Astros one win away, thanks to Backe
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The News Sports Writer. HOUSTON -- Brandon Backe grew up an Astros fan in Galveston. He returns to that familiar role today, yelling and screaming his head off from Houston&#39;s dugout.
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HOUSTONâAfter falling behind 0-2 in the NL Championship Series, the best-case scenario for the Houston Astros played itself out this weekend.
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HOUSTON -- A couple of new Killer B's have the Houston Astros one win from ending 43 seasons of playoff failure.
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With tensions running high at Wrigley Field, the Houston Astros kept their cool and climbed back into playoff contention. Lance Berkman homered and Carlos Hernandez earned his first major league
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On the strength of Carlos Beltran and a tireless bullpen, the Astros came back from a three-run deficit on Sunday to defeat the Cardinals, 6-5.
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Roger Clemens hopped off the mound, pumped his right fist and muttered to himself all the way to the dugout. His work was done and the Houston Astros were exactly where they wanted to be &#151; right back in the NL championship series. Pitching to save the Astros' season, Clemens came through. He slowed down St. Louis for seven innings, closer Brad Lidge finished off the Cardinals and Houston went on to win 5-2 Saturday, cutting its deficit to 2-1.
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The Houston Astros battered the Atlanta Braves, 9-3, in Game 1 of their N.L. division series even without the best from their starting pitcher, Roger Clemens.
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The Astros have counted Nolan Ryan, Mike Scott and Randy Johnson among their postseason starting pitchers. Though Backe didn&#39;t get the victory in the Astros&#39; 3-0 win over St.
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Houston Astros pitcher Brandon Backe got his first career homer, a two-run shot, and allowed one run in seven innings to keep the Astros in the thick of the NL wild-card chase with an 11-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday &#151; their season-high 10th straight victory.
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The home run was very important. The run home by Jason Bay was better still. Bay became the first Pirates player in 50 years to homer in five consecutive games, then ran over Houston catcher Eric Munson to score the winning run on Jose Bautista&#039;s short sacrifice fly in the 18th inning as Pittsburgh beat the Astros 8-7 Saturday night.
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Brandon Backe pitched seven innings and clubbed a two-run homer, the first of his major league career, to earn the Houston Astros an 11-5 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Monday.
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The Houston Astros won their 19th straight game at home and are one game from winning their first playoff series in 42 years.
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The Houston Astros closed to within   one and a half games of first place in the NL Central when   Craig Biggio's and Andy Pettitte helped guide the team to a 7-4   road win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
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The day after Scott Rolen slugged a two-run home run to help St. Louis beat the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series, he was asked to reflect on his first trip to the World Series. But like many Cardinals, the question prompted him to look back. Way back.
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No bullpen collapse by the Houston Astros this time. Brad Lidge was on the mound. The Astros closer allowed just one hit and struck out five in two innings Saturday, protecting Houston's lead and helping the Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 in Game 3 of the NL championship series.
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The Houston Astros not only tied the National League Championship Series with a 6-5 triumph yesterday over the St. Louis Cardinals.
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Houston starter Roy Oswalt gave up 12 hits. Closer Brad Lidge couldn't finish the ninth inning. The Astros left 15 runners on base. And Houston still found a way to win a game it hopes will provide an emotional lift as it tries to defend its NL pennant.