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Diagnosed with left biceps tendinitis, slugger could return Wed.

img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2009/02/23/NOwoESvt.jpg” alt=”Diagnosed with left biceps tendinitis, slugger could return Wed.” hspace=”5″ vspace=”5″ align=”left” / KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Most of Lance Berkman#039;s teammates traveled to Clearwater, Fla., on Monday to play the Phillies, but the Puma stayed behind in Kissimmee to receive treatment on his sore left shoulder. Berkman, diagnosed with left biceps tendinitis, responded [...]

Lefty gives up seven runs in five innings; Maysonet goes deep

PHILLIES 13, ASTROS 3at Clearwater, Fla.Monday, March 30 Astros at the plate: Kazuo Matsui went 3-for-3 with a double, run scored and RBI and Hunter Pence went 1-for-3 with a double and RBI. Edwin Maysonet hit a solo home run to left field off right-hander Chad Durbin in the sixth inning. Phillies at the plate: [...]

Houston remains in need of third baseman, utility infielder

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — With six days remaining until Opening Day, the Astros still have a couple of roster decisions to make regarding their infield. Two players — Edwin Maysonet and Jason Smith — are competing for the utility-infielder job, and the Astros still have yet to settle on a plan at third base. While prospect [...]

Santangelo comes through in eighth inning to top Blue Jays

ASTROS 3, BLUE JAYS 2at Kissimmee, Fla.Sunday, March 29 Blue Jays at the plate: The Jays recorded six doubles, including two from leadoff man Marco Scutaro. Raul Chavez led off the third with a double and scored on Aaron Hill#039;s double. Astros at the plate: Jason Michaels hit a leadoff home run in the third [...]

Scratched Sunday, first baseman hopes to be healthy Opening Day

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — To illustrate how much his shoulder hurts, Lance Berkman straightened out his left arm so that it was parallel to the floor and said, quot;This is about as far as I can get my arm up.quot; That is not good news for the Puma or for the Astros, who are going to [...]

Veteran irked by exclusion from backup-infielder competition

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Astros trimmed two players from their roster Sunday morning when they released infielder David Newhan and reassigned Chad Paronto to Minor League camp. Primarily a second baseman, Newhan was not viewed by manager Cecil Cooper as a candidate for the backup infielder job. Cooper wants a utility infielder who is strong [...]

Victory streak skids to stop at seven after Nats have their say

NATIONALS 6, ASTROS 3 at Viera, Fla. Saturday, March 28 Astros at the plate: Michael Bourne, Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada each contributed an RBI. Right-hander Jose Capellan had a single and a run scored. Nationals at the plate: Alex Cintron sparked the Nats with a three-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning. [...]

First baseman stays in Kissimmee rather than travel with team

VIERA, Fla. — Lance Berkman was scheduled to travel with the Astros to Viera on Saturday, but a sore left shoulder forced the first baseman to stay back in Kissimmee, Fla., instead. The setback — officially diagnosed as tendinitis of the bicep in his left arm — didn#039;t appear terribly worrisome for manager Cecil Cooper. [...]

Beat reporter Alyson Footer answers Astros fans’ questions

img src=”http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2009/03/28/xwvNdoJt.jpg” alt=”Beat reporter Alyson Footer answers Astros fans#039; questions” hspace=”5″ vspace=”5″ align=”left” / Now that Aaron Boone is gone for the season, who will take up the backup job behind Geoff Blum? And will this free up the payroll to possibly get somebody new, or do we still have to pay Boone?– Greg S., [...]

Oswalt allows three runs in return; Tejada 3-for-3 with homer

ASTROS 6, PHILLIES 5at Kissimmee, Fla.Friday, March 27 Astros at the plate: Miguel Tejada logged three hits, including a solo homer in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth. Geoff Blum#039;s RBI single off Ryan Madson in the sixth broke a 3-3 tie, and his double in the eighth gave Houston a three-run [...]