Astros take one from division leader

Astros 11, Cubs 6

51-49 (3rd N.L. Central)

Miguel Tejada and Jeff Keppinger led a relentless Astros offense that accumulated 17 hits on Tuesday. Keppinger went 4-5 with three RBI and Tejada was 2-4 with five RBI.

Says Elias Sports Bureau:

"It was only the fourth time in team history that Houston's starting shortstop and second baseman both had at least three RBIs in the same game, although it did happen once before at Wrigley, with Joe Morgan (4) and Sonny Jackson (3) doing damage in a 17-4 win in 1967."

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Astros starter Roy Oswalt(6-4), a winner in his last three, went down with a back strain in the second inning, and the Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz writes that he could miss more than just his next start.

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

Reliever Wesley Wright pitched 2.1 innings in relief of Oswalt allowing 3 runs largely off of five walks in the fouth inning, but went to the hospital where he was treated for dehydration.

Additionally, reliever LaTroy Hawkins went on the 15-DL with back shingles. Jesus Ortiz details Hawkins' injury and other Astros notes.

Chip Bailey nicely characterizes the "stupid crazy" 2009 Astros season in his Chronicle fan blog.