News
Berkman back on track for Astros
Houston (70-72) vs. Pittsburgh (54-86), 1:05 p.m. CT
By Michael Murphy / Special to MLB.com
09/12/09 11:55 PM ET
HOUSTON -- The dark days appear to be gone for Lance Berkman.Indeed, Berkman, who smacked a homer on both Thursday and Friday nights, is finally able to sit back, take a breath and relax now that his 32-game homerless streak is a thing of the past.
Berkman can't really explain how a guy known for clouting homers can go so long without hitting one, relying on the old axiom heard throughout clubhouses everywhere, "It's just baseball."
"That's the nature of the game," said Berkman of his upswing at the plate. "[Homerless streaks have] happened to me before. Home runs come in bunches -- that's what they always say -- and they can disappear for extended periods. You just go out there and swing and hope it goes in the right trajectory."
Berkman also endured a 33-game homerless streak in 2008.
Astros manager Cecil Cooper had a more technical explanation for Berkman's recent success, which included a home run and an RBI double in Friday's 9-1 victory over the Pirates.
"It's a pretty simple answer," said Cooper, when asked about Berkman's hot-and-cold home run hitting. "Sometimes, we can get a little stubborn, and we don't make changes. Lance is a very good hitter when he hits the ball the other way, and the last two or three days, he's starting to do that."
Cooper also thinks that Berkman has been less anxious in the box, which has led to positive results.
"Sometimes when you go through stuff -- and even Berkman had to go through it -- you think that it's not going to happen for you again," Cooper said, "'Maybe I've lost it.' You kind of have some doubts go through your mind, and I think that Lance went through some of that.
"But I think the biggest thing with him is just hitting good pitches. He got really anxious, I think, and tried to force the issue sometimes. When he's hitting the ball the other way, getting the ball to left-center, then Lance is a very good hitter. And I think that the last few days, he's been better at that. I think that's the key for Lance."
Pitching matchupHOU: RHP Felipe Paulino (2-8, 6.34 ERA)
Paulino is coming off a pair of quality starts, though he lost both games because the Astros didn't score a run while he was in the game. He held the Cubs to four hits and two runs on a two-run homer to Derrek Lee in six innings on Sept. 2 at Wrigley Field and gave up four hits and two runs on a pair of solo homers in six innings on Tuesday against Atlanta. In his past two starts, he's struck out 13 in 12 innings, but is riding a career-long four-game losing streak. In his only appearance against the Pirates this year, he pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief on June 7 and allowed three hits, one run and struck out four. PIT: LHP Paul Maholm (7-8, 4.72 ERA)
Maholm wasn't at his sharpest in his last start, but he battled well. His sinker has been more consistent over his past four outings than at times earlier in the season, which continues to be the biggest key for the left-hander. While Maholm still has an outside chance at reaching the 10-win mark before the end of the season, his primary objective over these next few weeks is just to find the consistency that will allow him to end the season on a high note. Maholm is 7-4 with a 4.44 ERA in 12 career starts against the Astros. Tidbits
Third baseman Jeff Keppinger, who had missed the previous seven games with tightness in his back, was back in the lineup on Saturday against the Pirates, batting seventh. ... Friday's 9-1 win over the Pirates was the Astros' 41st at Minute Maid Park, clinching their ninth straight season with a home winning record. Tickets
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• KTRH 740, KLAT 1010 (Español) Up next
• Monday: Astros (Wandy Rodriguez, 13-9, 2.76) at Reds (Bronson Arroyo, 12-12, 4.17), 6:10 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Astros (Roy Oswalt, 8-6, 4.03) at Reds (Kip Wells, 1-4, 5.21), 6:10 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Astros (Bud Norris, 5-3, 5.44) at Reds (Justin Lehr, 4-2, 4.93), 6:10 p.m. CT
Michael Murphy is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
