Berkman, Tejada reach milestones, lead Astros past Diamondbacks 6-4

Berkman, Tejada lead Astros past Diamondbacks 6-4

PHOENIX — Lance Berkman hit his 300th homer moments after Miguel Tejada singled home a run with his 2,000th hit, and the Houston Astros defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 on Saturday night.

Roy Oswalt (3-3) gave up one run and five hits in seven innings to improve to 8-1 lifetime against the Diamondbacks.

Houston reliever LaTroy Hawkins put the potential tying run on with no outs in the ninth. But he got Justin Upton to ground into a double play and struck out Stephen Drew for his ninth save in 12 chances.

Hawkins closed even though the Astros activated Jose Valverde before the game.

Manager Cecil Cooper said he would give Valverde one outing before he returned to his closer role.

Valverde, formerly of the Diamondbacks, got the final out in the eighth inning, but not before the Diamondbacks had rallied against reliever Christopher Sampson.

Down 6-1 in the eighth, the Diamondbacks closed on a two-run double by Mark Reynolds and an RBI double by Josh Whitesell.

Arizona jumped ahead 1-0 in the fourth when Chris Young drove a 3-2 pitch deep into the left field seats. It was Young’s second homer in as many days and his fifth extra-base hit in three games.

Houston rallied in the sixth. Michael Bourn hit a stand-up triple over the head of right fielder Justin Upton and scored on Tejada’s sharp single through the left side.

The 35-year-old Tejada became the 29th shortstop in major league history to reach 2,000 hits — a list that includes active players Omar Vizquel of Texas, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees and Edgar Renteria of San Francisco.

One out later, Berkman hit a 1-0 pitch from Jon Garland (4-7) into the right field seats to give the Astros a 3-1 lead.

It was Berkman’s team-leading 12th homer this season. The 33-year-old Berkman, who homered from the left side, became the seventh switch-hitter to hit 300 homers — a list topped by Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle, who hit 536 homers.

Garland dropped his fifth straight start. Garland went seven innings, allowing three runs and six hits. He walked one — intentionally — and struck out two.

The Astros tacked on three more runs in the eighth against Juan Gutierrez. Ivan Rodriguez and former Diamondback Matt Kata each singled home a run and Edwin Maysonet knocked in another on a sacrifice fly to give the Astros a 6-1 lead.

Oswalt struggled early on, but found his rhythm as the game wore on.

The Diamondbacks loaded the bases in the second and third innings, both times with two out. In the second, Oswalt got Garland to foul to first base to end the threat, and one inning later he retired Miguel Montero on a routine fly to right.

After Young’s homer, Oswalt settled down and retired 12 of his last 13 hitters. He allowed two and struck out five.

Notes: Arizona LHP Scott Schoeneweis made his first appearance since his wife, Gabrielle Schoeneweis, 39, was found dead in the couple’s home in suburban Fountain Hills on May 20. Schoeneweis retired both men he faced and walked off to a standing ovation. … Phoenix Coyotes winger Shane Doan took batting practice and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … Houston RHP Russ Ortiz, a former Diamondback, pinch-hit for Oswalt in the eighth. Ortiz struck out swinging, dropping his average to .267 (4 for 15).