Braves, Astros look for more offense

HOUSTON – The Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros hope Texas will be the swing state in their National League division series after both teams’ bats resembled toothpicks for much of Games 1 and 2 at Atlanta’s Turner Field.

Atlanta stranded 22 baserunners and was 2 for 19 with runners in scoring position before Rafael Furcal’s 11th-inning homer in Game 2 drove in Charles Thomas from second base to even the best-of-5 series at one game apiece.

Houston had its own problems after drilling four homers in Game 1 and two more in the first three innings of Game 2. The Astros collected only two singles the rest of the way and are batting .233 in the series, which resumes today with Game 3 at Minute Maid Park.

“It’s not just home runs that you need,” said Houston manager Phil Garner, whose team has scored eight of its 11 runs via homers. “When we can, we like to take advantage (of getting guys on base). We’ll run. We have hit and run on many occasions down this stretch.

“Our guys are battling. You know what you want to do; sometimes you just can’t get it done.”

Craig Biggio’s epic postseason struggles have actually worsened, with the left fielder’s career playoff batting average dipping from .130 to .129 after he went 1 for 8 in the first two games. Garner replaced Biggio with Jason Lane in the eighth inning of Game 2 with the Astros clinging to a 2-1 lead, though the manager insisted he did so for defensive purposes.

Atlanta’s No. 2-4 hitters, usually a fearsome bunch, are hitting a combined .115 in the series, with Chipper Jones hitless in eight at-bats and J.D. Drew 1 for 8.

“The nice thing is, it’s a team effort and not an individual effort,” Drew said. “If it was, I’d be in trouble.”

The change of venue should favor the Astros, who averaged 6.2 runs during their franchise-record 18-game home winning streak that began Aug. 23.

“There’s no reason we can’t come out swinging the bats well again,” said right fielder Lance Berkman, who has three of Houston’s 17 postseason hits, including a two-run homer in Game 1.

Another factor that could contribute to an offensive awakening is that the Game 3 starters, Atlanta’s John Thomson and Houston’s Brandon Backe, are in their first postseasons.

Backe is already accustomed to pressure situations.

The converted reliever pitched the Astros into the postseason with five strong innings in the team’s regular-season finale.