Alberto Arias News

Houston took the lead with a pair of triples in the sixth Thursday and Lance Berkman added a three-run homer to help the Astros to a 9-4 win over Washington.

He's 24 years old and has had 143 at-bats in the major leagues. Duran has a .231 career average.

Hunter Pence put Houston in front with an eighth-inning homer Thursday and the Astros overcame a three-run deficit to defeat Texas 5-3. Houston salvaged the final contest of a three-game series and handed Alberto Arias his first victory of the season.

Rangers 5-3 on Thursday night to avoid a season sweep. Pence, who grew up in Arlington watching the Rangers play, hit the first pitch of the inning from Jason Jennings over the center-field wall.

The Nationals seem anxious to get rid of manager Manny Acta and many Astros' fans seem to think Acta would be a good fit in Houston.

Righthanded reliever Geoff Geary, who expected to come off the disabled list soon, was outrighted to Class AAA Round Rock and must decide if he'll accept the demotion or become a free agent.

Did Astros center fielder Michael Bourn have it all the way? Not exactly. "If I said that, I'd be lying to you," he said.

When Astros relief pitcher Geoff Geary arrived at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday afternoon, he was informed by team management he was being activated from the disabled list.

Astros relief pitcher Alberto Arias was carted off the field at Minute Maid Park on Friday afternoon after being hit in the side of the head by a thrown ball prior to batting practice.

Cincinnati Bottom 7th - Alberto Arias starts the inning for the Astros. Houston 1, Cincinnati 5 Houston Top 7th - - Jeff Keppinger grounded out third to first to end the inning.

Eight runs. All unearned. And that was the story of the Houston Astros on Monday at Great American Ball Park.

Ivan Rodriguez's 300th career home run gave the Astros the lead for good Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Let me first be very clear here - it CERTAINLY wasn't all Cooper's fault. It wasn't his fault that both Miggy and Carlos hit into double plays, it wasn't his fault that both Lance and Pence lost Sori's popup in the sun, leading to a 3 run 6th and it certainly was not his fault that with the game on the line, 2 outs, game tied, bases loaded, that ...

Ivan Rodriguez hit his 300th home run and Lance Berkman had two hits and an RBI as Houston snapped the Cubs' five-game winning streak.

Houston Bottom 7th - Kazuo Matsui flied out to left. None on with two outs and Michael Bourn due up.

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was out of the lineup Thursday afternoon against Houston, one day after getting hit on the elbow by a pitch.

As Cecil Cooper slowly walked to the Minute Maid Park mound in the ninth inning to yank yet another pitcher Thursday night, he seemed in a daze as he approached Felipe Paulino, the fourth of five relievers the Astros needed after Russ Ortiz was pulled.

With Lance Berkman on the shelf for a few more days, manager Cecil Cooper came to the conclusion that he needed an extra infielder more than an extra arm in the bullpen.

Playing in Houston is about as close as Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot get to their Louisiana homes.

Cubs leadoff man Alfonso Soriano has an interesting theory about why the fans at Wrigley seem to be booing more of the homeboys more often and earlier this season than in recent years: It's the economy, stupid.