Lance Berkman News

Lance Berkman anointed teammate Michael Bourn as the Astros' Most Valuable Player for the first half of the season prior to Friday's game, and the speedy center fielder helped justify his case with his performance against Washington.

Lance Berkman's three-run homer was one of 16 hits used by the Houston Astros in a 9-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.

Well over 100 pitches after eight innings, Wandy Rodriguez was determined to stay on the mound.

Manager Cecil Cooper called the Astros' quest to reach .500 for the first time since being 1-1 a "long climb up a mountain" earlier this week.

Miguel Tejada was able to take only a few steps inside the visitor's clubhouse at AT&T Park on Sunday morning before he was met by teammate Hunter Pence, who gave him a congratulatory hug.

Brandon Backe will try to catch on with another team. He declined an offer by the Astros to pitch in the minor leagues and was placed on waivers .

At the beginning of the season, nobody really expected the Astros to be where they are right now.

Other than 2,000 bees stopping play for 52 minutes in the top of the ninth inning, it was like any other major league baseball game.

San Diego starting pitcher Walter Silva surrendered six runs, three earned, on Wednesday in the fourth inning of the Padres' 7-1 loss to the Astros at PETCO Park.

The Astros' bullpen, which has been one of the team's bright spots for more than a month, suffered a rare meltdown Tuesday night against the Padres.

Roy Oswalt went the distance, giving up one run on two hits Monday, and the Houston Astros beat San Diego 3-1. Oswalt , who has 17 career complete games, also had two of the Astros' nine hits.

The Houston Astros haven't had a lot of luck when trailing late in games this year.

Kazuo Matsui drove in two runs and scored twice, and starter Felipe Paulino set career highs for strikeouts and innings pitched in a game to lead the Astros over the Detroit Tigers, 8-1, on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

WASHINGTON - Time "absolutely stood still" for John Smoltz as game time approached.

Lance Berkman's 13th home run of the season catapulted him into an exclusive company of Astros players on Thursday.

Tuesday: Royals 2, Astros 1. Record: 32-36. Today: Royals at Minute Maid Park, 7:05 p.m. Pitchers: Roy Oswalt at Luke Hochevar .

It didn't figure to be easy, did it? Not after five straight blowout losses. Not even with Zack Greinke working eight strong innings, and a healthy Joakim Soria available in the ninth.

First, Astros fans, the bad news. The Astros have lost three of their last four games, four of their last seven and they're stuck at the bottom of the National League Central Division.

MINNEAPOLIS - Lance Berkman and Michael Bourn homered, leading Brian Moehler and the Houston Astros over the Minnesota Twins 6-5 on Saturday night.

Kevin Slowey hurled six innings of one-run ball to become just the second 10-game winner in baseball this year, as the Twins began a three-game interleague set against the Astros with a 5-2 win.