Last night, Phil Garner served his one-game suspension set by Major League Baseball. Cecil Cooper was the manager.

And Lance Berkman took care of his team. Two homers, and 4 runs driven in, was Berkman’s contribution behind the Astros victory 7-2 over the Chicago Cubs.

Roger Clemens was always the victim of lack of offense from his teammates, and it wasn’t definitely the case. He fanned five granting two runs and for hits in five innings.

Chicago had on the mound rookie Carlos Marmol, who was rocked by Astros bats with a Berkman tater and one by Craig Biggio in the first frame. Berkman went yard again in the eighth, bringing three more home.

Fernando Nieve did great relief, striking out two without admitting more liberties in the last two innings.

Yes, the Astros have three wins in a row now; all earned with (yes, we’ll say it) explosive hitting. What we’ve seen the past few days is a ball club that has all the elements to beat their division rivals, and that could reach the Cardinals, who haven’t been particularly bright lately.