garner, along with several players, addressed the crowd. The loudest cheer was for Biggio, who waved to the crowd as it chanted "BIG-GI-O! BIG-GI-O!"

"Our fans have been supportive to us all season long," Biggio said. "To be able to be here today and enjoy it with them, they're a huge part of our success. To come out and thank them, that's what it's all about."

Said Garner: "We wanted to win the World Series, but we were one of two teams in Major League Baseball still playing in October. I'm proud of our guys for a great effort. We went where nobody thought we could go. I'm disappointed that we didn't win, but I'm really not disappointed in the team at all."

The World Series ended on Wednesday, when the White Sox squeaked by with a 1-0 win to seal the four-game sweep. The World Series loss ended the Astros' 2005 season on a down note, but Friday's rally reminded fans that the Astros were still the champions of the National League for the first time in Houston history.

"We could not have done this without you," Purpura said to the crowd. "You stayed with us in April and May. You stayed with us in June, July and August. You're here with us now.

"Thank you for the support. Thank you, Houston."

Added McLane: "We came this close to a world championship. We'll be the world champions. Just give us one more year."