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Astros Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Considering Wandy Rodriguez had struggled a bit recently, manager Cecil Cooper had veteran Brad Ausmus catch the left-hander Wednesday afternoon. Humberto Quintero, who had caught six of the previous seven games, was out of the starting lineup.

"My thought process was just Wandy—not to say Q had problems with him—just in the last two of the three we haven't been real good," Cooper said. "So we'll give Brad a chance. They always work well together, Wandy and Ausmus. The thought was to keep Quintero and let him catch most of the time. But we'll give Brad a shot to catch Wandy. They always work well together, and it's good because it's Brad's last time playing here.

"He knows all the hitters.

Parra helps Milwaukee beat Houston (AP)

Manny Parra had enough to earn his first victory in a month. Parra lasted five innings to pick up his first win since July 20, J.J. Hardy hit a two-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Houston Astros 5-2 on Wednesday. "I had nothing today," Parra said. "Nothing." Rickie Weeks walked three times and scored three runs, and Prince Fielder had two sacrifice flies for Milwaukee, which managed just...

Houston Astros claim Castillo off waivers (AP)

The Houston Astros claimed infielder Jose Castillo on outright waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. Castillo, designated for assignment by the Giants last Wednesday, is expected to report on Friday when the Astros start a four-game series at the New York Mets. The Astros said they would make a corresponding roster move before he joins the team.

Astros claim IF Castillo (PA SportsTicker)

The Houston Astros on Wednesday claimed infielder Jose Castillo off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.

Blum's homer helps Astros top Brewers (AP)

Brian Moehler sounded as if he's on a losing skid, not a winning streak. Moehler extended his winning stretch to five games by pitching into the sixth inning and allowing one earned run, and Geoff Blum hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth to help the Houston Astros beat Ben Sheets and the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Red Sox, Angeles owners the best in baseball? (Yahoo! Sports)

It's always interesting to rate the bosses, isn't it? In this case, it's all about the top five owners in the...

Sabathia pitches another complete game for Brewers (AP)

Pitch nine innings, knock in two runs, rack up another win. CC Sabathia has been the complete package for the Milwaukee Brewers. The big lefty improved his perfect record with Milwaukee by tossing another complete game and getting a big hit Monday night in a 9-3 victory over the Houston Astros. Sabathia is 8-0 with a 1.60 ERA and five complete games in nine starts for the Brewers since they acquired...

CC Sabathia pitches Brewers past Astros (AP)

CC Sabathia often talks about how much he likes to hit. He just hadn't done much at the plate with the Milwaukee Brewers until Monday night. Sabathia improved his perfect record with the Brewers, pitching another complete game in a 9-3 victory over the Houston Astros. He also hit a two-run single in a five-run fourth inning.

Santana, Wigginton named co-NL Players of the Week (PA SportsTicker)

New York Mets lefthander Johan Santana and Houston Astros third baseman Ty Wigginton were named the National League's co-Players of the Week on Monday.

Morning Juice: Andre Ethier keeps the Dodgers Magic alive (Yahoo! Sports)

This and every weekday a.m., let's rise and shine for the gnarliest and Californicatingest baseball that big...

Oswalt pitches Astros past Johnson, Diamondbacks (AP)

Roy Oswalt downplayed how well he pitched on Sunday. The rest of the Houston Astros couldn't recall him looking any better. Oswalt allowed one hit in eight innings and struck out 10, outpitching Randy Johnson in Houston's 3-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ty Wigginton hit a three-run homer off Johnson in the first inning as the Astros averted a three-game sweep and won for the ninth time in...

Houston Astros retire Craig Biggio's No. 7 (AP)

For the first time in a while, Craig Biggio felt butterflies. The Houston Astros retired Biggio's No. 7 before Sunday's game against Arizona, and the seven-time All-Star waved to fans and touched his heart during a lively ceremony. Biggio retired in 2007 after becoming the 27th player to reach 3,000 hits.

Montero, Young hit slams, Arizona beats Houston (AP)

Adam Dunn still hasn't homered for Arizona, but the rest of the Diamondbacks are hitting plenty since he arrived. Miguel Montero and Chris Young hit grand slams -- the first time Arizona has hit two in the same game -- and the Diamondbacks beat the Astros 11-5 on Saturday night. Montero and Young hit the first slams of their careers, both connecting off Brandon Backe.

Astros put 2B Kaz Matsui on DL, call up J.R. House (AP)

The Astros placed second baseman Kazuo Matsui on the 15-day disabled list with an irritated disk in his back Saturday and purchased J.R. House's contract from Triple-A Round Rock. Matsui left Tuesday's game against San Francisco with a sore back and will go on the DL for the third time this season. He missed the first 16 games while recovering from surgery to repair an anal fissure, then sat out 15...

Astros place 2B Matsui on the DL (PA SportsTicker)

The Houston Astros on Saturday placed second baseman Kaz Matsui on the 15-day disabled list with an irritated disk.

D-backs end Houston's win streak with 12-2 victory (AP)

Arizona's hitters with ties to Houston helped Brandon Webb and the Diamondbacks end the Astros' eight-game winning streak. Webb struck out six in eight sharp innings and Houston natives Chris Snyder and Chris Young and former Astro Chris Burke homered in Arizona's 12-2 victory on Friday night. Webb (18-4) allowed four hits and retired 16 Astros on groundouts to win his seventh straight decision and...

Astros sweep Giants (AP)

The surging Houston Astros are leaving Lance Berkman almost speechless. Berkman hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to help lift the Houston Astros to their eighth straight win with a 7-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. It gave Houston, which has won 16 of 20, a four-game sweep of the Giants.

Biggio to have number retired by Astros (PA SportsTicker)

Craig Biggio, one of the most popular players in Houston Astros history, will have his uniform No. 7 retired prior to Sunday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Lowell injury has BoSox looking for a corner infielder (Yahoo! Sports)

Mike Lowell has one of those oblique injuries that requires lots of rehabilitation, and finger crossing that the...

Astros use walks, hit batters for 7th straight win (AP)

Manager Cecil Cooper called it opportunistic and pitcher Randy Wolf called it strange. But catcher Humberto Quintero probably best summed up the Astros' wild six-run sixth inning that resulted in a 6-2 win over the San Francisco Giants: crazy. San Francisco pitchers tied a major league record by hitting three batters in the inning, and also issued four walks.

Lincecum hurt in Astros' 12-4 win over Giants (AP)

Once Tim Lincecum left with a knee injury, the Houston Astros had their way with San Francisco's pitchers. Lance Berkman hit a grand slam in an eight-run seventh, two innings after Lincecum left the game with a bruised right knee, and the Astros beat the Giants 12-4 on Tuesday night for their sixth straight victory.

Backe, Wigginton lead Astros past Giants, 3-1 (AP)

Brandon Backe got through the first inning, then led the Houston Astros to their fifth straight victory. Backe struck out six in seven effective innings, Ty Wigginton homered and drove in three runs and the Astros beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Monday night. Jose Valverde shut out the Giants in the ninth for his 29th save after LaTroy Hawkins pitched a perfect eighth for the Astros, who've...

Astros LF Lee undergoes successful surgery (PA SportsTicker)

Houston Astros left fielder Carlos Lee on Monday underwent successful surgery on his left pinkie.

Astros' Carlos Lee has surgery on broken finger (AP)

Astros outfielder Carlos Lee had surgery to repair his broken left little finger on Monday, the team announced. Lee suffered multiple fractures in the finger when he was hit by a pitch Saturday at Cincinnati. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. The surgery was performed by Dr.

Astros LF Lee honored by National League (PA SportsTicker)

If Carlos Lee's season is indeed over, he went out with a bang.