--1B Lance Berkman was named National League Player of the Week for the period ending April 27. He led the NL with 12 RBIs and a 1.136 slugging percentage and tied for the league lead with four homers and 25 total bases for the week.
"It's great to be selected out of so many guys," Berkman said. "It always seems like no matter what kind of week you had, there's always somebody who's done something better." -LHP Wandy Rodriguez, on the disabled list with a strained left groin, threw 60 pitches in a simulated game Monday afternoon in Arizona. Rodriguez threw 20 pitches in three innings. Manager Cecil Cooper said Rodriguez will throw 75 pitches in another simulated game Friday in Houston and be reevaluated. If all goes well, he would return to the Astros' rotation May 7 against Washington.
--3B Ty Wigginton, on the disabled list with a broken bone in his left thumb, went 1-for-2 with an RBI triple in his first of three minor league rehab games at Class AAA Round Rock. Wigginton also was hit by a pitch twice and was intentionally walked.
--RHP Dave Borkowski has inherited a team-high six runners and has not allowed any of them to score. Borkowski retired all five batters he faced Monday, including four by strikeout.
--SS Miguel Tejada has hit safely in four consecutive games and nine of his last 10, hitting .381 with four doubles, a triple, a homer and 10 RBIs during that stretch.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6 -- Longest winning streak of the year for the Astros, which was snapped on Saturday. The streak gave the team some extra confidence.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's as positive as he can be. Every time. And it's been that way from day one. He's just as positive as he can be, always yelling encouragement and stuff like that. I didn't know he was that kind of player. You heard a little bit, but I didn't know he was that kind." -- Manager Cecil Cooper, on SS Miguel Tejada's impact on the club.
