The Braves lost the first game 5-4, won the second 11-5, and the lost the final game of the series and season 3-1. Casey Kotchman hit a two-run single in the Fourth to cut the lead of the Astros to two with a score of 4-2. The Braves tacked on a run in the Eighth and then tied the game in the top of the Ninth, but Atlanta’s bullpen could not take the game to extra innings as Julian Tavarez gave up a walk-off homer by Darin Erstad in the bottom of the Ninth as Houston clinched the win. In the 11-5 victory, former Astro Josh Anderson hit a solo homer in the First followed by a two-run homer in the Second as Atlanta would rally to score 9 runs in the first two innings. Jeff Francoeur and Brandon Jones each had three RBIs on the day and Brent Lillibridge had two. James Parr gave up five runs (4 earned) on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings while striking out none and walking one, and Vladamir Nunez of the bullpen receiving the win. In the final game of the series and season, the Braves lost 3-1 with Mike Hampton going six innings giving up three runs on four hits while striking out five and walking none in Atlanta’s 90th loss of the season. It was Atlanta’s first 90-loss season since 1990. Chipper Jones was the NL batting champ for the 2008 season with a .364 batting average as he fell just short of Mickey Mantle’s .365 record. Jones had a walk in his only plate appearance and if he had hit a single he would have topped Mantle’s record. The Braves finished the season 72-90 and 20 games behind the NL East champions, the Philadelphia Phillies. After the season started with much anticipation, the Braves were plagued by injury and were unable to find the rhythm and health they needed to clinch a playoff birth.Â
