MLB Report - 4/26

Read up on the latest Astros news including Tuesday night's game, injury news on Morgan Ensberg, Brandon Backe and Jaosn Jennings along with reactions from Luke Scott, Craig Biggio and Woody Williams.

INSIDE PITCH

Astros right-hander Woody Williams had his best start of the season, allowing nine hits and three run over seven innings in Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Pirates.

Although he took the loss and still hasn't won a game with the Astros, Williams' performance was a big lift for a pitching staff that has been strapped in the past two weeks.

Williams (0-3, 5.90 ERA) gave up one run and two hits in each of the first three innings, but was in a good rhythm and didn't show any ill effects of the bruised shin he suffered last week.

"The last couple of times out, I felt better," Williams said. "I'm sitting here 0-3 with a high ERA, and I know things are going to turn around. Obviously, it can't stay like this the whole season. I do put a lot of pressure on myself, and I wanted to give my team a win to get off the losing streak."

Williams set the Pirates down in order in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

"I felt like I was in rhythm the whole game," Williams said. "The first inning was a fluke deal. The home run was a chest-high pitch and he did a good job to get on top of it. Jack Wilson led off the next inning with a double that was a pretty good pitch, one I wanted to throw. There's not a whole lot you can do in those situations. With a little change in luck, it could have been 0-0 after seven."

PIRATES 3, ASTROS 0: The Astros had their worst hitting performance of the season Tuesday and were shut out for the first time. They had only four baserunners, none of whom made it to second, and they failed to take advantage of getting the leadoff man on three times.

NOTES, QUOTES

--3B Morgan Ensberg was scratched from the starting lineup Tuesday with a hyperextended left ankle. He is listed as day-to-day. He popped out as a pinch hitter in the ninth to snap his 10-game hitting streak.

Ensberg, who is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday night, said he's not sure how he hurt his ankle. He walked in his only plate appearance Monday and had a hard slide into a base.

"I felt this (Monday) and felt it on the plate, had a difficult time walking from the plane to the bus and a difficult time walking from the bus to the hotel room," Ensberg said. "I came here and immediately taped it and went down and warmed up and kind of realized I couldn't put as much pressure as I'd like, especially when you're throwing the ball. You're putting a lot of pressure on the left leg."

Mark Loretta started at third and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

--RHP Brandon Backe cleared another hurdle Tuesday in his speedy recovery from last September's Tommy John surgery when he faced live hitters for the first time.

Backe threw 25 pitches on the mound at PNC Park to teammates Orlando Palmeiro, Humberto Quintero and Mike Lamb and reported no problems physically. He did nitpick about his location, however.

"I didn't expect to go out there and dominate by any means," Backe said. "I definitely feel like I could have done better. Physically, everything is fine."

Backe, who threw only his fastball and changeup to hitters, will throw a light bullpen session Thursday and again at home next week. He will face hitters again May 1 and could be throwing simulated games by mid-May.

"I thought his mechanics were probably off, but I couldn't tell," manager Phil Garner said. "I thought he was pretty good. He had movement on his pitches and his velocity was pretty good."

--RHP Jason Jennings, on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow's flexor tendon, will throw off the mound Wednesday for the first time since going on the shelf.

Jennings, who threw off flat ground for the fourth day in a row Tuesday, plans to limit himself to only fastballs Wednesday.

"It will be a good evaluation for where I am and where I need to be," he said. " I've been doing exercises and so far, so good, but the true test won't be until I get of the mound and start throwing breaking balls like I would in normal game-type situations."

--RF Luke Scott, mired in a 3-for-17 slump, was among four players that took early batting practice Tuesday from manager Phil Garner. Scott, who was not in the startling lineup, was asked to come out early by hitting coach Sean Berry.

"Just trying to find a comfort zone," Scott said. "Just trying to get everything mechanically squared away and get the swing going. You go through these things and that's makes the game fun. Whenever you do well and you're in that zone, it makes it more enjoyable."

--2B Craig Biggio had two of the Astros' three hits Tuesday, pushing his career total to 2,948. He's only seven hits shy of tying Willie Keeler for 29th on the all-time hits list.

--RHP Woody Williams had his best performance with his hometown team, holding the Pirates to nine hits and three runs in a season-high seven innings. Williams set the Pirates down in order in the fourth, fifth and seventh and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- Career grand slams for 2B Craig Biggio after he hit one Friday against Milwaukee.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've been having a lot of quality at-bats this past week late in the game, especially out of our younger guys, which is nice because you get guys on and we're able to get big hits from guys later on down the lineup. It's just part of getting contributions from everybody. This past week we've been doing a nice job out of it." -- 2B Craig Biggio, speaking Friday after the Astros mounted their third consecutive late rally to win. They had five-run rallies in the eighth innings on Wednesday and Thursday to come from behind to beat the Reds, and then they had a four-run ninth on Friday to beat the Brewers.

ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

3B Morgan Ensberg (hyperextended left ankle) missed the April 24 game. He is day-to-day.

RHP Jason Jennings (flexor tendinitis in elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 9. He started played long toss on April 21, and is scheduled to throw off a mound on April 25.

C Hector Gimenez (right shoulder surgery in March 2007) likely will miss the entire season.

RHP Brandon Backe ("Tommy John" surgery in August 2006) has made solid progress, but he's a long way from being ready. He faced live hitters for the first time on April 24.