COLLEGE STATION, TX — The National Champion Texas A&M women’s basketball coach Gary Blair will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Houston Astros baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Friday, June 10 at 7:05 p.m. at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Aggie Night at the stadium includes specially priced tickets. Simply log on to Astros.com/aggie and use the password AGGIE. Fans that purchase Aggie Night tickets will receive a one-of-a-kind Aggie Maroon Astros Cap and $2 from each ticket sold will benefit The Howdy Club, Houston A&M Club and Reveille Club.

In his eighth season as head coach, Blair guided Aggie women’s hoops to its first national championship in the program’s first ever trip to the NCAA women’s Final Four. His athletic roots, however, started in baseball. Blair was an all-city baseball player at Dallas’ Bryan Adams High School and also played a season of baseball at Texas Tech where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1972 and his master’s degree in 1974.

The all-time winningest women’s basketball coach in school history, Blair has helped Texas A&M attain a school-record six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, a program-best No. 1 ranking in the national polls and a school-record 33 wins in the 2010-11 season.

As one of the winningest active Division I coaches in the women’s game today, Blair is also one of only three all-time NCAA Division I women’s basketball coaches to lead at least two different teams to the NCAA Women’s Final Four. He currently ranks in the top 20 in career victories and in the top 30 by winning percentage among active Division I coaches with an impressive 596-242 overall record (.711).

(Sports Network) – The Houston Astros have posted multiple victories on only
three occasions this season and look to make it a fourth when they resume a
three-game series against the Chicago Cubs tonight at Wrigley Field.

Houston ended a three-game slide with Monday’s series-opening 12-7 win in the
Windy City thanks to four home runs and a 16-hit attack. Jeff Keppinger put
the game away with a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, while
Clint Barmes hit a two-run shot and both Hunter Pence and J.R. Towles added
solo blasts for the Astros in the opener of a seven-game road trip.

Keppinger collected four RBI and Pence finished 3-for-4 with two runs batted
in and four runs scored. Michael Bourn got into the act with three hits and
three runs scored for Houston, which won two straight from April 19-20 and May
22-23 and a season-high three in a row from April 30-May 3 this season.

“We’re competitors,” said Pence, who is hitting .435 with two homers and nine
RBI during an 11-game hit streak. “We’ve got to have relentless persistence.
Where we’re at is not a good spot to be. We’ve had some tough losses and it
hasn’t been good, but as competitors and professionals, we’ve got to fight,
claw and scratch every single day. We need to do this more often. That’s the
bottom line.”

Aneury Rodriguez drew the start for Houston and did not record a decision
after he was reached for six runs — four earned — and seven hits in four
innings of work. Sergio Escalona earned the win with a scoreless fifth inning
for a Houston club that will also visit San Diego for four games.

With Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez on the disabled list with a balky
elbow, Jordan Lyles will make his major league debut tonight in the middle
contest of this set. Lyles, 20, went 3-3 with a 3.20 earned run average in 10
starts this season with Triple-A Oklahoma City before his promotion.

“As a little kid, I always wanted to play in the Majors,” Lyles said on
Houston’s website. “I never thought I’d pitch in the big leagues at 20 years
old, but that will come Tuesday.”

That time has come for the young right-hander, who gets an immediate taste of
NL Central action against the rival Cubs. Lyles was the 38th overall pick in
the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and lost out on a chance for the fifth spot
in the rotation to Nelson Figueroa. Catcher Jason Castro will be transferred
to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Lyles.

Chicago has lost three of four games and fell to 3-4 on a nine-game homestand
with Monday’s loss. Rodrigo Lopez made his 2011 debut for the Cubs and was
roughed up for six runs on 10 hits in only 4 2/3 innings for the no-decision.
Lopez was traded to Chicago from Atlanta last week.

“Well, I’m not satisfied,” said Lopez. “I think I let the team down. You know,
I got a lot of run support from the team.”

Former Notre Dame football star Jeff Samardzija absorbed the loss for
permitting two runs on two hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Scott
Maine did no better by allowing three more runs in the ninth.

Carlos Pena hit a two-run homer and finished with three RBI, while Blake
DeWitt registered three hits and knocked in a run in defeat. The Cubs are a
banged-up bunch right now and placed Jeff Baker on the disabled list with a
strained groin before yesterday’s game. Reed Johnson and Marlon Byrd are
already on the DL and slugger Alfonso Soriano left Monday’s game after
straining his left quadriceps in the first inning. Soriano could miss
tonight’s game.

“It’s unfortunate to see Sori go down like that,” said Blake DeWitt, who took
over for Soriano in the field. “I haven’t heard anything, but hopefully he’s
all right. He’s a big part of this team. It’s a tough loss today.”

Getting the call for the Cubs tonight will be veteran Carlos Zambrano, who is
aiming to win back-to-back home starts for the first time since Aug. 30-Sept.
4, 2010. Zambrano is 1-1 in five starts at Wrigley this season and last
pitched there in a 9-3 win over the New York Mets on Thursday.

Big Z held the Mets to a pair of runs — one earned — and six hits in six
innings to improve to 5-2 in 11 starts to go along with a pedestrian 4.59
earned run average. Zambrano notched his first home win since Sept. 4 and went
3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored at the plate.

The fiery right-hander defeated Houston on April 13 this season in a 9-5 win
despite yielding all five runs over 5 2/3 frames. Zambrano is 15-8 with a 2.78
ERA in 32 career games (30 starts) against the Astros and is 4-0 with a 1.51
ERA during a four-game home winning streak in this series, dating back to July
20 of the 2006 campaign.

The Cubs took two of three meetings with Houston from April 11-13 this season
at Minute Maid Park. The Astros went 11-7 in last year’s series with the Cubs.

The Sports Network

CHICAGO – Rodrigo Lopez made his Cubs debut on the wrong day.

Jeff Keppinger and J.R. Towles homered and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 12-7 on Monday afternoon.

Clint Barmes and Hunter Pence also added back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to help the Astros end a three-game losing streak.

The conditions were not exactly conducive to Lopez, a fly ball pitcher. Game-time temperature was 88 degrees with the wind blowing out at 11 mph.

“Look, I’m not here to make excuses or anything like that, but it is a tough place to pitch under these conditions,” Cubs manger Mike Quade said. “Maybe ran out of gas, got a few balls up in the fifth. It’s one thing if you’re a fly ball pitcher and you start to tire in these conditions, you’re going to struggle. I thought he was fine and he will be better in the next start.”

On Monday, he allowed six runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

With Casey Coleman ineffective as a replacement starter, Chicago acquired Lopez from Atlanta on Thursday for a minor leaguer and was initially expected to use him as a reliever.

Following Coleman’s demotion this weekend, Lopez was made a starter.

After blowing two leads against the Diamondbacks on Friday and Sunday, the Astros’ bullpen only allowed one run over five innings. Astros reliever Sergio Escalona (1-0) pitched one scoreless inning.

“You walk out there with the heat and the wind blowing out, you knew it might be a long one. That makes it all the more impressive, what our bullpen was able to do to keep us in the game,” Astros manager Brad Mills said.

Carlos Pena homered for the Cubs, who committed three errors.

Chicago shortstop Starlin Castro, who committed three errors in an inning earlier this season, made another one in the seventh that allowed a run to score. It was his 10th error of the season.

“These things happen. We keep trying to eliminate them and get better. The inexperience of youth,” Quade said.

Trailing 6-3 in the fifth, Michael Bourn tripled off Cubs starter Rodrigo Lopez. Then Barmes and Pence followed with back-to-back shots to left to tie the game at six. It was the first time the Astros hit back-to-back home runs this season.

“I was battling with the heat today,” Lopez said. “The last three days were pretty cold and today I came out with long sleeves, I don’t know 83 degrees and it feels like a hundred. I was battling the whole game, but they gave me enough time to recover myself.”

The Chicago Cubs had plenty of trouble with Hunter Pence(notes) and Jeff Keppinger(notes)
in the opener of a three-game set with the Houston Astros, but they appear to
have the right person on the mound to limit them in the second meeting.

Carlos Zambrano(notes) has dominated Pence, Keppinger and the Astros in recent
years, and he’ll get the start Tuesday night in this series between the NL
Central’s worst teams.

Pence and Keppinger each homered and had three hits in Monday’s 12-7
victory. Pence matched a career high by scoring four runs and Keppinger turned
in the third four-RBI performance of his career.

“It’s a warm day with the wind blowing out at Wrigley, if you put the ball
in a hole there, you have a good chance to find a hit,” said Pence, hitting .435
during an 11-game run.

Zambrano (5-2, 4.59 ERA), however, has never allowed a homer to either of
them, as Pence is 5 for 28 and Keppinger 6 for 29.

The right-hander is 10-3 with a 2.41 ERA in his last 17 starts against the
Astros, going 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA over the last seven at home. Zambrano did
enough to get credit for a 9-5 victory April 13 at Houston, allowing five runs
over 5 2-3 innings.

He pitched better Thursday to earn a 9-3 win over the Mets, yielding one
earned run in six innings and going 3 for 3 at the plate.

It was easy to see why these teams are struggling as they combined for five
errors Monday. Houston (20-34) leads the NL with 45 errors while Chicago (23-29)
is close behind with 43—eight over its last five games.

The Astros homered four times Monday for the first time since July 7, 2010,
against Pittsburgh. J.R. Towles(notes) and Clint Barmes(notes) also went deep for Houston,
which ended a three-game slide by eclipsing its previous highest scoring effort
- an 11-2 win over Chicago on April 12.

“We’re just staying positive and making things happen,” Barmes said. “We’re
putting stuff together and getting clutch hits in big situations. It was
definitely a game that was needed for us.”

The banged-up Cubs placed infielder Jeff Baker(notes) on the 15-day disabled list
with a strained groin before Monday’s game, a day after putting Reed Johnson(notes) on
the DL with back spasms. They got more bad news when Alfonso Soriano(notes) left after
straining his left quadriceps in the first inning.

Soriano, who will have an MRI, was replaced in left field by Blake DeWitt(notes).

Houston’s Jordan Lyles(notes) will make his major league debut Tuesday. Lyles will
have his contract purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he went 3-1 with
a 2.00 ERA in his last seven starts.

“There’s going to be nerves there, but it’s more just being anxious to get
out there,” Lyles told the Astros’ official website. “Being nervous is not a bad
thing. I just want to make my pitches. That’s really all I’m concerned about.”

The 20-year-old right-hander is getting the start because Wandy Rodriguez(notes) is
on the disabled list with swelling in his left elbow. Lyles threw 77 pitches
over six scoreless innings Wednesday in his last outing in the minors.

Keppinger and J.R. Towles homered and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 12-7 on Monday afternoon.

Clint Barmes and Hunter Pence also added back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to help the Astros ended a three-game losing streak.

After blowing two leads against the Diamondbacks on Friday and Sunday, the Astros’ bullpen only allowed one run over five innings. Astros reliever Sergio Escalona (1-0) pitched one scoreless inning.

Carlos Pena homered run for the Cubs, who committed three errors.

Chicago shortstop Starlin Castro, who committed three errors in an inning earlier this season, made another one in the seventh that allowed a run to score. It was his 10th error of the season.

CHICAGO — Jeff Keppinger and J.R. Towles homered and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 12-7 on Monday afternoon.

Clint Barmes and Hunter Pence also added back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to help the Astros ended a three-game losing streak.

After blowing two leads against the Diamondbacks on Friday and Sunday, the Astros’ bullpen only allowed one run over five innings. Astros reliever Sergio Escalona (1-0) pitched one scoreless inning.

Carlos Pena homered run for the Cubs, who committed three errors.

Chicago shortstop Starlin Castro, who committed three errors in an inning earlier this season, made another one in the seventh that allowed a run to score. It was his 10th error of the season.

Trailing 6-3 in the fifth, Michael Bourn tripled off Cubs starter Rodrigo Lopez. Then Barmes and Pence followed with back-to-back shots to left to tie the game at six. It was the first time the Astros hit back-to-back home runs this season.

Towles gave the Astros the lead with a leadoff home run in the sixth inning off Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija (3-1).

Keppinger finished the day with three hits and four RBIs.

The Cubs have committed three or more errors eight times this season.

With Casey Coleman ineffective as a replacement starter, Chicago acquired Lopez from Atlanta on Thursday for a minor leaguer and were initially expected to use him as a reliever.

Following Coleman’s demotion this weekend, Lopez was made a starter. On Monday, he allowed six runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Astros starter Aneury Rodriguez only lasted four innings. He allowed six runs, four earned on seven hits.

Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano left the game after straining his left quadriceps after trying to beat out a grounder in the first inning.

A few feet from first base, Soriano pulled up holding his left thigh. After limping off the field, Soriano was replaced in left field by Blake DeWitt in the second inning. Soriano will have an MRI.

Notes: Cubs OF Tony Campana stole four bases for the Cubs for the first time since Juan Pierre did it June 15, 2006 for the Cubs against Houston. … Cubs C Geovany Soto (groin) was back in the lineup after being activated from the disabled list on Sunday. … The Cubs hope to have RHP Matt Garza back for Sunday’s start at St. Louis. … Pence extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Rodrigo Lopez made his Cubs debut on the wrong day.

Jeff Keppinger and J.R. Towles homered and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 12-7 on Monday afternoon.

Clint Barmes and Hunter Pence also added back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to help the Astros end a three-game losing streak.

The conditions were not exactly in Lopez’s favor, who is a fly ball pitcher. Game time temperature was 88 degree with the wind blowing out at 11 mph.

“Look, I’m not here to make excuses or anything like that, but it is a tough place to pitch under these conditions,” Cubs manger Mike Quade said. “Maybe ran out of gas, got a few balls up in the fifth. It’s one thing if you’re a fly ball pitcher and you start to tire in these conditions, you’re going to struggle. I thought he was fine and he will be better in the next start.”

On Monday, he allowed six runs on 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.

With Casey Coleman ineffective as a replacement starter, Chicago acquired Lopez from Atlanta on Thursday for a minor leaguer and were initially expected to use him as a reliever.

Following Coleman’s demotion this weekend, Lopez was made a starter.

After blowing two leads against the Diamondbacks on Friday and Sunday, the Astros’ bullpen only allowed one run over five innings. Astros reliever Sergio Escalona (1-0) pitched one scoreless inning.

“You walk out there with the heat and the wind blowing out, you knew it might be a long one. That makes it all the more impressive, what our bullpen was able to do to keep us in the game,” Astros manager Brad Mills said.

Carlos Pena homered run for the Cubs, who committed three errors.

Chicago shortstop Starlin Castro, who committed three errors in an inning earlier this season, made another one in the seventh that allowed a run to score. It was his 10th error of the season.

“These things happen. We keep trying to eliminate them and get better. The inexperience of youth,” Quade said.

Trailing 6-3 in the fifth, Michael Bourn tripled off Cubs starter Rodrigo Lopez. Then Barmes and Pence followed with back-to-back shots to left to tie the game at six. It was the first time the Astros hit back-to-back home runs this season.

“I was battling with the heat today,” Lopez said. “The last three days were pretty cold and today I came out with long sleeves, I don’t know 83 degrees and it feels like a hundred. I was battling the whole game, but they gave me enough time to recover myself. I didn’t feel tired I just felt those guys just made an adjustment on my pitches and they got the long ball off of me.”

Towles gave the Astros the lead with a leadoff home run in the sixth inning off Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija (3-1).

“Barmes was the big hit to wake us up. They were swinging the bats. We were still swinging the bats, but once he put us within one, we never stopped from there. That’s baseball,” Pence said. “Solid day for offense. We had good at-bats, ran the bases pretty well. It’s a warm day with the wind blowing out at Wrigley, if you put the ball in a hole there, you have a good chance to find a hit.”

Keppinger finished the day with three hits and four RBIs.

The Cubs have committed three or more errors eight times this season.

Astros starter Aneury Rodriguez only lasted four innings. He allowed six runs, four earned on seven hits.

Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano left the game after straining his left quadriceps after trying to beat out a grounder in the first inning.

A few feet from first base, Soriano pulled up holding his left thigh. After limping off the field, Soriano was replaced in left field by Blake DeWitt in the second inning. Soriano will have an MRI.

NOTES: Cubs OF Tony Campana stole four bases for the Cubs for the first time since Juan Pierre did it June 15, 2006 for the Cubs against Houston. … Cubs C Geovany Soto (groin) was back in the lineup after being activated from the disabled list on Sunday. … The Cubs hope to have RHP Matt Garza back for Sunday’s start at St. Louis. …

CHICAGO — Jeff Keppinger and J.R. Towles homered and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 12-7 on Monday afternoon.

Clint Barmes and Hunter Pence also added back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to help the Astros ended a three-game losing streak.

After blowing two leads against the Diamondbacks on Friday and Sunday, the Astros’ bullpen only allowed one run over five innings. Astros reliever Sergio Escalona (1-0) pitched one scoreless inning.

Carlos Pena homered run for the Cubs, who committed three errors.

Chicago shortstop Starlin Castro, who committed three errors in an inning earlier this season, made another one in the seventh that allowed a run to score. It was his 10th error of the season.

Trailing 6-3 in the fifth, Michael Bourn tripled off Cubs starter Rodrigo Lopez. Then Barmes and Pence followed with back-to-back shots to left to tie the game at six. It was the first time the Astros hit back-to-back home runs this season.

Towles gave the Astros the lead with a leadoff home run in the sixth inning off Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija (3-1).

Keppinger finished the day with three hits and four RBIs.

The Cubs have committed three or more errors eight times this season.

With Casey Coleman ineffective as a replacement starter, Chicago acquired Lopez from Atlanta on Thursday for a minor leaguer and were initially expected to use him as a reliever.

Following Coleman’s demotion this weekend, Lopez was made a starter. On Monday, he allowed six runs on 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.

Astros starter Aneury Rodriguez only lasted four innings. He allowed six runs, four earned on seven hits.

Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano left the game after straining his left quadriceps after trying to beat out a grounder in the first inning.

A few feet from first base, Soriano pulled up holding his left thigh. After limping off the field, Soriano was replaced in left field by Blake DeWitt in the second inning. Soriano will have an MRI.

NOTES: Cubs OF Tony Campana stole four bases for the Cubs for the first time since Juan Pierre did it June 15, 2006 for the Cubs against Houston. … Cubs C Geovany Soto (groin) was back in the lineup after being activated from the disabled list on Sunday. … The Cubs hope to have RHP Matt Garza back for Sunday’s start at St. Louis. … Pence extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

By Alex Cohn

– Associate Editor

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May 30, 2011 –

Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston – Aneury Rodriguez (0-2, 4.98) Chicago – Rodrigo Lopez (0-0, 0.00)

(Sports Network) – The Chicago Cubs will renew their rivalry with their NL Central-foe Houston Astros this afternoon in the opener of a three-game series from Wrigley Field.

The Cubs took two of three meetings with Houston from April 11-13 at Minute Maid Park and have won five of the last nine matchups between the two ballclubs. The Astros went 11-7 in last season’s series with the Cubs.

Chicago salvaged the finale of a three-game series versus Pittsburgh with Sunday’s 3-2 win thanks to Starlin Castro’s go-ahead sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning. Castro plated Kosuke Fukudome, who doubled to lead off the inning and went to third on Darwin Barney’s sacrifice bunt. Aramis Ramirez homered and Koyie Hill drove in a run for the Cubs, who improved to 3-3 on the nine-game homestand.

Cubs starter Ryan Dempster gave up two runs over six innings to earn the win.

“Dempster was great,” said Cubs manager Mike Quade. “It was just a good win. We played good baseball.”

Rodrigo Lopez will make his Cubs debut Monday and was 6-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 10 starts for Triple-A Gwinnett. The right-hander was acquired last week in a minor league trade with the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Ryan Buchter. Lopez made 33 starts for Arizona a year ago, compiling a 7-16 record with a 5.00 ERA, and is 1-2 in four career starts against Houston.

Lopez is expected to throw to catcher Geovany Soto, who was activated from the disabled list on Sunday with a groin injury.

Houston will begin a seven-game road trip Monday against the Cubs and Padres, and was swept in three games by the Diamondbacks over the weekend. In Sunday’s 4-2 loss at Minute Maid Park, starter J.A. Happ pitched well in the no- decision and held Arizona to a run over six innings. Happ also homered for the first time in his career.

“At some point, we’ve got to find a way to win those games,” Happ said on the team’s website. “That’s the way it goes. A tough one today, a tough series, but we’ve got to keep fighting and see what happens.”

Relief pitcher Jeff Fulchino was saddled with the loss for allowing three runs in the top of the eighth inning with the Astros clinging to a slim 2-1 lead. Hunter Pence had two hits for Houston, which went 2-4 on a six-game homestand and lost for the 10th time in 14 tries.

Taking the mound for the struggling ‘Stros Monday will be rookie Aneury Rodriguez. The righty is 0-2 in 14 games (5 starts) this season and last pitched in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Los Angeles. He did not record a decision that day and held the Dodgers to a run in six innings of work.

Rodriguez has lasted at least five innings in the past five trips to the mound and will make his first start against the Cubs. He has faced Chicago twice in relief this season, pitching 1 2/3 innings with a 5.40 ERA.

Read More: Rodrigo Lopez (P – CHC), Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs

Read More: Zach Duke (P – ARI), Josh Collmenter (P – ARI), Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros

(Sports Network) – The streaking Arizona Diamondbacks can move into first place in the National League’s West Division with a victory in the finale of a three-game series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

The Diamondbacks won their fifth straight game and narrowed their gap in the West behind the San Francisco Giants to just a half-game when Zach Duke threw seven scoreless innings in his Arizona debut and hit his first career homer, a three-run blast in an 11-3 triumph.

Duke (1-0) allowed just three hits and a walk while fanning four in his first start of the season after recovering from a broken left hand he suffered on a line-drive comebacker in spring training.

He was acquired in an offseason trade after pitching his first six MLB seasons with Pittsburgh.

Gerardo Parra also homered as the D-Backs earned their fifth consecutive win and their 11th victory in their past 12 games.

Bud Norris (2-4) allowed six runs — two earned — on seven hits and two walks in five innings as Houston lost for the third time in four games. Norris started in place of Wandy Rodriguez, who was put on the 15-day disabled list Saturday due to fluid in his left elbow joint.

Houston is just 11-16 at home.

Michigan-born right-hander Josh Collmenter makes his fourth start in just his 11th major league appearance for the Diamondbacks this afternoon and will be facing the Astros.for the first time.

Collmenter, a 25-year-old draft pick from 2007, was beaten, 12-4, at Colorado in his last start on May 24 after allowing five hits and two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

He began the season with seven straight relief outings before consecutive starts at Los Angeles and against Atlanta yielded victories on May 14 and 19. In his first two starts, he allowed just four hits in 12 scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts.

Overall, in 30 1/3 innings, he’s given up 17 hits and four earned runs, allowing runs in just two of 10 outings.

Houston counters with lefty J.A. Happ, who’ll try to snap a two-start skid.

The ex-Philadelphia Phillie, acquired in last season’s Roy Oswalt trade, got within a game of .500 with a 7-3 defeat of the New York Mets on May 14 with six innings of five-hit, two-run ball.

Two subsequent starts have ended in losses to St. Louis and Los Angeles, however, in which the southpaw has allowed seven hits and eight runs – four earned – in 11 innings.

He’s split two career starts against Arizona while being touched for nine hits and four runs in 13 innings.

The Diamondbacks have won 10 of their last 13 versus the Astros.

AP Photo/Pat Sullivan

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Zach Duke follows through on a pitch against the Houston Astros during the second inning of a baseball game on Saturday, May 28, 2011, in Houston.

Zach Duke allowed three hits over seven innings and hit a three-run homer in his first game of the season, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 11-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.
Duke’s first home run in seven major league seasons came in the Diamondbacks’ four-run fourth inning, a shot over the left-field fence off Bud Norris (2-4).
Arizona has won four in a row and 13 of its last 15.
Duke (1-0), acquired from Pittsburgh in a trade last November, missed Arizona’s first 51 games while recovering from a broken hand suffered in spring training. The Astros didn’t get a hit until Clint Barmes’ single to left with one out in the fourth.
Activated from the disabled list earlier Saturday, Duke didn’t allow another runner until he walked Matt Downs in the sixth. Carlos Lee and Brett Wallace each singled in the seventh.
Duke, who walked one and struck out four, made two rehab assignments before making his first start of the season.
Miguel Montero had an RBI double in the fourth and an RBI hit in the eighth for Arizona.
After Montero’s run-scoring hit in the eighth, Gerardo Parra hit a two-run homer off Jose Valdez. Stephen Drew drove in another run, and a sacrifice fly by Chris Young gave Arizona two more in the ninth inning.
Lee broke up Arizona’s shutout bid with a double to the left-field corner off Zach Kroenke in the Astros’ three-run ninth.
Norris allowed seven hits, two earned runs, struck out four and walked two in five innings. He has lost his last three decisions.
The Diamondbacks took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Stephen Drew and Miguel Montero each singled and Juan Miranda walked to load the bases with one out. Norris balked with Parra at the plate, forcing in the first run. Parra then hit a sacrifice fly to left field for the second run.
Notes: Duke had a four-hitter against the Astros on April 13, 2009. … Earlier this season, the Diamondbacks lost six straight games by one run. They’ve now won seven in a row by one run, including Friday night’s 7-6 victory after trailing 6-0 in the fourth inning. … The Astros placed RHP Wandy Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list and called up Jordan Lyles from Triple-A Oklahoma City. An MRI on Saturday revealed fluid buildup in Rodriguez’s left elbow. Lyles will make his major league debut Tuesday against the Cubs.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez delivers a pitch to the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on May 12, 2010. UPI/Bill Greenblatt 

HOUSTON, May 28 (UPI) — Houston Astros starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez will be put on the 15-day disabled list with fluid on his left pitching elbow, the team said Saturday.

Astros General Manager Ed Wade said a magnetic resonance imaging exam showed no structural problems in the left-hander’s elbow after he was scratched from his scheduled start Friday with elbow discomfort.

Rodriguez has compiled a 3-3 record and 3.41 ERA in 10 starts this season, including a 3-1 mark in his last seven starts. He is expected to miss only two starts.

Taking his spot on the roster will be right-hander Jordan Lyles, the Astros’ top pitching prospect. He is set to make his major league debut Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs.

Lyles, 20, is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA in his last seven starts for Class AAA Oklahoma City.

HOUSTON – The Houston Astros had it all going their way for four innings.

They lost a 6-0 lead and then had catcher Humberto Quintero end up on the 15-day disabled list after a scary home plate collision.

Juan Miranda hit two two-run homers to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rally to a 7-6 victory Friday night.

Arizona’s game-winning run scored on the play in the seventh inning when Ryan Roberts collided with Quintero at home plate. Quintero left the game with a right ankle sprain and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

“We know there’s no fracture,” a relieved Astros manager Brad Mills said.

Quintero’s injury came just two days after San Francisco catcher Buster Posey was hurt in a collision at home plate and is likely to miss the rest of the season. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year broke a bone in his lower left leg and tore three ligaments in his ankle Wednesday when Florida’s Scott Cousins ran into him to score the winning run on a sacrifice fly.

Giants general manager Brian Sabean called on baseball officials to review rules regarding home-plate collisions, and suggested a simple — but significant — change.

“You have to slide into other bases,” Sabean said. “Why shouldn’t you have to slide into home plate?”

Friday’s collision occurred just after Chris Young hit an infield single that bounced toward Astros reliever Wilton Lopez. As he got up to make the catch on Lopez’s throw home, Quintero planted his left foot on Young’s bat, causing Quintero to lose his balance momentarily just as Roberts approached.

“The bat made me slide back,” said Quintero, who was replaced by J.R. Towles. “(When colliding with Roberts), it pushed my knee and ankle back.”

Lopez’s throw was deflected by Roberts, and Kelly Johnson scored as Quintero grimaced in pain on the dirt as the ball rolled unclaimed toward the Astros dugout.

Quintero did not see any malice on the play.

“I think it was an OK play,” Quintero said.

To replace Quintero, the Astros purchased the contract of catcher Robinson Cancel from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

It was the Astros’ biggest blown lead for a loss of the season, and it marked the fifth time they found themselves losers despite leading by at least four runs in a game.

Michael Bourn went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and Jeff Keppinger was 2 for 4 with an RBI in his first action of the season since recovering from offseason foot injury.

Astros starter Brett Myers went from solid to rocked at the expense of Miranda, who was 2 for 5 in his first career multihomer game.

“A couple of leadoff walks (one each in the fifth and sixth innings) did him in,” Mills said. “That’s not like him. He does such a great job getting it back. Tonight wasn’t the case.”

Miranda took Myers deep in the fifth inning and again in the sixth to get Arizona within two runs after a shaky start by right-hander Daniel Hudson afforded the Astros a 6-0 lead through the first four innings.

“To Miranda I think I threw pitches that I wanted to throw,” said Myers, who lasted 5 2-3 innings. “The fifth and sixth innings, those were pitches I thought were good pitches.

“The guy put a good swing on them.”

The Diamondbacks went ahead for good later in the inning on Young’s two-run infield single that scored Roberts and Johnson and sent Quintero for X-rays that came back negative.

“I can be good to go in 7-10 days,” he said.

The Diamondbacks have won 12 of their last 14 games.

Arizona closer J.J. Putz pitched the ninth for his 15th consecutive save.

Notes: The Astros are 3-2 in their last five games, all decided by one run. … Young, a Houston native, has been at home in Minute Maid Park. He has hit .416 (20 for 48) with four homers, three doubles and 15 RBIs on the Astros’ home field. … Houston’s Hunter Pence has multiple hits in six of his last eight games. … Putz has held the opposition scoreless in 11 of his last 12 appearances. … The Astros claimed RHP Blake King off waivers from the Cardinals. … Miranda has hit safely in 15 of his 22 starts. … Wandy Rodriguez will miss his Saturday start for Houston and undergo a precautionary MRI after reporting discomfort in his left elbow on Friday. Bud Norris will start in his place on Saturday and J.A. Happ will start Sunday’s game.

Read More: Humberto Quintero (C – HOU), Ryan Roberts (2B – ARI), Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros

Houston Astros catcher Humberto Quintero left the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday night after taking the worst of a home-plate collision with Arizona second baseman Ryan Roberts. Quintero was not able to put much weight on his leg after leaving, and this could be a long-term injury for the Astros stalwart backup catcher. Quintero is one of two Astros, along with Wandy Rodriguez, who played for the 2005 NL Champions.

In the wake of the Buster Posey injury, SB Nation’s Rob Neyer believes that home-plate collisions ought to no longer be a part of the game. While Quintero hardly has the stature that Posey does in the game, it’s may be good timing for Neyer’s proposal that another steamrolled catcher left with an injury following a collision.

J.R. Towles replaced Quintero in the game. The Astros are currently trailing the Diamondbacks 7-6. The Astros have no other catchers on their 40-man roster that are healthy. Carlos Corporan finished runner up to Towles for the second catcher gig, and may be the replacement if Quintero’s injury is long term.

EDIT: Per Zachary Levine, the official diagnosis is a sprained right ankle for Quintero. X-Rays are being taken, and likely an MRI will follow. The Astros will have to make a roster move after the game to bring in a second catcher.

By Grant Brisbee

– Editor

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May 27, 2011 – There hasn’t been a whole lot that has gone right for the Houston Astros this season, but one of the silver linings has been Wandy Rodriguez, who has thrown 66 innings with a 3.41 ERA. So you know where this is going, from Alyson Footer …

Wandy Rodriguez has been scratched from tomorrow’s start due to discomfort in his left elbow. A precautionary MRI is scheduled for tomorrow.

Oof. Rodriguez came into camp with left shoulder inflammation, and he’s been put on the disabled list in the past with groin problems, but this is the first time in the majors the lefty has had a problem with his elbow.

Of the triple-A starters for the Astros, only Henry Villar is on the 40-man roster, and he has a 6.81 ERA with a K/BB ratio of 15/25 in 38-1/3 innings. So if the Astros put Wandy on the disabled list, there’s a chance that the Astros could make a roster move and bring up 20-year-old Jordan Lyles, who is pitching well, to take his spot.

Bud Norris will start in Rodriguez’s place on Saturday.

Read More: Wandy Rodriguez (P – HOU), Houston Astros

Pitching matchup: Diamondbacks RHP Daniel Hudson (5-5, 3.82 ERA) vs. Astros RHP Brett Myers (1-4, 5.00).

Hudson turned in his sixth consecutive quality start, a stretch in which he has posted a 2.59 ERA in 41 2/3 innings. He went eight innings and allowed two runs against the Twins on Sunday at Chase Field. … Myers had an excellent 2010 season, going at least six innings in 32 of 33 starts while posting a 3.14 ERA. He again has pitched deep into games, going six innings in all but one, but the results haven’t been as consistent. That’s been particularly true in his past six starts, in which he has posted a 6.87 ERA. … He had a 3.46 ERA (five runs in 13 innings) in two starts vs. Arizona last season.

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Craig Biggio is a Houston Astros legend. Some would make the case that he even belongs in the Hall of Fame. Whether he’s ever inducted in Cooperstown or not, Biggio certainly is of a certain caliber of player who could happily rest on their laurels for the rest of their life when they eventually decide to retire.

Yet that’s not Biggio, as most in the Astros organization will quickly attest to. So, rather than ease his way into life after baseball stardom, within two years of his retirement he jumped right into baseball coaching at the high school level. What he has built in the two years since he was hired is something akin to a budding dynasty.

According to the Houston Chronicle, St. Thomas (Texas) School won the TAPPS Class 5A state baseball title in the first year under Biggio’s tutelage. In his second season, in 2011, the team made it back to the state finals.

And, for the second straight season, St. Thomas captured the state crown, using a home run by one of Biggio’s sons, Cavan Biggio, to earn the crown with a 4-3 victory against Dallas (Texas) Bishop Lynch.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the big bats making a difference in the team’s semifinal victory also has the last name Biggio; Craig Biggio’s son, Conor Biggio, who delivered the game-winning hit in a 4-3, extra-innings nail biter against Argyle (Texas) Liberty Christian High.

“I don’t get too caught up with that,” Biggio told the Chronicle when asked about his impact on the program. “It’s not about me, it’s about these kids, and win or lose we’re trying to turn these kids into men. … That’s the thing that’s most important to me.”

Others might disagree, one of his former teammates among them. Another TAPPS state semifinalist in 2011 was coached by another former Astros player, with Woody Williams leading Fort Bend (Texas) Baptist school to the Class 4A semifinals. Like Biggio, Williams, a former pitcher, ushered in an era of immediate success when he arrived at Fort Bend Baptist, and has led the team to the state semifinals in both of the two seasons in which he has been in charge.

While there are any number of reasons why the former Astros have achieved so much in such a small time, others might connect the fact that they’re recently retired Astros and notice a trend.

In fact, Biggio and Williams’ success raises another question that small Texas private schools hoping to rebuild a baseball program might want to consider: What is Jeff Bagwell up to these days?

Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Related: Texas, baseball, famous alums

Craig Biggio is a Houston Astros legend. Some would make the case that he even belongs in the Hall of Fame. Whether he’s ever inducted in Cooperstown or not, Biggio certainly is of a certain caliber of player who could happily rest on their laurels for the rest of their life when they eventually decide to retire.

Yet that’s not Biggio, as most in the Astros organization will quickly attest to. So, rather than ease his way into life after baseball stardom, within two years of his retirement he jumped right into baseball coaching at the high school level. What he has built in the two years since he was hired is something akin to a budding dynasty.

According to the Houston Chronicle, St. Thomas (Texas) School won the TAPPS Class 5A state baseball title in the first year under Biggio’s tutelage. In his second season, in 2011, the team made it back to the state finals.

And, for the second straight season, St. Thomas captured the state crown, using a home run by one of Biggio’s sons, Cavan Biggio, to earn the crown with a 4-3 victory against Dallas (Texas) Bishop Lynch.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the big bats making a difference in the team’s semifinal victory also has the last name Biggio; Craig Biggio’s son, Conor Biggio, who delivered the game-winning hit in a 4-3, extra-innings nail biter against Argyle (Texas) Liberty Christian High.

“I don’t get too caught up with that,” Biggio told the Chronicle when asked about his impact on the program. “It’s not about me, it’s about these kids, and win or lose we’re trying to turn these kids into men. … That’s the thing that’s most important to me.”

Others might disagree, one of his former teammates among them. Another TAPPS state semifinalist in 2011 was coached by another former Astros player, with Woody Williams leading Fort Bend (Texas) Baptist school to the Class 4A semifinals. Like Biggio, Williams, a former pitcher, ushered in an era of immediate success when he arrived at Fort Bend Baptist, and has led the team to the state semifinals in both of the two seasons in which he has been in charge.

While there are any number of reasons why the former Astros have achieved so much in such a small time, others might connect the fact that they’re recently retired Astros and notice a trend.

In fact, Biggio and Williams’ success raises another question that small Texas private schools hoping to rebuild a baseball program might want to consider: What is Jeff Bagwell up to these days?

Want more on the best stories in high school sports? Visit RivalsHigh or connect with Prep Rally on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Related: Texas, baseball, famous alums

By Seth Pollack

– Regional Sports Editor

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May 27, 2011 – The NL West second place Arizona Diamondbacks take their hot play to Houston to face the 19-31 Astros. The D-backs have struggled at times against teams with poor records and especially on the road can be very shaky. As exciting as their current streak of 11-of-13 wins on the line in a three-game weekend series.

The D-backs will start things off with Dan Hudson who has seemingly solved his first inning struggles with an adjustments to his pregame routine. Huddy is 4-1 with a 2.27 ERA in his last five starts. He faces Astros’ righty Bret Meyers (1-4, 5.00).

Zach Duke will get his first start of the season. He broke his hand during spring training and will finally get to take the mound for the club after a couple of rehab starts in the minors. Duke will take on Wandy Rodriguez (3-3, 3.41) in Game 2. Game 3 will feature Josh Collmenter (3-1, 1.19) and Bud Norris (2-3, 3.77). It will be interesting to see how Collmenter bounces back from his first bad outing of the season in his last start.

The game starts Friday at 5:05 p.m. on Fox Sports Arizona with the live game thread at AZ Snake Pit. 

Series Preview #18: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Houston Astros – AZ Snake Pit
In a way, the Astros sort of resemble the D-Backs’ weird, kinda cool cousin to the East.  You know, the cousin who you go on a family vacation to visit once a year, realize “Hey, we actually have a lot in common, we should hang out more” before you leave and promptly forget about them for another year?  The family resemblance between the Diamondbacks and Astros is uncanny.  Both teams are from major Sunbelt cities with red uniforms and a stadium with a retractable roof.

 

Diamondbacks Farm Round-Up: May 26th – AZ Snake Pit
Just about every fifth day on the farm this year, we’ve treated to seeing the awesome prospect triumvirate of Jarrod Parker, Tyler Skaggs, and J.R. Bradley throwing on the same day.  Clearly, this is some sort of sinister plot by the organization to kill precisely 1/5 of my social life by having me obsessively following minor-league Gameday and box scores for five hours (due to the time delay from Visalia to South Bend).  

 Snakelet of the Day: Tyler Skaggs (Hi-A): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 11:1 K:BB, 1 HR, 7:2 GO:FO

Read More: Zach Duke (P – ARI), Daniel Hudson (P – ARI), Josh Collmenter (P – ARI), Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros

By Alex Cohn

– Associate Editor

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May 27, 2011 –

(Sports Network) – Right-hander Daniel Hudson can continue a personal win streak and get the Arizona Diamondbacks another step closer to first place tonight when they visit Minute Maid Park to begin a three-game weekend series with the Houston Astros.

Hudson, a 24-year-old product of Old Dominion University, was 0-4 on the season before a 7-5 decision over Philadelphia on April 26.

He’s since reeled off four more wins in five starts, including defeats of San Diego and Minnesota, allowing 16 hits and just three runs with 12 strikeouts in 15 innings.

The victories have dropped his season earned run average from 4.41 to 3.82.

The Diamondbacks are second in the National League West and trail the first- place San Francisco Giants by 1 1/2 games after a 6-3 defeat of Colorado in the finale of a four-game series.

Arizona has won 11 of its last 13 games.

On Thursday, Miguel Montero went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, as Arizona held off the Rockies, 6-3, at Coors Field.

Kelly Johnson hit a two-run home run for the Diamondbacks, who won the final three games of the series. Melvin Mora had an RBI.

Micah Owings (1-0) gave up one run on four hits over five innings to pick up his first win since May 5, 2010, when he was a member of the Reds. In his second start of the season, Owings struck out three and walked one.

On Wednesday in Houston, J.R. Towles broke out of an extended slump at the plate and singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Astros edged the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1, at Minute Maid Park.

Towles, who entered Wednesday’s rubber match mired in an 0-for-32 skid, finished with three hits for Houston.

Brett Wallace hit a one-out double off Los Angeles reliever Matt Guerrier (2-3) in the ninth. After Bill Hall flied out, Towles stroked a 2-0 pitch to center field to score pinch-runner Brian Bogusevic.

Rookie Aneury Rodriguez gave up a home run to Matt Kemp among four hits in six innings for the Astros, who have won four of their last six games. Mark Melancon (4-1) tossed an inning of relief to earn the win.

Houston begins the series with righty Brett Myers, who’s winless in seven starts since defeating the Chicago Cubs on April 12.

Houston is 3-7 in Myers’s 10 starts this season.

He gave up eight hits and six runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 7-5 interleague loss at Toronto on May 21.

The loss boosted his ERA to 5.00 in 63 innings, one season after he posted a 3.14 mark over 33 starts and 223 2/3 innings.

He is 2-2 lifetime with a save against Arizona in eight meetings.

The Diamondbacks have won eight of their last 11 versus the Astros.

Read More: Daniel Hudson (P – ARI), Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds