Let me tell you, I have never felt so good receiving a press release as I did with this one. Finally it’s here.

ASTROS BEGIN 2007 SEASON WITH SIX-GAME HOMESTAND

ASTROS PLAY HOST TO THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES AND THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

HOUSTON – The Houston Astros begin their season with a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates (April 2-4), followed by a series against the defending World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals (April 6-8).

Highlights of the season-opening homestand include: Houston Astros Opening Day Street Festival (April 2), National Anthem performance by country music star Clay Walker (April 2), Presentation of Rawlings Gold Glove Award to Brad Ausmus (April 3), and Jeff Bagwell Appreciation Night with a tribute to Jeff Bagwell and a special figurine giveaway of the longtime Astros first baseman and franchise icon (April 6).

HOMESTAND OPPONENTS
(APRIL 2-4) PITTSBURGH PIRATES: The Pirates travel to Minute Maid Park for the Astros opening series of the 2007 season. Games are Monday (April 2) at 6:05 p.m., Tuesday (April 3) at 7:05 p.m., and Wednesday (April 4) at 7:05 p.m. RHP Roy Oswalt will make his fifth consecutive Opening Day start on April 2, facing Pirates LHP Zach Duke.

(APRIL 6-8) ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: The St. Louis Cardinals visit Minute Maid Park in their first road trip of the season. The Astros will face the Cardinals for the first time since the last 2006 home series at Minute Maid Park. Games are Friday (April 6) at 7:05 p.m., Saturday (April 7) at 6:05 p.m., and Sunday (April 8) at 1:05 p.m.

The whole text is available at http://astros.mlb.com/hou/mediacenter/homestand.jsp