Paul bracket: Astros (69) defeat Astros (09) in five games

Game One: 69 Astros 5, 09 Astros 2
WP: Dierker (1-0)
LP; Oswalt (0-1)
Save: Gladding (1)
HR: Wynn (1)

Game Two: 09 Astros 7, 69 Astros 3
WP: W. Rodriguez (1-0)
LP: LeMaster (0-1)
HR: Berkman (1), Ca. Lee (1)

Game Three: 69 Astros 9, 09 Astros 5
WP: Wilson (1-0)
LP: Moehler (0-1)
HR: Blefary (1). Morgan (1), Bryant (1), Wynn (2)

Game Four: 69 Astros 8, 09 Astros 3
WP: Dierker (2-0)
LP: Hampton (0-1)
HR: Pence (1)

Game Five: 69 Astros 5, 09 Astros 4
WP: Griffin (1-0)
LP: Oswalt (0-2)
Save: Gladding (2)
HR: Wynn (3), Ca Lee (2)

The supposedly light-hitting 1969 Astros put up more than six runs a game to take this series.

Larry Dierker threw seven shutout innings in the opener at the Astrodome. Johnny Edwards plated the first run of the series with a second-inning sac fly to score Doug Rader. Jimmy Wynn made it 3-0 with a two-run homer in the sixth off Roy Oswalt, and the 69 Astros pieced together two more runs in the seventh off Felipe Paulino. Geoff Blue singled home two in the eighth off Jim Bouton, but Fred Gladding worked a scoreless ninth to wrap it up.

Wandy Rodriguez matched Dierker's outing in Game Two. Lance Berkman's three-run homer highlighted a four-run first against Denny LeMaster, and Carlos Lee added a solo shot in the fifth. Michael Bourn had three hits, two steals and two runs. The 69 Astros put up a four-run ninth against Tim Byrdak and LaTroy Hawkins, but it wasn't enough.

The series shifted to 2009 and Minute Maid Park for Game Three, Joe Morgan hit a two-run homer in the first inning against Brian Moehler, Jim Wynn added a solo blast in the third, and the 69 'Stros scored three more in the four and two in the fifth for a 8-0 lead. The home team broke through against Don Wilson for two in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the sixth to chase the big righty. Jim Ray struck out two with the bases loaded to end the sixth inning and fanned two more in a scoreless seventh, and Wade Blasingame induced a pair of double-play grounders in the final two frames.

Dierker threw six scoreless innings to open Game Four, and Rader staked him to a 2-0 lead with a two-out single in the first. Bob Watson and Tommy Davis, getting starts against lefty Mike Hampton, had RBI singles in the third. The 4-0 score held into the seventh, when Hunter Pence broke through with a homer. Miguel Tejada singled two runs home in the eighth to make it 4-3. but Jose Valverde melted down in the top of the ninth, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks before Hawkins got out of the inning. Pinch-hitter Curt Blefary had two of the RBIs.

Wynn homered in the first inning of Game Five (the Toy Cannon's third of the series), and Rader had a two-run double in a four-run fourth inning as the 69ers staked Tom Griffin to a 5-0 lead. Lee got two runs back in the bottom of the fourth with his second homer of the series, and Bourn picked up RBIs in the fifth and seventh innings. But Gladding induced double-play grounders in the eighth and ninth to nail down the game and the series.

Player of the series: Jimmy Wynn hit three homers and scored seven runs. He gets the nod over Dierker, who provided 15 innings of three-run ball in two starts.

Player availability: No issues for the 69 Astros.

Projected rotation: Dierker-LeMaster-Wilson-Dierker-(Griffin)-(LeMaster)-(Dierker)