Houston Astros

Report: Houston Astros Got Hacked—by Cardinals

FBI is investigating a very strange MLB scandal

(Newser) - The FBI and the Justice Department are delving into what's beginning to look like something of a Watergate for Major League Baseball: The New York Times reports today on an investigation into whether the Houston Astros got hacked—by none other than front-office officials from the St. Louis Cardinals.... More »

Baseball Will Add Two Wild-Card Teams to the Playoffs in 2012 or 2013

It Just Got Easier to Make the Playoffs in Baseball

MLB is adding two wild-card teams

(Newser) - That soul-crushing loss by the Red Sox on the last game of the season this year might have been just another game had this been in effect a little earlier: Major League Baseball is adding two-wild card teams to the playoffs, maybe next year but by 2013 at the latest,... More »

NFL Draft Pick May Lose Foot After Car Wreck

Giants rookie Chad Jones in surgery in New Orleans

(Newser) - Chad Jones, a New York Giants draft pick who was a two-sport star at LSU, is in guarded condition and in danger of losing his left foot after a car accident early this morning in New Orleans, the Shreveport Times reports. Jones, a safety who entered the draft after his... More »

Ex-Major Leaguer Jose Lima Dead at 37

Pitcher for Dodgers, Astros, Mets suffered heart attack

(Newser) - Former major league pitcher Jose Lima died today at age 37, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced. The Aguilas Cibaenas, Lima's winter ball team in the Dominican Republic, said he died of an apparent heart attack. In 13 major league seasons, Lima was 89-102 with a 5.26 ERA. He hadn't... More »

Best Ballpark Hot Dogs

Forget apple pie—nothing goes with baseball like these

(Newser) - Baseball season’s in full, ahem, swing, and in that spirit, Delish runs down the best ballpark hotdogs. Some highlights:

Georgia Dog, Turner Field, Atlanta. A blanket of cole slaw and some sautéed Vidalia onions make this a winner.
Arizona Dog, Chase Field, Phoenix. Southwest rules this foot-long—chorizo,

... More »

Player Debuts 'San Francicso' Giants Jersey

'I didn't know,' says player Eugenio Velez of spelling snafu

(Newser) - Outfielder Eugenio Velez made his season debut yesterday when his San Francicso Giants took on and beat the Houston Astros. That’s right—Velez played the whole game blissfully unaware that his jersey pegged him as a player from some mythical, misspelled version of the City by the Bay. “... More »

In Astros-Padres Game, Beekeeper Earns a Save

(Newser) - The Astros-Padres game yesterday in San Diego drew a crowd of 23,284—and thousands of bees. Padres left fielder Kyle Blanks sighted the swarm in the top of the ninth and tried to signal the umpire, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. "I saw Kyle walking toward the infield... More »

Astro Pudge Catches in Game 2,227

Rodriguez overtakes Fisk for most appearances behind the plate

(Newser) - The Houston Astros' Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez overtook Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk by catching in his 2,227th game in the majors yesterday, the Houston Chronicle reports. The 13-time Golden Glove winner got a raucous cheer from a larger-than-usual crowd at Rangers Stadium. The night was a mixed... More »

Tejada Charged With Lying in Steroid Probe

(Newser) - Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada has been charged with lying to congressional staffers involved in the inquiry into steroids use in baseball, the Washington Post reports. Federal prosecutors say Tejada’s accounts of conversations with teammate Adam Piatt in 2003, while both played for the Oakland Athletics, are contradicted by... More »

Zambrano Throws No-Hitter as Cubs Beat Astros 5-0

Cubs first in 36 years; game moved for Ike

(Newser) - Carlos Zambrano pitched the first no-hitter for the Chicago Cubs in 36 years, returning from a recent bout of rotator cuff soreness to shut down the Houston Astros 5-0 tonight in a game relocated because of Hurricane Ike. The storm forced two games of the series to be moved from... More »

MLB's Midterm Report Cards

Rays at the head of the class—Rockies, Marlins at the back

(Newser) - Report card time! Here’s how the rambunctious kids of MLB are doing so far, in Yahoo Sports’ Steven Henson’s estimation. A students—Rays, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, White Sox Particular kudos go to the Rays, the poor kid who went to the head of the class. B students—... More »

Let's Hear It for Baseball's Best Batter

Astros' underrated Berkman racks up unbelievable numbers

(Newser) - The best player in baseball right now is hitting .399 on the season, and .586 over the past 15 games, but he's not getting the recognition he deserves, Richard Justice writes in the Houston Chronicle. In past seasons at least, Lance Berkman has been overshadowed by bigger names, but it's... More »

Rangers, Hamilton Smack Astros

RBI machine hits two of Texas' six home runs

(Newser) - Josh Hamilton went 5-for-5 with two long homers and five RBIs, and the Texas Rangers, with six home runs total, beat the Houston Astros 16-8 Friday night in a wild Lone Star Series opener. Ian Kinsler scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on a close play that led... More »

Astros Rally Past Giants

(Newser) - Lance Berkman splashed his major league-leading 15th home run into McCovey Cove, breaking a ninth-inning tie and helping the Houston Astros rally past the San Francisco Giants 8-7 last night. Houston came back from a 6-0 deficit to take three of four from the Giants, its first series win at... More »

Cain Delivers With Arm and Bat

(Newser) - Matt Cain provided his own insurance run and limited Lance Berkman to only a base hit. Cain hit a solo home run and earned his first victory in three starts, and the San Francisco Giants snapped the Houston Astros' four-game winning streak 4-2 on Tuesday night. It was the fourth... More »

Berkman Stays Hot, Astros Top Giants

(Newser) - For Barry Zito, a no-decision became a positive thing _ a sign of progress. Lance Berkman is too much for any pitcher to handle right now. Hunter Pence hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh, Berkman had a tying two-run homer off Zito and the surging Houston Astros beat... More »

Astros Rally Past Dodgers

(Newser) - Hiroki Kuroda took a no-hitter into the seventh inning for the Los Angeles Dodgers before the Houston Astros broke out for seven hits and six runs in the eighth inning to pull out an 8-5 victory today. Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence had RBI singles against reliever Jonathan... More »

Astros Shut Down Slumping Dodgers

Sampson throws 7 solid innings; Erstad, Tejada drive in runs

(Newser) - Chris Sampson pitched three-hit ball over seven innings, Darin Erstad and Miguel Tejada each drove in two runs and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 last night. Sampson (2-3) struck out three and walked one in his Dodger Stadium debut, matching his longest outing of the season.... More »

Nats Snap Astros Winning Streak

(Newser) - Willie Harris and Rob Mackowiak homered to help the Washington Nationals beat Houston 8-3 last night and end the Astros' five-game winning streak. John Lannan (3-3) allowed seven hits in six innings and the Nationals snapped Houston's eight-game winning streak at Minute Maid Park. The Astros averaged 7.3 runs... More »

Lee Leads Astros Over Nats 4-3

(Newser) - Carlos Lee drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. Lee's single, that flew just over the head of Lastings Milledge, scored Kaz Matsui and gave Houston its fifth straight... More »