By Staff
For most of the season, the Phillies looked as if they would run away with the Brewton Babe Ruth season championship.
Things have changed after a midseason loss to the Expos and last week's upset loss against the Astros.
The loss to the Astros and two wins last week by the Rockies have pulled the Rockies to within one game of the lead with two games left.
NOTE: The Rockies pulled even in the standings Monday when they beat the Phillies 3-0. The teams met again Tuesday in a makeup game that decided the league championship.
A recap of that game and the other games from this week will be in Sunday's issue.
Rockies 8, Astros 6
A four-run fourth inning enabled the Rockies to snap a 3-3 deadlock en route to victory over the Astros.
Mackie Jackson led the Rockies attack with three singles, while Casey Butts had a single, a double and an RBI. Chase Crosby and Brackin Davis both had a double, while Wesley Fillmore and John Dixon each had a single.
The Astros got a four-for-four night from Jared Cooper, who had three doubles, a single and an RBI. Brandon Odom, Derek Busby and Kyle Baggett all
See BABE RUTH Page 7A
added a single.
Rockies hurler Kendall Land went the first six innings and struck out seven to net the win.
Expos 12, Padres 2
The Expos needed just four and one-half innings to dispose of the Padres. The big blows were five-run first and fourth innings.
Aaron Lambert had a pair of singles to pace the Expos, while Steven Murphy had a single and three RBIs. Becker Denton clubbed a solo homerun. Justin Gomez had a single and drove in two runs. Travis Holland, Tanner Shehan and Willie Southwell all added a single.
The Padres got a single and an RBI from Tyler Brown. Ryan Meier, Jamar Travis, Tyler Nall and Matt Hamric all had a single.
Murphy got the win for the Expos, as he went the first three innings. Mabry Cook covered the last two frames, as he and Murphy combined on a five-hitter.
Rockies 14, Expos 4
The Expos raced out to a 3-0 lead after a half inning, but the Rockies more than made up for that with 12 unanswered runs over the first two frames.
James Hamric went the distance on a four-hitter for the Rockies, as he struck out 10.
Chase Crosby and Mackie Jackson powered the Rockies to victory, as they each had a single, a double and two RBIs. Hamric also came through with a single and a double. Aaron Nelson, Casey Butts and Wes Fillmore all had a single and an RBI. Kendall Land had a single, while Jake Dixon had an RBI.
The Expos received two singles and two RBIs from Becker Denton. Tanner Shehan and Edward Taylor both had a single.
Padres 6, Pirates 5
Tyler Nall's sacrifice fly in the fifth inning snapped a 4-4 deadlock and propelled the Padres to a win over the Pirates.
Jimmy Jones had a pair of singles with an RBI to lead the Padres, while Matt Hamric had a single and a double. Jamar Travis had a pair of singles. Jake Hodge, Clayton Booker and Tyler Brown all had a single and an RBI. Ryan Meier had a single.
Jones picked up the win, as he started and worked the first five innings with seven strikeouts. Terry Lucas worked a hitless inning of relief and got a save.
The Pirates got a pair of singles and two RBIs from Cory Burkett. Will Waters also had two singles. Bobby Freeman smacked a triple. Jake Smith had a single and an RBI. Jake Hunsinger, Jake Dixon and Sam Sharpe all added a single.
Astros 6, Phillies 4
The Astros dealt the Phillies just their second loss of the season. The Phillies had a 1-0 lead until the Astros took the lead for good with a four-run third inning.
Derek Busby worked six and two-thirds innings to get the win for the Astros. Busby allowed three hits and struck out eight.
Ryan Hand had a single, a double and two RBIs to pace the Astros. Jared Cooper had a double and an RBI. Brandon Odom had a single and an RBI. John Mathieu added a single.
Allen Williams had two of the Phillies three hits with a single and a double. Jimmy Conner had the other hit, a single, and an RBI. Corey Williams also picked up an RBI.