The Astros fell once again last night, this time in extra innings, to the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-7 at Minute Maid Park. Andy Pettitte took the loss in a relief appearance, and he was very hard on himself, as usual.

However, we saw a hopeful sign despite the loss. The Astros hit this time, most especially Luke Scott, who became the first Astro rookie to hit for the cycle, driving in five runs.

Most attendants were surprised, probably ignoring the fact Scott was capable of having the best season for a foreign player in the demanding Venezuelan Winter League in more than 20 years.

In Venezuela, teams could afford the luxury of bringing seasoned players with Big League experience, taking advantage of the economic bonanza the South American nation experienced until the early 1980s.

Then the bubble burst, and it was positive for the development of Venezuelan players, something we are seeing today with the amount of stars from that country, such as Johan Santana, Carlos Guillen, Juan Rivera, among many others. Import players were mostly rookies from Double-A and Triple-A. Scott had such a monster season that he donated some of his gear to the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame located in Valencia, home to his team, Magallanes.

In a moment in which we don’t know for certain whether to pull the plug on any hopes for the Astros this season or not, what Luke did last night was certainly a good sign that this team might be headed in the right direction, even if there’s a detour this season.

The Astros were once again at arm’s length from the Cincinnati Reds, current owners of the NL Wild Card, with a six-run fifth inning, which highlighted a monster 3-run shot by Lance Berkman, a key for an Astros 8-5 win at Minute Maid Park.

Just like rain showed no mercy on Houston, the Astros unloaded a rare offensive onslaught, which helped erase a shaky outing by Andy Pettitte. They took advantage of the current trials and tribulations of Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, which were more than evident last night.

Berkman belted two home runs, including that mammoth dinger that was the second longest in Minute Maid Park history; not too bad since he’s recovering from a groin strain that forced him to jog the bases.

It all fit, and it was a solid display of what Jim Molony, one of the most rational writers to cover the team, told us in his latest article: this is not a problem of lack of pieces, but execution. And we saw what the Astros can do if they execute well.

Another shutout. Another great game by Aaron Harang. Yet another heartbreak. The Astros, victims of their own miscues and impatience at the plate, begin what could very well be the season’s most important week with the wrong foot.

Today’s been a bittersweet day for Astros fans. Roy Oswalt can finally say he’s had plenty of run support backing him up. Houston bats unloaded a total of 16 hits, including three doubles. That helped in a 8-4 win over the New York Mets.

Best of all, there were actually runs made in the game’s last two innings, and Brad Lidge looked pretty good. That’s something you don’t see often these days. It was Oswalt’s first victory since June, even despite the fact he wasn’t at the top of his game, allowing 4 runs and 8 hits in 5.2 frames, including a homer by Carlos Delgado.

However, it wasn’t a perfect setting. Lance Berkman injured his groin trying to run the bases in the fifth. Berkman is confident he’ll be in the starting lineup Tuesday. And that is badly needed for the Astros these days.

The hitters hit, pitchers threw well, the bullpen was top-notch, and as Lidge said, Guys were hustling. They were taking advantage of any mistake, and Roy got the lead and settled down. The bullpen did a great job. We finally did some things for Roy."

Not only the rain watered-down things for the Astros this Saturday afternoon. Right after a rain delay, Brandon Backe was on a Major League mound for the first time in four months. Everything seemed to be all right, after Lance Berkman and Preston Wilson belted homers in the first frame.

But things changed in the fourth, after Xavier Nady went yard and drove in three to turn around the score, and deciding a 4-3 final in favor of the Amazins.

Nady’s dinger straightened Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez out. He improved dramatically and was able to contain the Houston offense, whiffing 8 in 7 innings. Backe went out of the game with a 4.50 ERA, with 4 runs in the same amount of episodes.

I would like to apologize since I’ve been away from the blogs for a while, I promise it won’t happen again.

We’ve been busy with an article for Cronicas de los Astros, the official Spanish-Language program of the Astros, which will be available for all fans early this August. We talked to Mike Lamb, a ballplayer who is usually away from big headlines and the spotlight. He has become one of the Astros breakthrough players this season.

What impressed us the most about him is how he manages to keep his feet on the ground despite his new fame. It must be everything he’s been through, like his short stint with the Yankee organization. Lamb knows pretty well where he’s standing, and he remains humble under any circumstance. That’s why so many people are very happy for the good times he’s having with the lumber.

While we were researching, interviewing and writing that article, it has been quite tough to be an Astro. A wild series in Chicago for starters. Now Taylor Buchholz had a very rough night, granting a couple of homers, including a grand slam by John Valentin, for a total of seven runs, six of those earned, in five innings tossed.

The Astros certainly make many starters look like aces when they face them. John Maine tossed a complete-game shutout, giving up four hits (we don’t know whether it was Maine being bright or the Astros and their lack of offensive spark). Mets beat the Astros 7-0.

Houston is a team in search of a sense of direction. Wandy Rodriguez was demoted to Triple-A in order to make room for Brandon Backe on the roster; prospect Matt Albers has been promoted. Time will tell. And it’s running fast.

A side note: There has been some moves in the Astros front office as well. We’ve had the chance to work with Caroline Montaño for almost three seasons now. Maybe she’s been our lucky charm: since she has worked with us, the team’s had its best run in franchise history. Her outstanding work has been paramount in bringing a Spanish-language website, a magazine and these blogs you’re reading now. And personally, she’s been a true great friend and coworker. We can always count on her.

Caroline has been promoted to the Broadcasting/Promotions department as Sponsorship Account Manager. We wish her all the best in her new challenges ahead. And those same good wishes go to her successor, Celeste Casas.

After last night’s Astro beating of the Marlins, the Florida team took revenge and shot four taters in today’s contest, beating Houston 9-3 in the series finale at Dolphin Stadium.

Despite the fact Taylor Buchholz painted zeros on the scoreboard for the first four frames, trouble started brewing on the fifth, with two dingers: a solo shot by Wes Helms and Hanley Ramirez drove in three with his shot.

The Astros didn’t win this one, but there’s a feeling that they’re starting to play better baseball; and that’s something that happens progressively. We hope this road trip ends up being productive.

That’s a word you don’t hear associated with the Astros often. What happened last night was sure odd, beating the Florida Marlins mercilessly for a final of 12-0. What was most interesting was to see Adam Everett and Brad Ausmus, two players you usually forgive their offensive shortcomings because of their defensive skills, being the biggest contributors with the lumber.

Everett had a perfect 4-4 evening, with 4 RBI; Ausmus went 3-for-3 with two driven in. Chris Burke and Lance Berkman brought a couple home each.

The nicest was to see the usual Andy Pettitte, fanning 10 in seven frames tossed.

"That hasn’t happened recently, but boy, that was sure fun," Phil Garner said to mlb.com. "Good at-bats, and Andy really did a nice job. The Marlins will surely tell otherwise, after seeing how the Astros took care of their pitching staff, including rookie Yusmeiro Petit. We’ll never get tired of hoping this is the turning point the Astros need.

We were wondering about the fact Morgan Ensberg could have been hiding shoulder problems, and if that was a factor in his offensive performance diminishing. Now we know better.

ASTROS PLACE ENSBERG ON DISABLED LIST

Outfielder Luke Scott recalled from Triple A Round Rock

HOUSTON,
TX ? The Houston Astros announced today that the club has placed third
baseman Morgan Ensberg on the 15-day Disabled List with a right
shoulder contusion, retroactive to July 10. To take Ensberg?s place on
the 25-man roster, the Astros have recalled outfielder Luke Scott from
Triple A Round Rock. The announcement was made by General Manager Tim
Purpura.

Ensberg, 30, is batting .236 (65×276) this
season with 19 home runs and 44 RBI. He ranks third in the National
League with 68 walks, and he ranks second among all NL third basemen in
home runs and sixth in slugging (.500). He posted a career-long,
10-game hitting streak from April 13-23. Ensberg holds a career .272
(473×1737) average with 93 home runs and 290 RBI.

Scott,
28, is batting .299 (95×318) for Round Rock this season with a Pacific
Coast League-leading 20 home runs and 63 RBI (second in the PCL). He
batted .360 (36×100) in June with six home runs and 19 RBI, and he is
batting .324 (33×102) vs. left-handed pitchers this season. Scott was
named a Triple A All-Star and started in left field (0x2) for the PCL
in the game yesterday in Toledo, Ohio. This season marked his second on
the Astros 40-man roster. He started in left field on Opening Day in
2005 and played in 34 games for the Astros last year (.188, 6×80).

Aubrey Huff was brought into the Astros clubhouse to look for a way to end the team’s offensive woes. It couldn’t be any clearer right after Gary Gaetti left for Sean Berry. Certainly, Huff didn’t disappoint in his debut.

The slugger went 2-for-4 driving in 3 runs, including a homer in the eighth that sealed a Houston victory over the Florida Marlins 5-1 at Dolphins Stadium.

The contest started as a pitching duel between Roy Oswalt and Dontrelle Willis. Oswalt was superb, granting 6 hits and a run in 6.1 frames; Willis put similar number in his stat line in his seven innings.

Regretfully for Oswalt (as Thomas pointed out in his blog), Chad Qualls had received the ball from Phil Garner in relieving duties when Huff went yard.

There are two factors that are undeniably clear here: the Astros seem to have done right in bringing Huff to the organization; and they can only hope a change of setting into a contending ball club helps him in producing constantly. And second, how important middle relief is for any team. Qualls did a good job while Randy Messenger imploded, thus setting the stage for the final score.