Bizzare Scene As Astros Win

The Houston Astros don't mind fighting for the division crown and the playoffs. They hate it, though, when they have to battle a fan.

A fan attacked Astros right fielder Bill Spiers during Houston's 9-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. After the 23-year-old fan came on the field and tackled Spiers in the outfield, his teammates retaliated by beating and kicking the man.

"He jumped on my shoulders," said Spiers, who ended up with a welt under his left eye, a bloody nose and whiplash. "He never said a word."

"Hampton took off and went down there so fast, he was in the middle of the pile faster than anybody else," said Brewers manager Jim Lefebvre. "I was worried he might have hurt his hand."

The incident, which occurred before the Brewers batted in the sixth, overshadowed a come-from-behind win by Houston, which scored four runs in the eighth and then put the game away with Carl Everett's three-run homer in the ninth.

Spiers' day-to-day status was of great concern to Astros manager Larry Dierker, whose first-place team remained 2 1/2 games ahead of Cincinnati in the NL Central. The Reds beat St. Louis 5-4.

"This puts us in a distinct, competitive disadvantage for the last week of the season," Dierker said.

The attacker, whose name was not immediately released, was led off in handcuffs by Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies.

Capt. Randy Tylke said he expected the case to go the district attorney on Monday The attacker could face charges of battery and disorderly conduct.

Hampton was protecting a 2-1 lead and finishing his final warmup pitches when the attack occurred. As soon as Hampton saw what was happening, he led the charge that brought the entire team with him.

"By the time I got there, rage had taken over," Hampton said. "I remember Bill on the bottom and I was trying to get him off. Bill couldn't see it coming."

Spiers finished the inning, but was replaced at the start of the seventh.

Hampton, one of two 20-game winners for the Astros, bruised his right, non-pitching hand in the scuffle but shook off the injury and pitched a scoreless sixth inning before leaving.

Hampton wore a bandage on his right hand after the game, but said it was precautionary.

Milwaukee starter Hideo Nomo pitched seven strong innings and left with a 4-2 lead, but relievers Eric Plunk (4-4) and Hector Ramirez failed to protect it.

After the Astros loaded the bases off Plunk in the eighth, he walked in a run and was replaced by Ramirez, who walked in another run and then gave up a two-run single to Tony Eusebio.

"You don't mind if you get beat, but we beat ourselves by not throwing the ball over the plate," Lefebvre said after his pitchers walked eight batters.

Jay Powell pitched two innings for his fourth save.

The Astros took a 2-0 lead off Nomo in the second.

Ken Caminiti hit a solo home run with one out. Eusebio singled one out later, advanced on a walk and scored on Hampton's single. Craig Biggio walked to load the bases, but Spiers ground out to end the inning.

Mark Loretta had a RBI single in the fifth for Milwaukee.

The Brewers loaded the bases in the seventh on a pair of singles and a walk before Chris Holt walked Ron Belliard to force in a run. Pinch-hitter Jose Valentin then lined a two-run single off Trever Miller (3-2) for a 4-2 lead.

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