http://mlb.mlb.com HOU Homepage News Sat, 25 May 2013 09:32:23 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_25_oakmlb_houmlb_1&mode=preview&vkey=preview_web_home&c_id=hou Sat, 25 May 2013 01:08:26 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_25_oakmlb_houmlb_1&mode=preview&vkey=preview_web_home&c_id=hou A.J. Griffin will try to improve his record against the AL West to 4-0 when he squares off against Lucas Harrell and the Houston Astros on Saturday evening. Quinn Roberts http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48472644&notebook_id=48473644&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Fri, 24 May 2013 18:58:06 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48472644&notebook_id=48473644&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou The Astros' lineup got two right-handed reinforcements back from injury on Friday against the A's in shortstop Ronny Cedeno and third baseman Matt Dominguez. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48472644&notebook_id=48473642&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Fri, 24 May 2013 18:58:03 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48472644&notebook_id=48473642&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Justin Maxwell, who's been out for a month with a fractured left hand that was expected to sideline him four to six weeks, said Friday he will travel to the club's extended spring training in Kissimmee, Fla., on Wednesday to begin a Minor League rehab assignment. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48472644&notebook_id=48473640&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Fri, 24 May 2013 18:58:00 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48472644&notebook_id=48473640&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou The Astros' organization-wide efforts to aid victims of Monday's devastating tornado in Oklahoma have trickled down to individual players. Left-handed reliever Travis Blackley picked up some baseball equipment Thursday for a family with three young children who were affected by the storm. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48472644&notebook_id=48473634&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Fri, 24 May 2013 18:57:57 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48472644&notebook_id=48473634&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou His high school graduation pictures sits on a table in the middle of the Astros' clubhouse. Curt William England was 19 when he died of cancer on May 19, 2012 and more than a year earlier had met Astros pitcher Bud Norris when the team's annual winter Caravan stopped at a hospital. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_24_oakmlb_houmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=hou Sat, 25 May 2013 01:42:51 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_24_oakmlb_houmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=hou A's right fielder Chris Young ripped a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, lifting Oakland past the Astros, 6-5, in a home-run heavy affair Friday night in Minute Maid Park. Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130523&content_id=48412070&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou Thu, 23 May 2013 19:33:20 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130523&content_id=48412070&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou The Astros will join the rest of Major League Baseball in wearing specially designed caps and jerseys on Memorial Day featuring an authentic military digital camouflage design licensed by the United States Marine Corps. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130523&content_id=48355024&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:00 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130523&content_id=48355024&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou Colin Moran is the third baseman for North Carolina, one of the higher-ranked teams in college baseball. He's also B.J. Surhoff's nephew, and he's following nearly the same path as his uncle. Jonathan Mayo http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_22_kcamlb_houmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=hou Thu, 23 May 2013 00:35:07 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_22_kcamlb_houmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=hou J.D. Martinez hit a two-run home run and starter Jordan Lyles allowed six hits and one run to lead the Astros to a 3-1 win over the Royals at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48329004&notebook_id=48331096&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Wed, 22 May 2013 19:43:25 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48329004&notebook_id=48331096&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou With starter Matt Dominguez nursing a sore left quadriceps muscle, Jimmy Paredes was in the lineup at third base in Wednesday's series finale against the Royals. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48329004&notebook_id=48331094&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Wed, 22 May 2013 19:43:22 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48329004&notebook_id=48331094&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros manager Bo Porter has been going with Carlos Pena at designated hitter and Chris Carter at first base in recent weeks when both have been in the starting lineup. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48329004&notebook_id=48331092&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Wed, 22 May 2013 19:43:20 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48329004&notebook_id=48331092&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros right-hander Bud Norris said Wednesday he doesn't expect to miss his next start after he exited his second straight outing Tuesday with lower back spasms. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48329004&notebook_id=48331090&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Wed, 22 May 2013 19:43:17 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48329004&notebook_id=48331090&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros third baseman Matt Dominguez and his Royals counterpart, Mike Moustakas, grew up together just north of Los Angeles and played on the same team at Chatsworth High School from 2004-07. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48204668&notebook_id=48235492&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Tue, 21 May 2013 22:56:20 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48204668&notebook_id=48235492&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros ace Bud Norris left Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals due to tightness in his back. Norris blanked the Royals through six innings, allowing five hits, no runs and striking out two. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48204668&notebook_id=48206280&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Tue, 21 May 2013 20:23:17 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48204668&notebook_id=48206280&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou The devastation from Monday's tornado that ripped through Moore, Okla., hit close to home for the Astros' Triple-A affiliate from Oklahoma City, and manager Tony DeFrancesco's team wants to help out. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48204668&notebook_id=48206278&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Tue, 21 May 2013 20:23:14 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48204668&notebook_id=48206278&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou A decorated member of the Astros' past and one of the men tasked with scouting the franchise's future will help usher in the next crop of Houston Astros, as Jose Cruz and Oz Ocampo will represent the Astros at the MLB First-Year Player Draft. Brian McTaggart and Chris Abshire http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_21_kcamlb_houmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=hou Wed, 22 May 2013 01:30:42 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_21_kcamlb_houmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=hou Jimmy Paredes crushed a three-run shot, but Bud Norris left with an injury after six scoreless innings and the bullpen surrendered the lead in the eighth as the Astros fell, 7-3, on Tuesday. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48192584&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou Tue, 21 May 2013 17:26:32 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48192584&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou The Astros Foundation plans to raise funds during the team's current homestand in an effort to aid those affected by Monday's tornado in Moore, Okla. Zack Meisel http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48188424&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou Tue, 21 May 2013 21:20:47 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48188424&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou The Astros are appointing a familiar face to a new role, as the team has made Larry Dierker a special assistant to the team president. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48092524&notebook_id=48093082&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Mon, 20 May 2013 18:35:00 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48092524&notebook_id=48093082&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros second baseman Jose Altuve recently left agent Scott Boras and signed with Scott Pucino and Wil Polidor of Octagon -- the agency that originally represented him before he switched to Boras about a year ago. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48092524&notebook_id=48093080&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Mon, 20 May 2013 18:34:57 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48092524&notebook_id=48093080&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros outfielder Justin Maxwell, who's been out nearly a month with a fractured left hand, is no longer wearing a brace and continues to make good progress. He hit 15 balls off a tee on Monday and took 30 more swings from soft toss. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48092972&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou Mon, 20 May 2013 20:20:32 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48092972&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou Monday, the first official day on the job for new Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan, included mundane tasks like getting the keys to the building, finding his office and getting his computer set up. He also wasted no time in rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_20_kcamlb_houmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=hou Tue, 21 May 2013 00:45:00 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_20_kcamlb_houmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=hou Astros third baseman Matt Dominguez started a terrific double play in the sixth inning and belted a decisive three-run homer to help the Astros earn a 6-5 win over the Royals on Monday night in the series opener at Minute Maid Park. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_19_houmlb_pitmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=hou Sun, 19 May 2013 17:29:51 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_19_houmlb_pitmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=hou With an effective sinker, Lucas Harrell held the Pirates to four hits and one run in seven innings Sunday afternoon, but the Pirates made a fifth-inning home run by Pedro Alvarez stand up for a 1-0 win over the Astros at PNC Park. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47986054&notebook_id=47987532&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Sun, 19 May 2013 13:59:46 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47986054&notebook_id=47987532&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros infielder Ronny Cedeno was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday with sinus problems and a stomach virus. That forced Marwin Gonzalez into action as the starting shortstop, even though he's nursing a sore back from a collision in Saturday's game. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47986054&notebook_id=47986774&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Sun, 19 May 2013 13:48:36 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47986054&notebook_id=47986774&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros owner Jim Crane and general manager Jeff Luhnow attended Saturday's and Sunday's games against the Pirates at PNC Park in a surprise trip that came about after both men scouted the University of North Carolina's game against Virginia in Chapel Hill, N.C., earlier Saturday. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47986054&notebook_id=47986058&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Sun, 19 May 2013 13:30:20 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47986054&notebook_id=47986058&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros top prospect Jonathan Singleton, who is nearing the end of his 50-game suspension after violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program for a drug of abuse -- his second positive test -- will begin his season sometime next week at Class A Quad Cities before moving to Triple-A Oklahoma City, general manager Jeff Luhnow said Sunday. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_18_houmlb_pitmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=hou Sun, 19 May 2013 00:48:37 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_18_houmlb_pitmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=hou Catcher Jason Castro scored the game-winner when he slid past the tag attempt of Pirates catcher Russell Martin on a fielder's choice by Matt Dominguez to give the Astros a hard-fought 4-2 win at PNC Park. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130518&content_id=47921802&notebook_id=47924350&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Sat, 18 May 2013 19:53:03 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130518&content_id=47921802&notebook_id=47924350&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Had the Astros had their full complement of players on Friday, Jimmy Paredes wouldn't have even been in the game in the ninth inning. Paredes committed an error when he collided with second baseman Jake Elmore and caused him to drop the ball, allowing the Pirates to score the winning run. Brian McTaggart http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130518&content_id=47921802&notebook_id=47922136&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Sat, 18 May 2013 19:42:22 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130518&content_id=47921802&notebook_id=47922136&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros bench coach Eduardo Perez and first-base coach Dave Clark both had conversations with outfielder Jimmy Paredes on Saturday, a day after he crashed into teammate Jake Elmore and forced him to drop a ball that allowed the Pirates to score the winning run in the ninth inning. Brian McTaggart