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SCOREBOARD

Apr. 17 Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Houston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	6	0
Milwaukee	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	X	4	12	0

Box Score | GameCast | Play-By-Play
Kinney toys with Astros, pitches seven scoreless innings
W: Kinney (2-1) L: Redding (0-2) S: de los Santos (1)
HR: Hou- Bagwell (6), Hidalgo (1) Mil- Sexson (5), Jenkins (3), Podsednik (1)

Family values


	Cruz Sr.

When the coaching staff got together to go over their gameplan for the Giants, Jose Cruz Sr., known as Cheo, wasn't asked for his scouting report on his son Jose Cruz Jr. "I have a lot of respect for Cheo, and I know his son because he played for Toronto, and I was in the other league over there and saw him play a lot," manager Jimy Williams told the Houston Chronicle. "Just out of respect for him, we didn't go over his son. I just didn't think it was the right thing to do." Williams' decision saved Cruz Sr. from an uncomfortable situation. "That's between Jimy and the pitching coach (Burt Hooton)," Cruz said. "That way if I said something and (Cruz Jr.) did good, they can't say, `Cheo told me the wrong thing.' "

Biggio breaks Bonds' record


	Biggio, 37, has a .377 on-base percentage in 2,108 career games.

Craig Biggio hit his 31st career leadoff homer April 10 against the Reds to break Bobby Bonds' National League record. Biggio connected off Danny Graves for his second home run of the season and first leading off a game. Bonds had 30 leadoff homers in the NL and five in the American League in his career. Rickey Henderson holds the major league mark of 80. Biggio is fifth on the career list. "I knew I was close last year, but that is nothing you set your goals on," Biggio said. "But it is pretty good company with Bobby Bonds. It's a good feeling."

ESPN.COM CONTENT

April 13, 2003
Stark: Really Wild Pitches
The first two pitchers to give up 10 runs in a game this year? Hint: they've won a combined nine Cy Youngs.
Stark: Wild Pitches
The start of the baseball season saw a premium on heaters, and we're not talking about fastballs.
April 7, 2003
League blocks Mets' deal with ex-Astro Reynolds
Shane Reynolds seemed to be just about signed, sealed and delivered to the Mets this weekend -- until the commissioner's office apparently vetoed the structure of two tentative contracts, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported.
Gammons notes: A's strike it Rich
The A's Big Three of Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson could soon be adding a fourth member.
More Houston Astros content

NEWS AND NOTES

LF Lance Berkman was scratched from the lineup April 17 against the Brewers with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left elbow. Berkman isn't sure how long he will be out, but he said the type of sprain he has could take "a week or two" to heal.

Former major league pitcher Jose Lima signed with the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League on April 17. Lima was 63-74 with a 5.14 ERA in nine big league seasons with the Astros and Tigers.

POWER ALLEY: WEEK 2

RANK TEAM REC. COMMENT

6 Astros 7-5 A sloooow start: Lance Berkman has just two RBI in his first 39 at-bats.

Complete Power Alley | Astros Power Alley Archive

ESPN The Magazine's 2003 Baseball Preview
On sale here!

DID YOU KNOW

The home run RHP Octavio Dotel gave up on April 8 against the Reds was the first allowed by Dotel since June 20, a span of 49 appearances and 56 innings.
Source: Houston Chronicle

AUDIO/VIDEO

Sitting down with Kent
AllNight: Jeff Kent tells Todd Wright why he chose Houston. And he takes a look at the Astros' chances.
RealAudio

FEATURES

Hot Stove Heaters: Astros
The addition of Jeff Kent is nice, but the Astros will need improved pitching to make the playoffs in '03.
Astros minor-league report
John Sickels analyzes the Astros minor-league system.
Neyer: One able assistant
In the first of two interviews, Rob has a Q&A; session with Astros assistant GM Tim Purpura.

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THEY SAID IT

"Your luck can change almost instantly in this game. One minute nothing is falling in, the next your best players are getting key hits."
– CF Craig Biggio

2003 NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
TEAM	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago	10	6	.625	-
St. Louis	8	6	.571	1.0
Pittsburgh	8	7	.533	1.5
Houston	8	7	.533	1.5
Milwaukee	6	10	.375	4.0
Cincinnati	5	11	.313	5.0
Complete Standings

1975 Houston Astros Fitted Cap Our Price: $44.99	Astros Authentic Collection Gamer Jacket Our Price: $69.99
View all team products

SCOUTING REPORT (FROM STATS INC.)
Octavio Dotel, 2002 Season Many thought Octavio Dotel was the best reliever in all of baseball last year, and his stats were startling. He was second in the majors in relief innings pitched (97.1) and first in relief strikeouts (118). At times he was overpowering, like in the month of August when he allowed only one earned ... More \| Roster \| Player Index

TOP YOUNG HITTERS
Player	Age	RC	OPS
1. Lance Berkman	27	132.7	.982
2. Richard Hidalgo	27	50.3	.734
3. Julio Lugo	27	41.0	.710

2002 stats sorted by Runs Created.
Maximum age 27. Statistics Glossary

STAT SPOTLIGHT

The four consecutive walks -- three by Wade Miller and one by Ricky Stone -- issued April 14 in the sixth inning were the most consecutive walks by Astros pitchers surrendering five consecutive walks June 17, 2000, at San Francisco in the sixth inning.
Source: Houston Chronicle

Read 68 Astros Site Lines on Insider.
Become an Insider today!

ON THE FARM

Minor league affiliates:
New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA):
    Sched./Results | Stats | Official Site
Round Rock Express (AA):
    Sched./Results | Stats | Official Site
Salem Avalanche (A)
     Stats | Official Site
Lexington Legends (A):
     Stats | Official Site
Tri-City ValleyCats (A):
    Official Site
Martinsville Astros (R):
    Official Site


AVG	J. Bagwell	.379
HR	J. Bagwell	6
RBI	2 tied @	10
RUN	C. Biggio	11
SB	C. Biggio	2
WIN	B. Lidge	2
SV	B. Wagner	4
ERA	R. Oswalt	2.91
Complete Team Statistics: Batting \| Pitching


C	B. Ausmus	ROTATION
1B	J. Bagwell	R. Oswalt
2B	J. Kent	W. Miller
3B	G. Blum	B. Moehler
SS	J. Lugo	T. Redding
LF	R. Hidalgo	J. Robertson
CF	C. Biggio	CLOSER
RF	L. Berkman	B. Wagner


4/18	Carlos Hernandez	Expected To Miss The Entire Season. 3/29
4/18	Lance Berkman	Expected out 1-2 weeks. 4/18
4/17	Jose Vizcaino	Out Indefinitely. 3/30

APRIL
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
13 StL 8-11 Box	14 @SF 2-4 Box	15 @SF 4-8 Box	16 @SF 8-5 Box	17 @Mil 2-4 Box	18 @Mil 8:05	19 @Mil 2:05
20 @Mil 2:05	21	22 @NYM 7:10	23 @NYM 7:10	24 @NYM 7:10	25 @Mon 7:05	26 @Mon 1:05
Complete Schedule \| Probables

POWER ALLEY: WEEK 2
RANK	TEAM	REC.	COMMENT
6	Astros	7-5	A sloooow start: Lance Berkman has just two RBI in his first 39 at-bats.
Complete Power Alley \| Astros Power Alley Archive

FEATURES
Hot Stove Heaters: Astros The addition of Jeff Kent is nice, but the Astros will need improved pitching to make the playoffs in '03. Astros minor-league report John Sickels analyzes the Astros minor-league system. Neyer: One able assistant In the first of two interviews, Rob has a Q&A; session with Astros assistant GM Tim Purpura.