Astros motor past Phils again

PHILADELPHIA - Eric Bruntlett's daring dashes on the basepaths seemed symbolic of a Houston Astros team making a hard charge up the NL wild-card standings.

Jimmy Rollins' stumble around first base was only one of the costly blunders that has the Phillies slipping in the chase.

Bruntlett delivered as a pinch-runner, stealing second and third, then scoring the go-ahead run on Jason Lane's single in the ninth inning to lift the wild-card leading Astros to a 2-1 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

"We made it happen tonight," Houston manager Phil Garner said.

The Astros moved one game ahead of Florida and 11/2 ahead of Philadelphia in the wild-card standings with their 11th straight win over the Phillies, who lost their fourth straight overall.

Bruntlett's steals helped make a winner of Roy Oswalt, who struck out eight and allowed six hits and one earned run in eight spectacular innings.

Brad Lidge pitched the ninth for his 34th save.

With one out in the ninth, All-Star closer Billy Wagner walked Lance Berkman. Bruntlett stole second and third, his fourth and fifth steals this season, with huge jumps, though catcher Todd Pratt seemed to have trouble getting the ball out of his mitt each time.

Lane then ripped a single to left for a 2-1 lead. Charles Gipson ran for Lane and tested Pratt again, stealing second, but was thrown out trying to steal third, earning the battered catcher mock applause.

"Chances are you're not to going to string a few base hits against him, so it's worth taking a little bit of a risk," Bruntlett said of Wagner.

Pratt had to change his mitt in the ninth, though he wasn't blaming the equipment on his throwing woes. On Bruntlett's first steal, Pratt said he had no shot at throwing him out. On Bruntlett's second, Pratt said he simply double-clutched.

"It would have been nice to win both games, but if we continue to play like this, we'll be right there," Pratt said.

The Astros should know how tough it is to beat Wagner, the left-hander with the 100 mph fastball who had five 30-save seasons with them.

"The last team I want to be beat by is Houston," he said.

It took some gutsy pitching from Oswalt in the eighth to keep the Astros alive.

Rollins ripped what appeared to be a sure double to right to open the eighth, but he missed first base, stumbled rounding the bag and stayed put. He moved to second on a sacrifice and stayed there after a strikeout.

Oswalt then intentionally walked Bobby Abreu and walked Pat Burrell to load the bases. Ryan Howard, the sturdy slugger with a flair for the dramatic, hit a chopper to second to end the threat.

"It was key there," Oswalt said. "It may have cost them."

[Last modified September 7, 2005, 01:02:19]