Houston Astros News

Russ Ortiz won 69 games as a Giant and pitched the team to the brink of a World Series title in 2002.

In this country, it's a common assumption that more is better. Two heads are better than one.

Find out more about Claire: Stepping into her first park, Bay Area native Claire Reclosado instantly fell in love with baseball.

Walter Silva hopes to continue the Padres' recent run of strong pitching when he takes the mound on Wednesday against the Houston Astros at PETCO Park.

File photo of a baseball resting on a pitcher's mound during a baseball game. Ryan Sadowski will shoot for an encore performance tonight for the NL Wild Card-leading San Francisco Giants, who will open a 10-game homestand with the first of three consecutive meetings versus the Houston Astros at AT&T Park.

For the first 3 innings, it seemed as if the Padres young rookie would pitch a perfect game needing less than 80 pitches - swings and misses, weakass grounders Then stuff happened.

Just when third-base production had become an issue for a club struggling to score enough, Geoff Blum comes through with a big day, driving in four runs, including a game-breaking three-run homer in the fifth inning Thursday.

About the Astros: Houston was so terrible to begin the season that Manager Cecil Cooper was rumored to be out the door just weeks after signing a contract extension.

Talk about adding a late-inning buzz to a ballgame. A game between the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres was delayed in the top of the ninth inning Thursday when a swarm of bees took over part of left field at Petco Park.

I'm a baseball guy at heart. I love the numbers. I love the managers and scouts.

Brian Moehler tried to remember the last time he was at the plate and three runs scored.

The Houston Astros have claimed infielder German Duran off waivers from the Texas Rangers.

I imagine right now Houston Astros pitcher Mike Hampton is in his San Diego hotel room, vacantly staring out at the Pacific Ocean... by Richard Zowie 8 reads Game Recap I imagine right now Houston Astros pitcher Mike Hampton is in his San Diego hotel room, vacantly staring out at the Pacific Ocean.

On Friday, the Greeneville Astros had their 2009 home opener - a big occasion in the small Tennessee city.

Over the past week, the Astros posted a Major League Baseball-best 2.57 ERA. And they haven't been exactly shabby at the plate, either.

Even without much help from slugger Adrian Gonzalez, the San Diego Padres had one of their best offensive games of 2009.

I got a request yesterday to add some trivia into the a.m. report. Always one to oblige here's some trivia based on the Astros' win last night .

McLean, the tall, lanky right-hander who specialized as a closer at Tusculum College, signed with Houston and was immediately sent to the Greeneville Astros, an advanced-rookie club that plays in the Appalachian League.

Brandon Backe was placed on waivers Monday by the Astros. Houston Astros pitcher Brandon Backe was placed on waivers Monday.

Houston -- Pudge Rodriguez forever will be revered by Tigers fans, many of whom still credit him with helping turn around a bumbling, 119-loss team in 2003 to a World Series participant in 2006, his third season in Detroit.