Astros Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
Struggling center fielder Michael Bourn was out of the starting lineup Friday in a move manager Cecil Cooper categorized as for the "really short term." Darin Erstad led off and played center.
"My leadoff hitter was doing really well and got up to .240, .242 and then got into a slump," Cooper said. "He's doing the things we want him to do, but he's grinding and the average is going the other way."
Bourn entered the Braves series in a 7-for-39 slump, including 1-for-17 in the series against the Dodgers. His average had dropped 12 points to .223 in the previous five games before Friday.
"I was frustrated because I thought I was starting to break through," Bourn said. "I was hitting the ball but wasn't finding holes.
Perry helps Braves beat Astros to end skid (AP)
The Atlanta Braves were feeling down after five straight losses and the demotion of popular teammate Jeff Francoeur. How down? The Braves hadn't led a game in a week. Jason Perry's debut as the fill-in for Francoeur helped end the drought. Perry hit a run-scoring triple in his first major league at-bat, Tim Hudson gave up only one run in seven innings and the Braves beat the Houston Astros 6-2 Friday...
Can Kim Ng break the gender barrier? (Yahoo! Sports)
Longtime Dodgers assistant general manager is the only female close to becoming a GM. Will she get a shot?
Billingsley shuts down Astros in Dodgers' 5-2 win (AP)
Chad Billingsley didn't need many tricky pitches to beat the Houston Astros. Billingsley pitched eight strong innings and Andre Ethier homered for the second straight game to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-2 win Thursday. Billingsley (8-7) gave up six hits, struck out five and did not allow an earned run to win his fourth straight start.
Astros RHP Brocail ejected (PA SportsTicker)
Houston Astros righthander Doug Brocail was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the ninth inning of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Astros P Oswalt to miss next start (PA SportsTicker)
Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt will miss his next scheduled start to fully recover from a hip injury, the team announced Thursday.
Kuroda shines in Dodgers' 4-1 win over Astros (AP)
Joe Torre sure wasn't expecting a start like this from Hiroki Kuroda. The Japanese right-hander threw seven shutout innings after coming off the disabled list, and Jeff Kent had a pair of RBI doubles to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-0 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night. Kuroda (4-6) allowed five hits with one strikeout, looking strong in his first start since going on the DL on...
Astros sign RHP Borkowski (PA SportsTicker)
The Houston Astros recalled pitcher Dave Borkowski from Class AAA Round Rock on Wednesday.
Kent homers in 11th, Dodgers beat Astros 7-6 (AP)
The Los Angeles Dodgers finally found some offense and a way to beat the Houston Astros. Jeff Kent homered off Wesley Wright in the 11th inning to give the Dodgers, who blew a five-run lead, a 7-6 victory Tuesday night. Kent also had an RBI double and Russell Martin hit a two-run homer as the Dodgers needed to match their highest run total since June 19 to beat the Astros for the first time in five...
Astros catcher suffers concussion, will go on DL (AP)
Houston Astros catcher Humberto Quintero suffered a concussion when his helmet was struck by a bat in Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Quintero was taken to a hospital where tests were negative. The Astros said Quintero would be kept there overnight and be placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Astros C Quintero suffers concussion (PA SportsTicker)
Houston Astros catcher Humberto Quintero suffered a concussion during Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers after being hit on the top of his head during an at-bat in the second inning.
Pass out the midterm report cards (Yahoo! Sports)
We don't grade on a curve, and that's why only the Rays get an A-plus while three teams are given Fs.
Oswalt feels OK after leaving game with hip injury (AP)
Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt was hopeful he could make his next start after leaving the game Monday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers because of a strained left hip. Oswalt (7-8) struck out nine and allowed one run in six innings of Houston's 4-1 win. He grounded out in the bottom of the inning, then appeared fine when he returned to the mound for the seventh.
Union files grievance over Chacon (AP)
The players' association filed a grievance Tuesday over the release of pitcher Shawn Chacon, saying the team's decision to terminate his contract was without just cause. Chacon cleared waivers and was released Monday, five days after a physical altercation with Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade in the clubhouse.
Oswalt injures hip in Astros' 4-1 win over Dodgers (AP)
Roy Oswalt looked like Houston's ace again Monday night before straining his left hip and leaving the Astros' 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Oswalt (7-8) struck out nine and allowed one run and six hits, then walked off the field with a trainer after throwing his warmup pitches for the seventh inning.
Oswalt leaves Astros' 4-1 win over Dodgers (AP)
Roy Oswalt struck out nine in six strong innings, then left with an apparent injury in the Houston Astros' 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. Oswalt (7-8) allowed a run and six hits, but walked off the field with an Astros trainer after throwing his warmup pitches for the seventh. There was no immediate word on why he left the game.
Correction: Red Sox-Astros story (AP)
In a story about the June 29 game between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Boston had won its previous nine interleague series. Boston had won its previous nine interleague road series.
A look back at June blooms, swoons (Yahoo! Sports)
Interleague action benefited the AL, Jim Edmonds benefited from Chicago, and home cooking benefited many.
Loretta lifts Astros past Red Sox 3-2 (AP)
Mark Loretta has gone from All-Star to nemesis for the Boston Red Sox. Loretta had a pinch-hit, RBI single in the eighth inning off Hideki Okajima on Sunday to lift the Houston Astros to a 3-2 win over the Red Sox. An All-Star second baseman for Boston in 2006, Loretta signed with Houston as a free agent in January 2007.
Berkman's double lifts Astros to 11-10 win (AP)
Lance Berkman refused to let a trio of strikeouts get him down. The Houston slugger atoned for them with a two-run double in the eighth inning Saturday night to lift the Astros to an 11-10 win over the Boston Red Sox. "I strike out 100 or more times a year, so three is not any insurmountable challenge," said Berkman, now batting .366 this season.
Dice-K leads Red Sox to 6-1 win over Astros (AP)
Daisuke Matsuzaka is feeling closer to his old self after sitting out almost a month with a shoulder injury. He certainly feels better than he did a week ago. Dice-K limited the Astros to two hits in five scoreless innings and the Boston Red Sox won their first-ever regular-season game in Houston, 6-1 on Friday night.
Jeter says he would vouch for Chacon's character (Yahoo! Sports)
Derek Jeter said he would vouch for Shawn Chacon's character if the New York Yankees considered bringing back...
Rodriguez leads Astros over Rangers, 7-2 (AP)
Astros manager Cecil Cooper didn't want to talk about anything or anyone else Thursday night before raving about Wandy Rodriguez. "He's a good player," Cooper said when asked about second baseman David Newhan, "but let's talk about Wandy." Rodriguez pitched eight solid innings and tied a career high with nine strikeouts, leading the Houston Astros to a 7-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Astros release Chacon after altercation with GM (AP)
Shawn Chacon was put on waivers Thursday by the Houston Astros, a day after he got into a physical altercation with general manager Ed Wade. If another team doesn't claim Chacon by Monday, the Astros say they will release the pitcher and terminate his contract for cause, which would set off a confrontation with the players' association over the nearly $1 million that would remain on Chacon's deal.
Ramirez leads Rangers over fighting Astros (AP)
Before they even took on Texas, the Houston Astros apparently were fighting among themselves. Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon was suspended indefinitely by the team Wednesday after he reportedly grabbed general manager Ed Wade by the neck and threw him to the ground. That was the start of a rough night for Houston, which lost 3-2 to the Rangers when Miguel Tejada grounded out with the bases loaded for...
Berkman leads Astros to 4-3 win over Rangers (AP)
Lance Berkman isn't quite ready to proclaim the Astros are in the process of turning things around, even after they won two straight for the first time in a month. "I guess that remains to be seen," Berkman said after Houston's 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night gave them three wins in their last 12 games.
Astros place 2B Matsui on DL (PA SportsTicker)
The Houston Astros placed second baseman Kazuo Matsui on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained right hamstring.
Astros place 2B Kaz Matsui on 15-day DL (AP)
The Houston Astros placed second baseman Kaz Matsui on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right hamstring on Tuesday. Matsui was injured running to first base after hitting a grounder in the sixth inning of Houston's 3-2 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. The Astros purchased the contract of David Newhan from Triple-A Round Rock to take his spot on the roster.
Lee homers as Astros beat Rays 3-2 (AP)
Carlos Lee is doing his part to help the struggling Houston Astros break out of a long slump. Lee hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Brandon Backe pitched into the seventh inning to stop a personal three-game losing streak, helping the Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Sunday. "That's the kind of result we're looking for," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said.
Gross' 2-run double in 9th lifts Rays over Astros (AP)
The Tampa Bay Rays found yet another way to win. The hottest team in baseball won for the first time this season when trailing after eight innings, loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth before getting a two-run double from pinch-hitter Gabe Gross to beat the Houston Astros 4-3 on Saturday night.
