Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

After lengthy bee delay, Astros beat Padres 7-2

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July 3

Houston Chronicle

"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. When it was done, the Astros had won again, defeating the San Diego Padres 7-2 on Thursday afternoon at Petco Park. The Astros took three of four from the Padres as they head to San Francisco for a weekend series against the Giants. They've won eight of their last 10 series. "The key is to keep winning series," manager Cecil Cooper said. "That's the name of the game." Cooper got another terrific pitching performance, this one from Wandy Rodriguez, who allowed one run in seven innings for his seventh victory. He lowered his ERA to a solid 3.21. "He threw a lot ..."

Handsome start turns ugly

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July 2

San Diego Union-Tribune

"For 3 1/3 innings last night, Walter Silva was perfect and the Padres were flawless. Then it all fell apart in perhaps the Padres' worst inning of the season. Houston sent 10 hitters to the plate against Silva in a six-run fourth that resulted in a 7-1 Astros victory before 16,670 at Petco Park. For the third straight game, Silva departed with a bad pitching line. This time, however, it wasn't entirely the fault of the 32-year-old product of the Mexican League. Half the six runs charged to Silva were officially unearned - thanks to a three-run throwing error by third baseman Chase Headley on a two-out grounder. And the Padres, who managed just five hits, could have limited the damage ..."

Infielder Duran claimed off waivers

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July 2

Houston Chronicle

"The Astros claimed infielder German Duran off waivers from the Rangers. He's 24 years old and has had 143 at-bats in the major leagues. Duran has a .231 career average. "We had some pretty good reports on him the last couple of years," Astros general manager Ed Wade said. "He can play all the infield positions, can play the outfield. We felt the upside of what he's capable of doing made him worth it. It's hard to find middle infielders with big league experience who are 24." Duran is recovering from an appendectomy and will be placed on the disabled list before beginning a rehab assignment at Kissimmee, Fla. Two relievers on the current team — Alberto Arias and Jeff Fulchino — were both ..."

Wandy comes of age

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July 2

Houston Chronicle

"It was about 18 months ago that Astros president Tal Smith said something that sounded surprising about Wandy Rodriguez. "Wandy is right on schedule," Smith said. "He's close to becoming a polished major league pitcher. We have to be patient. Not all these guys are like Roy (Oswalt). They don't all come up and become stars overnight. Wandy has had to figure out what works and what doesn't. He has had to learn to trust his stuff." At the time, Wandy was 28-33 with a 5.17 ERA. He was about to celebrate his 28th birthday. Who has a career breakthrough at 28? Who continues to get better at that age? In the NFL, they start looking for a replacement about the time a player turns 28. Smith saw ..."

Big inning of little hits leads Astros past Padres

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July 2

Houston Chronicle

"Who needs thunder and lightning when you've got slap and sprint? Style points count for nothing, so the important thing is that the Astros defeated the San Diego Padres 7-1 Wednesday night at Petco Park. And you thought the Hometown Nine would never hit again. Silly you. The Astros sent 10 men to the plate and scored six times in the fourth inning against Padres starter Walter Silva. Yes, THAT Walter Silva. Never mind that the rally consisted of five singles, a walk, an error and three unearned runs. They got two more singles in the ninth, and one of them even got out of the infield. Take that, Babe Ruth. "We had a perfect game for this ballpark,'' Geoff Blum said. "We slapped it around. ..."

Hampton starting to look like a sound investment

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July 1

Houston Chronicle

columnist Richard Justice

"When pitchers need a shot of confidence, they'll sometimes go out and watch batting practice. That's when they're reminded how tough baseball is. Even with a pitcher throwing the ball down the middle of the plate, the hitters get no more than three, four or five hits for every 10 at-bats. Mike Hampton was in a place like that at the end of May. He'd won two of his nine starts for the Astros, and his ERA was 5.62. Since then it's been a turn-back-the-clock stretch including Tuesday night's six innings and one run allowed against the Padres. The Astros had gambled he still had something in the tank last winter even though Hampton had made just four starts during a hellish four-year period in ..."

Luck changes with scenery for Hawkins

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July 1

Houston Chronicle

columnist Richard Justice

"When the Yankees released him last July, LaTroy Hawkins didn't waste time feeling sorry for himself. Instead, he went to work trying to put his career back together. Instead of going home to Dallas to catch his breath or reflect on what had happened, he flew to Fort Wayne, Ind . That's where he hooked up with his agent, Matt Kinzer. Actually, Kinzer is more than an agent. He's a former major league pitcher and scout, and through the years has become the person who knows Hawkins as well as anyone. "Matt watches me like a hawk," Hawkins said. "He knows everything I do. Even when I have a good outing, he'll call or text me if he saw something. His mentality for pitching and the way he can ..."

Astros blow late lead, lose to Padres 4-3

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July 1

Houston Chronicle

"Mike Hampton had pitched well again, and the Astros had nursed a two-run lead into the seventh inning when Chris Sampson entered the game. He was being called upon to help close out a victory that would have moved the Astros up two places in the standings and gotten them to within a game of .500 for the first time since the first week of the season. To call it critical would be silly. After all, it's only June, and the race in the National League Central is still blurry. "This division is going to be close," Lance Berkman would say later. "It's going to be won or lost by a game or two." Yet on a night when the Cubs, Reds and Cardinals all lost, on a night when the Astros could have ..."

Astros set to release Backe

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June 30

MLB.com

"Brandon Backe, the local product that endeared himself to Astros fans with his penchant for coming up big in the playoffs, is done in Houston. Backe, who was designated for assignment Friday, cleared waivers and exercised his right to reject an assignment to Triple-A Round Rock. The Astros placed him on waivers Monday with the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Astros general manager Ed Wade said Backe chose to reject the assignment and ensure he'd receive the rest of his $1.55 million salary. He could have accepted the assignment or opted to become a free agent, at which point he would not have gotten paid. Backe, 31, came to Spring Training competing for a spot in the ..."

Oswalt fires a two-hit assault

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June 30

San Diego Union-Tribune

"OK, so it wasn't just an American League thing. For obvious reasons, the Padres were relieved to get back to the National League Monday night, coming off an interleague schedule in which they'd lost 10-of-15. In two of those outings, they'd been dominated in complete-game victories by Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners and Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Not without an eagerness to return to their own league, the Houston Astros made it 13 victories in their last 17 games against NL opponents, beating the Padres 3-1 on pretty much the strength of one right arm. It was attached to a pitcher who needed only two hours and 11 minutes for his complete game. "Mister ..."

Oswalt allows two hits in complete-game victory

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June 30

Houston Chronicle

"When the game seemed on the verge of getting away from him, Roy Oswalt did what only the special ones are capable of doing. He took control of the game. A nasty slider here, a blazing fastball there. Game. Set. Match. Set aside for now all those questions about Oswalt. He has never been better than he was Monday night in tossing a complete-game two hitters as the Astros defeated the San Diego Padres 3-1 at Petco Park. There was just this one moment when the thing seemed in doubt. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Padres had a 1-0 lead and two runners in scoring position with one one out. That's when Oswalt dug down. He struck out Chase Headley and Eliezer Alfonzo on a series of ..."

Astros Notes: Berkman put back in No. 3 spot

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June 29

Houston Chronicle

"Lance Berkman, who was hitting .308 for June heading into Sunday, was put back in the No. 3 spot in the lineup for the first time since May 30. He finished 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. "It doesn't matter to me one way or the other," Berkman said. "I feel all right. I've felt OK. With the exception of the first month, I've felt pretty good at the plate." Before the series finale Sunday, Berkman was hitting .467 (7-for-15) with two home runs and six RBIs on the homestand. "He's a three-hole hitter," Cecil Cooper said. " He's the best hitter we've got, and that's where you put your best guy." Berkman deflected the compliment. "I don't know about that," Berkman said. "I think we have three or ..."

Valverde blows save; Astros can't finish sweep

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June 29

Houston Chronicle

"The Astros were within one strike of completing what would have been a satisfying three-game sweep, and most in the crowd were on their feet. If not completely rocking, the atmosphere at Minute Maid Park on Sunday was more in tune with a pennant chase rather than a contest in late June. But the mood soured when closer Jose Valverde gave up a two-run homer to Detroit's Brandon Inge, and the Astros suffered one of their most deflating losses of the season. Inge's home run with two outs in the ninth inning lifted the Tigers to a 4-3 victory and helped them avoid a sweep. " Let me just say that this one hurts — real bad," manager Cecil Cooper said after the Astros wasted an opportunity to ..."

Rough start for Suppan

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June 29

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Thank goodness for Yovani Gallardo. Without his ace of a right arm, the Milwaukee Brewers' starting rotation would be in a shambles. As it is in its current state, four-fifths of the rotation is in a funk and with replacement starters occupying two spots, there is some instability. Right-hander Jeff Suppan was the latest starter to struggle, getting beat around Sunday afternoon as the San Francisco Giants got out of Miller Park with a 7-0 victory to avoid a series sweep. Suppan lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, and both his walks hurt him. "We're having a hard time getting six innings (from a starter)," manager Ken Macha said. "(Saturday) four innings, (Sunday) 5 2/3 . ..."

Inge's two-run homer in the 9th lifts Tigers

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June 29

Detroit Free Press

"Can Brandon Inge keep playing with his painful left knee? He hopes so. The Tigers had better hope so. For the second time in the past week, Inge aggravated his left knee in mid-game, then later in the game hit a lead-changing homer. This one came today with the Tigers one out away from getting swept in Houston. His high, massive drive way over the leftfield fence against closer Jose Valverde gave the Tigers a 4-3 win. It came after Marcus Thames had rallied from a 1-2 count to draw a two-out walk from Valverde. Inge said the technical name for his problem is tendinitis of the patellar tendon. "Tendinitis means rest, and I don't have time to rest," Inge said. "It definitely hurts," he ..."

Blum activated from disabled list

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June 28

MLB.com

"The Astros activated third baseman Geoff Blum off the disabled list following Houston's 8-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, optioning Edwin Maysonet back to Triple-A Round Rock. Blum has been on the disabled list since June 13 with a left hamstring strain. The Astros' third baseman played in rehab games at Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday and Friday, going 1-for-7 with a double and an RBI.Blum is hitting .270 with one homer and 18 RBIs in 49 games for Houston this year.Maysonet was called up from Round Rock on May 22, and after second baseman Kazuo Matsui strained his left hamstring, he found himself in the Astros' lineup consistently."

Paulino gets outpouring?of support upon return

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June 28

Houston Chronicle

"Once Kaz Matsui capped the Astros' five-run rally in the third inning Saturday night, Felipe Paulino sensed a bit of relief. Yet, he maintained focus out of a healthy respect for the Detroit Tigers. Paulino hasn't had an opportunity to work with a comfortable lead this season, and he wasn't ready to take anything for granted while delivering his best start of the season after being activated from the disabled list. Paulino (2-4) did his part, and his Astros teammates broke out the bats to beat the Tigers 8-1 before a crowd of 37,123 at Minute Maid Park. "It was always a relief to have that run support, but I was always careful with those batters," Paulino said. "Like I said earlier, the ..."

Astros hammer Tigers, held to 3 hits

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June 28

Detroit Free Press

"Michael Bourn had three hits and Lance Berkman and Kaz Matsui each had two RBIs as the Astros beat the Detroit Tigers, 8-1, tonight in Houston. The Tigers were held to only three hits. The big inning for the Astros was their five-run third. Jeff Keppinger led things off with a walk and Miguel Tejada singled. With one out, Berkman doubled to score both runners and then stole third. Hunter Pence then doubled to score Berkman and Matsui followed with a two-run homer. In his second major-league start, Alfredo Figaro (1-1) pitched six innings, giving up eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and two walks while striking out five. "Sometimes you are going to have a bad game, but they have all ..."

Astros notes: Hampton ready to go

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June 27

Houston Chronicle

"Lefthander Mike Hampton, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin, threw a simulated game Friday and was cleared to start Tuesday at San Diego. "It was good," he said. "I didn't feel any pain. I got some work in. The ball's moving. Loca-tion wasn't fantastic, but I threw some good pitches here and there." Hampton threw three simulated innings Friday. "I'll pitch in San Diego," he said. "That's the plan. ... I'll get three days off in between. I'll probably throw a little light bullpen on Sunday with the anticipation of throwing on Tuesday." Defensive lapses After the Astros committed three errors Thursday and five over the previous two days, manager Cecil Cooper was asked ..."

Backe's time with Astros over

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June 27

Houston Chronicle

"Righthander Brandon Backe, a Galveston native who was one of the Astros' most popular players, was designated for assignment Friday night to make room for Felipe Paulino to be activated from the disabled list. The Astros have 10 days to trade or release him. "He's been a standup guy the whole time he's been with us, but because of the health issue in spring training and other circumstances, just some guys have moved past him at this point," Astros general manager Ed Wade said. After entering camp needing to fight for the fifth spot in the rotation, Backe suffered an intercostals injury in spring training. The Astros placed him on the disabled list and then sent him on a rehab assignment ..."

Astros don't quit, top Tigers

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June 27

Houston Chronicle

"Down by four runs after two innings Friday night, Wandy Rodriguez kept thinking that there wouldn't be much more room for error with Justin Verlander on the mound for the Detroit Tigers at Minute Maid Park. Forced to dig out of an early deficit against one of baseball's hottest teams, the Astros methodically worked on keeping their fans interested before rewarding them late with a 5-4 victory. Rodriguez settled down after a miserable start, and Miguel Tejada capped the Astros' game-winning, two-run rally in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly to snap the Tigers' seven-game winning streak. "The pitching coach (Dewey Robinson) just kept telling me, 'Keep it here. Keep it here,'" Rodriguez ..."

Walks wear on Jim Leyland in Tigers loss

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June 27

Detroit Free Press

"Each team walked seven hitters Friday night. Those 14 walks combined to tell how the Tigers didn't score -- and how the Astros did score in their 5-4 win. "I am tired of looking at walks," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, sounding a theme about his pitchers from last year. "I am tired of looking at walks -- that I can assure you. That's too many people walking too many people." Of the seven Tigers who walked, one scored. Four Tigers who walked were stranded in scoring position. Tigers starter Justin Verlander walked four. It was emblematic of how he didn't have his best stuff. His two most egregious walks came in the third. With the 4-0 lead, he walked speedster Michael Bourn to start the ..."

Pudge Rodriguez is still close to Tigers

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June 27

Detroit News

"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. Rodriguez will be considered one of the best free-agent acquisitions in Tigers history, coming to the Motor City at a time when Detroit wasn't exactly on the top of the free-agent destination list. He was traded to the Yankees from the Tigers in the middle of last season, and though he faced his old team as a Yankee last year, Rodriguez still takes pleasure in seeing all his old Tigers teammates -- as the new Astros catcher did Friday night. He was sharing hugs and joking around ..."

Zumaya coughs up lead; Tigers' run ends

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June 27

Detroit News

"Joel Zumaya could do nothing more that stare stone-faced into his locker after Friday night's game in Houston. Zumaya walked back onto the field in the eighth inning after getting Zach Miner out of a jam in the seventh. But it turned out Zumaya couldn't save himself. He allowed two runs after walking three Astros and giving up a hit. He walked onto the mound with a 4-3 lead and left with the Tigers behind, 5-4. And that's where the score finished as the Tigers' seven-game winning streak came to an end. Afterward, Tigers manager Jim Leyland made it very clear that walks are not acceptable. "You've got to throw strikes up here," he said. "I'm tired of looking at walks, and that's everybody. ..."

Tigers' win streak over at 7

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June 27

Detroit Free Press

"Miguel Tejada had two hits and two RBIs as the Astros beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-4, tonight in Houston, snapping the Tigers' seven game winning streak. In the eighth, Joel Zumaya (3-2) loaded the bases after getting Ivan Rodriguez to line out to right. He gave up a single to Kaz Matsui and walked pinch hitter Daren Erstad and Michael Bourn. He then walked Jeff Keppinger for the game-tying run. Zumaya was lifted for Freddy Dolsi, making his season debut. His first pitch to Miguel Tejada was hit deep to leftfield for a sacrifice fly and the go-ahead run, scored by Bourn. Miguel Cabrera led off the ninth inning with a single to left-center. Josh Anderson reached on a fielder's choice, ..."

Walks wear on Jim Leyland in Tigers loss

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June 27

Detroit Free Press

"Each team walked seven hitters Friday night. Those 14 walks combined to tell how the Tigers didn't score -- and how the Astros did score in their 5-4 win. "I am tired of looking at walks," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, sounding a theme about his pitchers from last year. "I am tired of looking at walks -- that I can assure you. That's too many people walking too many people." Of the seven Tigers who walked, one scored. Four Tigers who walked were stranded in scoring position. Tigers starter Justin Verlander walked four. It was emblematic of how he didn't have his best stuff. His two most egregious walks came in the third. With the 4-0 lead, he walked speedster Michael Bourn to start the ..."

Online balloting to decide '09 All-Stars

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June 26

MLB.com

"We, the people, are deciding who goes to the 80th All-Star Game July 14 in St. Louis.We are ready for the mad rush.We are entering that Validation Key over and over, submitting our 25 allotted votes in the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com.We punched those Walt Disney Pictures G-Force All-Star Game paper ballots and left those little chads all over ballparks, and now those last paper ballots are being collected tonight at Pittsburgh and Houston as it goes online-only for the homestretch.We know it's the final week to decide starters. Our deadline as empowered fans is 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, and we know that only because we have been staring at this javascript voting app ..."

Mother's Day bats now up for auction

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June 26

MLB.com

"It has been a big first half of baseball for current American League All-Star first baseman vote front-runner Mark Teixeira, and that included that memorable Mother's Day game back in his hometown of Baltimore, where he crushed a two-run homer for the Yankees.He was swinging a pink bat."It's obviously huge -- I think that's the first home run I've hit with a pink bat, so I'm going to go bring that to Mom right now," Teixeira said on May 9, referring to Margy, a breast cancer survivor who had been diagnosed when he was a freshman at Baltimore's St. Joseph's High School. "As soon as I hit it, I thought about it. It's pretty special to me."Margy may have gotten that pink bat, but another one ..."

Royals let Astros off the hook in 5-4 loss

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June 26

Kansas City Star

"A little etiquette help here, please. When presented an unexpected gift, is the proper response to just flat refuse to take it? If so, the Royals acted properly Thursday in their 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. For here was the chance for the Royals to register their first sweep in a road series since last September. The Astros tried to make it easy, too, by playing defense with the sort of organized precision of preschoolers coloring within the lines. But no. "We had every opportunity to sweep this series," manager Trey Hillman agreed, "and we didn't take advantage of it." The Royals permitted three different leads to slip away, including two that were absolutely ..."

Opposite day is productive for Berkman

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June 26

Houston Chronicle

"He has an on-base percentage 45 points higher than the National League average and a slugging percentage 103 points higher, and he's having a bad year. Such is life when your expectations are as high as Lance Berkman's. So it was no surprise that after belting a pair of two-run homers in the Astros' 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday at Minute Maid Park, Berkman treated the day with tempered enthusiasm. "I didn't even hit the ball that great," said Berkman, who twice took Brian Bannister deep to left field. "I just happened to take advantage of the Crawford Boxes. The first homer I hit pretty well; the second homer I didn't hit quite as good. But I'll take it, for ..."

Fixing Florida

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June 25

ESPN.com

"The Florida Marlins' bullpen is in tatters, in the aftermath of word that Matt Lindstrom may not pitch for many weeks, to go along with injuries to Leo Nunez and Kiko Calero. Sources say that right now, Florida's top priority is to add a proven reliever, and given that most of the bodies lost by the Marlins this season have been right-handers, adding someone like a LaTroy Hawkins or Danys Baez would make some sense. They also will consider Luis Ayala, whom the Twins cut loose and is reportedly being considered by the Pirates. The Marlins' need is acute, and the timing is right: Ricky Nolasco is on a roll right now, and the Marlins moved above .500 for the first time in more than six weeks ..."

Olivo's homer helps Royals outlast Astros 4-3 in 11 innings

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June 25

Kansas City Star

"That all-too-familiar companion, heartbreak, chased the Royals around Minute Maid Park for 11 innings Wednesday night. Only this time, somehow and in improbable fashion, the Royals escaped. Miguel Olivo's leadoff home run in the 11th inning against ex-Royals reliever Jeff Fulchino provided the winning margin in a wild 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros. "I know what (pitches) he has," Olivo said. "But I'm not expecting him to throw me a fastball in that situation. Everybody throws me sliders because I'm a free swinger. I'm swinging all of the time, and I got my pitch." The Royals erased a one-run deficit in the ninth inning against Houston closer José Valverde, aided by an error and a ..."

Astros reach deal with No. 1 draft pick Mier

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June 25

Houston Chronicle

"The Astros have agreed to terms with shortstop Jiovanni Mier, their top pick in the 2009 draft, on a deal worth $1.358 million, sources familiar with the negotiations said. The deal will be completed once he passes a physical, which is expected to take place Friday. "We finally came to a deal," Mier told MLB.com. "I'm glad we came to a conclusion and my [agents] got it done. I'm trying to get out there and play." Mier, 18, hit .394 with 10 doubles, five home runs, 18 RBIs and 22 walks and had a .545 on-base percentage in his senior season at Bonita High School in Laverne, Calif. He was the 21st overall pick."

Latest loss Royal pain for Astros

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June 25

Houston Chronicle

"Two outs from victory Wednesday night, the Astros found a way to turn what could have been an encouraging win into one of their worst and strangest losses of the season. A Lance Berkman error led to an unearned run that tied the game in the ninth, and after an exchange of runs in the 10th, Miguel Olivo homered on the first pitch of the 11th to give the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 win at Minute Maid Park. "Definitely one of the more disappointing losses for the year," manager Cecil Cooper said. The disappointment came mostly in the ninth, when the Astros had a chance to close it out with Jose Valverde on the mound and a 2-1 lead. With one out, Mitch Maier's routine ground ball went through the ..."

Royals, Greinke win again by beating Astros

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June 24

Kansas City Star

"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. And it wasn't - but the Royals held on Tuesday night for a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. "We've been pitching bad and hitting well," Greinke said. "When you're not pitching, you can't win. You've got to be able to pitch. Soria pulled it out, too. He got himself in a jam when, usually, he's one-two-three." Yep, the pitching returned after yielding 53 runs in the last five games. Soria got his first save since May 7 but, boy, it was heart-pounder right to the end after Miguel Tejada ..."

Greinke bats eighth against Astros

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June 24

Kansas City Star

"No, before you ask, Royals manager Trey Hillman didn't come up with the idea of having pitcher Zack Greinke bat eighth Tuesday night against the Astros from one of his weekend conversations with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. La Russa typically has pitchers bat eighth. "He's done a lot of research on it," Hillman said, "but I've not spoken to Tony about that. We've talked a lot of baseball over the last two years, but we didn't talk about his theory (on the pitcher batting eighth)." Greinke is the first pitcher in Royals' history to bat anywhere but ninth in the starting lineup. Center fielder Mitch Maier batted ninth. "The thought process was more of wanting to bat Mitch and David ..."

Greinke gives Astros the silent treatment

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June 24

Houston Chronicle

"With the Astros limited to one run by one of the game's best pitchers, their natural reaction might have been to tip their collective cap to Zack Greinke and be thankful they see Greinke's Royals only every few years in the interleague rotation. However, after the Astros lost 2-1 to Kansas City on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park, the mood had a generous dose of frustration mixed in with the reverence. The hitters knew they had their chances. The Astros got eight hits off Greinke — one of the early favorites for the American League Cy Young Award — and two more off closer Joakim Soria in the ninth, but the fact they scored just one run prompted Miguel Tejada to state that a different ..."

Ailing Minnesota Twins lose game, series to Houston Astros

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June 22

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Down went Nick Punto (batting .404 since June 12) on Saturday night with sore ribs. Sunday morning Justin Morneau came in achy and sore — playing 319 consecutive games will do that to you. Then, long-missed leadoff man Denard Span, nearing the end of his time on the disabled list with prolonged dizziness, packed his bags for a rehab stint. And, finally, in the third inning, a stomach bug caught up with Jason Kubel, who had to leave the game. "We're not very healthy. That's obviously a big concern. We have to get guys out on the field," catcher Mike Redmond said after Minnesota lost 4-1 to Houston on Sunday in the Metrodome. "Hopefully we can get some guys healthy. This is a long road ..."

It's Bourn, again: 'MVP'?powers Astros to victory

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June 21

Houston Chronicle

"Upon learning Cecil Cooper considers him the team's most valuable player so far this season, Michael Bourn embraced the compliment and acknowledged some raw skills he wants to improve. So a few hours after his manager's praise, he delivered his second home run of the year — his first against a lefthander — Saturday night to help the Astros beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5. Bourn's two-run home run to right capped a four-run rally in the seventh and gave the Astros their first lead in the come-from-behind victory at the Metrodome. "Michael Bourn is, like I said earlier, if I had to pick an MVP he'd be our MVP right now," Cooper said. "I think he's played terrific baseball really from opening ..."

Boston Red Sox look for stability at shortstop

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June 21

Chicago Tribune

columnist Phil Rogers

"No position is more important than the one in the middle of the infield. Yet shortstop has been a revolving door for the Boston Red Sox during their six-year run as baseball's strongest team. They have more pitchers than they need this season, and Jason Bay, Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell are providing the run production that for so long came from David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. But manager Terry Francona continues to tinker at shortstop. He has used 18 players there since the 2004 season, when Nomar Garciaparra was traded to the Cubs. Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Alex Gonzalez and Julio Lugo have taken turns as the primary shortstop, with the homegrown Jed Lowrie flashing the potential ..."

Red Sox want rotation depth, will keep Penny

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June 20

ESPN.com

"Be realistic. Jake Peavy and Erik Bedard probably won't be tradeable before Aug. 1. Drayton McLane is not moving Roy Oswalt. Jarrod Washburn could probably be had, and would be a good pickup for a National League team with a big ballpark (cue Dodgers, Mets and Giants). And that's about it. Oh, Brad Penny would probably be the best starting pitcher out there, but unless someone comes up with a Justin Smoak, Matt LaPorta or Brett Wallace -- which isn't going to happen -- they are going to hold onto Penny, who is two years removed from finishing third in the NL Cy Young race. Early in the season, Penny came out throwing 88-90 mph in the first couple of innings and gradually worked his way up ..."

LaTroy Hawkins still has his fan club

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June 20

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"The group is still going strong, LaTroy Hawkins reports, even if he's six years and six teams removed from being a Minnesota Twin, and on Friday the reliever's Minnesota-born fan club got a rare chance to gather in its starting place. The Houston Astros are at the Metrodome for the first time since 2001, and although the LaTroy Hawkins Fan Club banner wasn't on display in its original section, 216, at first pitch Friday night, Hawkins said members of the fan club he still appreciates so were on hand. Hawkins spent parts of nine seasons pitching for the Twins, the last four as a reliever. He left after the 2003 season, and since then most of his former Twins teammates have moved on as well. ..."

Bundle of prospect signings

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June 20

Houston Chronicle

"Astros assistant general manager Bobby Heck, the amateur scouting director, has signed 33 of the 50 players the club selected, including six of the first seven picks. Third baseman Jonathan Meyer, the Astros' compensation pick in the third round, highlights the latest batch of signings. Stanford righthander Brandt Walker (eighth round) and Northwestern outfielder Jacob Goebbert (13th round) joined Meyer as the latest three signings announced and posted with Major League Baseball on Friday. "I'm extremely pleased with the work my scouts have done," Heck said via phone. "It says a lot about the scouts. And at the same time it says a lot about the type of players we drafted." Heck says ..."

Lights out in the 8th for Astros

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June 20

Houston Chronicle

"While the Astros took early fielding practice, Jason Michaels warned teammates about losing low line drives in the Metrodome lights. In case they didn't understand the problems visitors have tracking fly balls in the Metrodome, Michaels served as a prime example Friday night when he missed Delmon Young's shot in the eighth inning, letting the Twins pull away against Roy Oswalt. With Oswalt (3-4) trying to keep his team within a run of the Twins, Young sent his two-run double to left to help beat the Astros 5-2. "I've played here a lot, and that's the first time that's ever been an issue," said Michaels, who entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth. "I was telling (Michael Bourn) today and ..."

Clemens tells Web site he's looking forward to day in court

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June 20

New York Daily News

"Roger Clemens - the target of a federal perjury investigation - says he's looking forward to going to court because it may be the only place he can definitively prove he never used steroids. Clemens, responding to questions posed by readers of the Houstonist, an east Texas news and lifestyle Web site, said he may write a book to present his case if he doesn't get his day in court. "Do you believe that you will get a chance to present your side of the story in a court of law?" a Houstonist reader identified as Cinderelly25 asked. "And if you do not, what will be your recourse, if any? Will you write a book?" "I sure hope so," Clemens responded. "I think that's the only place that we will ..."

Cooper apologizes for Rodriguez snub

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June 19

Houston Chronicle

"From the heart A day after Astros catcher Ivan Rodriguez set the all-time record for games caught, he received a visit from former President George W. Bush and an apology from his manager, Cecil Cooper. Almost two hours before Bush visited Rodriguez on Thursday in the visitors' clubhouse at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Cooper held a meeting to apologize to Rodriguez for not congratulating him after Wednesday night's 5-4 loss to the Rangers. Astros players were upset that Cooper didn't congratulate Rodriguez on Wednesday while giving a postgame talk after Rodriguez passed Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk on the all-time games-caught list with 2,227. At first Rodriguez didn't want to discuss ..."

Pence's homer averts sweep

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June 19

Houston Chronicle

"With his team in peril of being swept in the annual Lone Star Series for the first time since the interleague matchup began in 2001, Hunter Pence saved the Astros against the club he grew up cheering. Pence, an Arlington native, broke a tie by leading off the Astros' two-run eighth inning with a home run to center to beat the Texas Rangers 5-3 on Thursday night. "I wouldn't say necessarily the win has any significance, but every time I play here it's a little special just because I have the memories of coming here as a boy," Pence said. "Growing up watching them, being in the stands, seeing the stadium built, it's something special every time you play on this ball field." By avoiding the ..."

Rangers denied Lone Star sweep as West lead dwindles

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June 19

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Regardless of what happens tonight in San Francisco, the Texas Rangers are assured of a 44th consecutive day with sole possession of first place in the American League West. That's the good news after one of the longest homestands of the season ended with a losing record and a much smaller first-place lead. The Rangers, though, say they still aren't looking behind them, even though they can probably sense that the Los Angeles Angels took a significant chunk of out their West deficit during the extended stay at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Another half-game was lost Thursday as Houston overcame an early three-run deficit against Vicente Padilla and plated two runs in the eighth against ..."

Texas Rangers lose finale to Astros

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June 19

Dallas Morning News

"Regardless of what happens tonight in San Francisco, the Rangers are assured of a 44th consecutive day alone in first place in the American League West. That's the good news after one of the longest homestands of the season ended with a losing record and a much smaller division lead. The Rangers say they still aren't looking behind them, even though they can probably sense the Los Angeles Angels took a significant chunk out of their West deficit. Another half-game was lost Thursday, when Houston overcame an early three-run deficit against Vicente Padilla and scored two in the eighth against Jason Jennings en route to a 5-3 victory. The Astros' only win in the six-game season series left ..."

Backe making first start of season

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June 18

Houston Chronicle

"A temporary matter Astros lefthander Mike Hampton addressed the media Wednesday for the first time since he was put on the disabled list Tuesday with a strained left groin. "When it happened I knew it wasn't terrible," said Hampton, who injured the groin on his last pitch Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It's still a little bit sore but it still wasn't bad. Hopefully I'll just miss two starts and this isn't something that lingers." Hampton will be eligible to be activated on June 29. Proving mound Astros righthander Brandon Backe will start the Lone Star Series finale, which might be crucial as he tries to earn a spot back in the rotation. "It's more just me getting people ..."

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