Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee dropped his second straight start 7-0 Friday night against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Wandy Rodriguez took the initiative Friday night at Minute Maid Park by getting the Houston Astros back in the win column and outdueling Philadelphia Phillies standout left-hander Cliff Lee.
In the midst of a horrible second half of the season, the Astros (64-70) rarely get a chance these days to experience a quality win.
Rodriguez (13-9), who's been one of the few bright spots for Houston this season, tossed seven scoreless innings to lead the Astros to a 7-0 shutout over the 2008 World Series champions.
After producing an anemic .212 team batting average over their recent nine-game road trip, Houston's offense came to life against one of the top-notch starting pitchers in baseball.
Houston struck first by utilizing a four-run second inning behind the bats of Rodriguez and second baseman Kaz Matsui.
Rodriguez cracked a two-run double off his counterpart to score Hunter Pence and Jeff Keppinger, while Matsui made it a big inning by driving in Humberto Quintero and Rodriguez with a two-run double of his own.
Miguel Tejada led off the bottom of the third with a bloop single to left, setting up Pence, who followed with an opposite field two-run blast, his 21st of the season, to extend the Astros' lead to 6-0.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel pulled Lee, the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner, after three rough innings. The 31-year-old Lee (5-2), who won eight consecutive decisions from July 16-Aug. 24, struggled for the second straight start, allowing six runs on nine hits.
"He's a pro and I know he can handle the pressure," Manuel informed The Associated Press in regard to Lee. "That is how he got to 5-0 with us this year. I am really not concerned, it is just going to be a matter of him making his pitches."
Philadelphia veteran left-hander Jamie Moyer tossed three innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Astros slugger Carlos Lee took the 46-year-old Moyer deep in the fifth inning for his 23rd homer of the season to make it 7-0.
During the seventh, Philadelphia threatened to get on the scoreboard by loading the bases against Rodriguez. However, the 30-year-old lefty got Jimmy Rollins to fly out to left and struck out Shane Victorino to end the inning.
Relievers Tim Byrdak and Doug Brocail worked a scoreless eighth and ninth to close out the win for Houston. It was a positive change of pace for an Astros squad that finished 2-7 on its recent nine-game road trip.
"You should rise up every day, regardless of who you're facing," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "Sometimes, when one of the tougher guys like Lee is out there, you do focus a little bit more, I think."
Ace Roy Oswalt (8-5, 3.80 ERA) hopes to make it two wins in a row for the Astros when he takes on Phillies right-hander Joe Blanton (9-6, 3.77 ERA) in Saturday's 6:05 p.m. CT start.
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