Ensberg-led Astros win

ATLANTA – The Houston Astros figured their pitching would have to carry them through the postseason.

Instead, the offense came up big in the very first game.

Morgan Ensberg had five RBIs and 39-year-old leadoff hitter Craig Biggio was in the middle of just about every rally, leading Houston past the Atlanta Braves 10-5 in Game 1 of their N.L. playoff series Wednesday.

Andy Pettitte overcame two homers to join Atlanta’s John Smoltz as the winningest pitcher in postseason history, a mark that Smoltz can reclaim for himself when he goes against Roger Clemens in Game 2 today.

Houston is trying to beat the Braves in the opening round for the second year in a row, but in a decidedly different manner than the power-hitting team that pulled off a five-game triumph last year.

That team had Carlos Beltran, Jeff Kent and a healthy Jeff Bagwell. This team is built around the starting rotation: Pettitte, Clemens and 20-game winner Roy Oswalt.

“Obviously, we had some pretty big bats last year,” Biggio said. “But this year’s lineup isn’t so bad, either.”

The Astros, who led the National League in ERA but ranked 11th in runs, had no trouble scoring on Tim Hudson and the shaky Braves bullpen. Houston pecked away with eight singles, nine walks and two hit batters. Three doubles – one of them by Pettitte – were the only extra-base hits.

The Braves went with Hudson for the opener instead of Smoltz, who’s been bothered by a stiff shoulder. Manager Bobby Cox figured Hudson was just as good a choice, a former 20-game winner who pitched in four postseasons with Oakland.

But the right-hander was roughed up for five runs in 6 2/3 innings – the most he had allowed since a June 13 loss at Texas, which preceded a stint on the disabled list.

“The first few innings, I just overthrew it,” said Hudson, who gave up seven hits, walked five and hit a batter. “I made an adjustment about the fourth and started feeling pretty good. But I took too long to make the adjustment.”

Pettitte, improving to 14-8 in the postseason, pitched four-hit ball over seven innings – more than good enough the way the Astros were hitting Hudson.

Biggio played the role of leadoff hitter to perfection. He had two hits, a sacrifice fly, a sac bunt and a walk in six trips to the plate, with three runs.

Ensberg tied a Houston postseason record with his five RBIs. He had a run-scoring single in the first, a two-run single in the third, another RBI single in the seventh and walked with the bases loaded in the eighth.

Astros 10, Braves 5

HOUSTON LEADS SERIES 1-0

a-singled for Taveras in the 8th. b-flied out for Brower in the 8th. c-grounded out for Wheeler in the 9th. d-struck out for Jordan in the 9th. e-announced for McBride in the 9th. f-singled for Johnson in the 9th. E—Ensberg (1). LOB—Houston 10, Atlanta 5. 2B—Biggio (1), Ausmus (1), Pettitte (1), MGiles (1), CJones (1). 3B—Francoeur (1). HR—AJones (1), off Pettitte; CJones (1), off Pettitte. RBIs—Biggio (1), Bagwell (1), Ensberg 5 (5), OPalmeiro 2 (2), CJones 2 (2), AJones 2 (2), JEstrada (1). S—Biggio, Taveras, Pettitte 2. SF—Biggio. GIDP—Lane, Ausmus, Furcal, BJordan. Runners left in scoring position—Houston 6 (OPalmeiro 2, AEverett 2, Ausmus 2); Atlanta 2 (JuFranco 2). DP—Houston 2 (AEverett, Biggio and Berkman), (JVizcaino, AEverett and Berkman); Atlanta 2 (CJones, MGiles and JuFranco), (Furcal, MGiles and JuFranco).

HBP—by Wheeler (MGiles), by Devine (Lane), by THudson (OPalmeiro). WP—Foster. T—3:11. A—40,590 (50,091).