Astros' new pair of 'Killer Bs' has Houston's fans buzzing

Houston took a 2-1 lead in the series with Roger Clemens set to pitch today.
HOUSTON (AP) -- A couple of new Killer Bs have the Houston Astros one win away from ending 43 seasons of playoff failure.
Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer and Brandon Backe pitched six solid innings in his postseason debut to lead the Astros to their 19th straight home win, 8-5 over Atlanta on Saturday for a 2-1 lead in their NL series.
Hoping to clinch the Astros' first playoff series win in club history, Roger Clemens will pitch on three days' rest for the first time this season today.
"I was praying to be in this kind of situation, where every game means something," said Beltran, traded from last-place Kansas City at midseason. "Being around so many good players in the clubhouse has helped me to become a better player."
Bad history
Houston has a humiliating history of October failure, having lost seven series overall and falling to Atlanta in the first round in 1997, 1999 and 2001. But with help from new guys like Beltran and Backe, and timely contributions from Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Lance Berkman, the wild-card Astros are close to advancing.
"We still have a long way to go," said Bagwell, a 13-year veteran and one of the original Killer Bs.
The Braves got off to a bad start at Minute Maid Park. Starter John Thomson threw only four pitches before leaving after reaggravating a muscle pull in his side that forced him out of the final game of the regular season.
"It didn't hurt when I was warming up, but I just couldn't pitch," Thomson said. "I don't know how to explain it. It just popped. I was walking the stairs to go back into the dugout, and if I took a deep breath or moved wrong, it hurt."
Thomson was replaced by Paul Byrd, who took the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in 41/3 innings.
"I know this team is hot here," Byrd said. "But I didn't feel like they were unbeatable."
Home sweet home
The return home did wonders for the Astros, who didn't have a hit over the final 51/3 innings and finished with only four in Game 2 on Thursday.
Beltran went 2-for-5 after going hitless in five at-bats in Game 2, Morgan Ensberg had three RBIs and Berkman, Jeff Kent and Mike Lamb each drove in a run.
Brad Lidge got the final three outs for the save. He recovered nicely from a blown save in Game 2, when he pitched a season-high 22/3 innings.
Andruw Jones hit a three-run homer in the eighth for the Braves, and Johnny Estrada also connected.
Backe worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the second, striking out Byrd with a 93-mph fastball to end the inning. Backe also shook off Estrada's homer and Jones' RBI double in the fourth, retiring the final seven batters he faced.
When Backe struck out Jones to end the sixth, Houston's largest crowd of the season -- 43,547 -- saluted him with a standing ovation. Then Backe finally let go of some of those built-up nerves, yelling and pumping his fists as he darted back to the dugout.
"I've already proven myself in the stretch," Backe said. "It's nice to know that I can get through that situation at that time. It just builds more confidence that your back's against the wall a little bit but you end up pushing right out."
Early lead
The Astros took off some of the pressure on Backe by jumping out to an early lead.
Biggio led off the third with a single and Beltran followed with the second home run of his short postseason career. His two-run shot landed in the mitt of a young fan, just over the outstretched glove of right fielder J.D. Drew.
Kent's RBI double in the fifth bounced off the scoreboard in left field, allowing Berkman time to score from first base. Ensberg singled in Kent on the next at-bat to put the Astros ahead 4-2.
ATLANTAHOUSTON
abrhbiabrhbi
Furcal ss5010Biggio lf3110
MGiles 2b5000Qualls p0000
JDrew rf4110Lamb ph0001
CJones 3b3100Sprger p0000
JEstda c3111Brntlett ss0000
Lroche 1b3000CBeltrn cf5222
Ritsma p0000Bgwell 1b4110
DWise lf1000Brkmn rf3221
AJones cf4233JKent 2b3111
Thmas lf2010Ensbrg 3b4023
JuCruz p0000JVzcno ss4000
Thmsn p0000Lidge p0000
Byrd p2011Asmus c3110
Grybsk p0000Backe p1000
Alfnsca p0000OPlmro ph1010
TMartn p0000Lane lf1000
JuFrco 1b2000
Totals34585Totals328118
Atlanta000200030--5
Houston00202310x--8
DP--Houston 1. LOB--Atlanta 6, Houston 11. 2B--AJones (1), CBeltran (1), Bagwell (2), JKent (2), Ensberg (1). HR--JEstrada (1), AJones (2), CBeltran (2). SB--CBeltran (2). S--Backe. SF--Lamb.
IPHRERBBSO
Atlanta
Thomson1-310010
Byrd L,0-14 1-374433
Gryboski1-300000
Alfonseca2-312210
TMartin021110
Reitsma1 1-301111
JuCruz100020
Houston
Backe W,1-0652225
Qualls110001
Springer123312
Lidge S,1100002
TMartin pitched to 3 batters in the 6th. HBP--by Backe (Thomas). WP--Reitsma. Umpires--Home, Wally Bell; First, Fieldin Culbreth; Second, Joe Brinkman; Third, Tony Randazzo; Left, Tim McClelland; Right, Phil Cuzzi. T--3:19. A--43,547.
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