"Given his starting pitcher's ridiculously good numbers of late, Astros manager Brad Mills found it impossible to ask Felipe Paulino for a repeat performance prior to Wednesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies.

Something "close to it" would do, Mills said.

Paulino — who entered the contest with a 0.56 ERA in his previous two starts and 1.61 over his last four — proceeded to give another stellar showing, and Carlos Lee hit a two-out grand slam in the 10th inning to lift the Astros to a 6-2 victory before 27,114 at Coors Field.

It was the Astros' eighth victory in 11 games, and they are 4-1 in extra innings. It also was the second game in a row in which Lee delivered the game-winning hit.

A night after Lee's eighth-inning RBI single lifted the Astros to a 4-3 win, his 15th career grand slam broke a 2-2 tie in stunning fashion.

"It was sure nice to see Carlos again come through with a big swing," Mills said. "He had hit the ball hard a couple of times but hadn't gotten much to show for it.

"I think he let all his frustration out on that one swing."

Not lost in the euphoria of their second consecutive late-inning victory over the Rockies was the fact the Astros (24-36) improved to 4-1 in Paulino's last five starts.

"That goes to show you how good he is pitching," Mills said. Even though he may not be getting the 'W,' he's keeping us in games and going deep in games, giving our bullpen a rest. You can't say enough about him."

Effusive in his praise of both pitcher and slugger, Mills had something else to credit for the outcome. "