Jason Michaels News

Believe it or not, pitchers and catchers report to spring training in about 90 days.

Two of the Astros' best performers -- shortstop Miguel Tejada and closer Jose Valverde -- are among a group of Houston players expected to file for free agency during the filing period that began Thursday.

Thursday: Astros 5, Phillies 3. Record: 74-85. Today: At New York Mets , 6:10 p.m. Pitchers: W. Rodriguez vs.

Box W:J.Happ L:W.Lopez S:R.Madson HR: HOU- L.Berkman , K.Matsui PHI- P.Feliz , J.Werth Houston Top 1st - UMPIRES: Home,Mark Carlson; First, Jeff Nelson; Second, Bob Davidson; Third, Tim Tschida; - Kazuo Matsui grounded out short to first.

Jason Michaels got so tired of seeing his subpar batting average displayed on stadium scoreboards around the league that he decided to quit looking and quit worrying and to just start to relax at the plate.

Houston Bottom 7th - Jesse Chavez enters the game for the Pirates with the bases loaded and one out.

Kaz Matsui's bases-loaded single drove in two runs in the bottom of the ninth to give the Houston Astros a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.

Rookie John Hester went 2-for-3 in his first Major League start on Sunday, scoring two runs and doubling in another, and caught Dan Haren's six-hit pitching for seven-plus innings as the D-backs completed a series sweep of Houston with a 4-3 victory.

Arizona Diamondbacks closer Chad Qualls will have an MRI exam on his dislocated left knee after suffering the injury in the team's 4-3 win Sunday.

Shortstop Stephen Drew picked up the ball and threw Michaels out to end the game.

The D-backs' 4-3 victory over Houston on Sunday reached a bittersweet conclusion as Arizona closer Chad Qualls suffered a serious injury on the game's final pitch.

As Jason Michaels pinch hit for him in the eighth inning Tuesday night, Wandy Rodriguez watched attentively from the visitors' dugout at Busch Stadium.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright reacts after striking out the Astros' Jason Michaels to end the top of the eighth inning Tuesday in St.

It took Bud Norris less than an inning Sunday afternoon to give up more runs than the Astros had allowed in their previous three games, leaving his teammates in a huge crater against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Houston Astros' Jason Michaels steals second as Milwaukee Brewers' shortstop J.J. Hardy mishandles a throw from catcher Jason Kendall during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday in Houston.

Houston Astros' Jason Michaels steals second as Milwaukee Brewers' shortstop J.J. Hardy mishandles a throw from catcher Jason Kendall during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug.

Jason Michaels homered twice, Bud Norris struck out seven in six effective innings in his Minute Maid Park debut and the Houston Astros beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 on Friday night.

Jason Michaels homered twice, Bud Norris struck out seven in six effective innings in his Minute Maid Park debut and the Houston Astros beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 on Friday night.

Friday: Astros 6, Brewers 3. Record: 54-55. Today: Milwaukee Brewers at Minute Maid Park, 6:05 p.m. Pitchers: Mike Hampton vs.

Astros outfielder Michael Bourn rejoined his teammates Saturday but sat out for a third consecutive game with a sore left groin.