Another late hit proved to be the game-winner for the Braves as Eric Hinske singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh, pushing Atlanta past the Astros for a 3-2 win.
The theme for the first few innings was wasted opportunities for the Braves. They loaded the bases with one out in the first, but Hinske and Alex Gonzalez struck out to end the inning. They loaded the bases again in the second after a strikeout and force out with a runner on second, but Brian McCann grounded out to end the inning.
The Astros broke the scoreless tie in the fifth when Matt Downs hit a solo homer. But the Braves answered in the sixth when they put two in scoring position with one out, and Joe Mather singled home two for a 2-1 lead. With runners on first and second, Martin Prado grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Houston came back with the tying run in the seventh when Carlos Lee reached on a Prado error and eventually scored on a double by Downs. But the Braves again answered with the go-ahead run in the seventh when Nate McLouth walked, moved to second on a Dan Uggla walk and scored on a single by Hinske. It proved to be the game-winner.
Hinske went 3-4 with the go-ahead RBI. Mather went 2-4 with two RBIs, and he also drilled a liner to center that was caught. McLouth added a single and two walks. The Braves had nine hits, all singles, and five walks.
Tommy Hanson allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out 10. One of the runs was unearned due to the Prado error that allowed the eventual run to reach base. Hanson looked as good as he has all season, inducing eight groundouts to four flyouts while throwing a ton of strikes over 94 pitches. It was Hanson's fifth career double digit strikeout game.
Eric O'Flaherty struck out two in a scoreless eighth. Craig Kimbrel struck out the side around a single for his 10th save.
Brett Myers walked a tightrope throughout his six innings of work, allowing two runs on eight hits with three walks and six strikeouts. He got out of two bases-loaded situations and had to throw 110 pitches over six innings. Fernando Abad gave up the go-ahead run in the seventh.
Downs was the entire Houston offense, going 2-3 with a double, homer and two RBIs. The only other hits were two singles by Lee. The Astros struck out 15 times and walked once.
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Astros fans check out Crawfish Boxes.