Astros' Lidge Ready to Be Called Upon
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Brad Lidge is starting to get antsy. The Houston Astros' closer has warmed in the first two games of the NLCS, but has remained in the bullpen. He wasn't needed in Game 5 of the division series, either, so his last appearance was Sunday &#151; when he blew a save against Atlanta.
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Maybe all you need to know about these Astros is that when someone mentioned the franchise&#39;s history of first-round flameouts to Roger Clemens on Tuesday, he looked like he&#39;d
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Cory Lidle, who has been a major league pitcher for nine years and a pilot for seven months, is 3-2 with a 3.38 earned run average in six starts with the Yankees.
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HOUSTON - After being plunked between the shoulders, Michael Barrett offered a few words of advice for Roy Oswalt when the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros meet again next week.
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(Sports Network) - Houston center fielder Carlos Beltran is having one of the best performances in the history of a playoff series; and now he&#39;ll try to help the Astros to the lead in the National League Championship Series versus the St.
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Adam Everett&#039;s return to form is paying off for the Houston Astros.
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The Houston Astros needed Brad Lidge for a two-inning save, and he delivered. But he had to throw 42 pitches in saving the Astros&#39; 5-2 victory over the St.
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In a scene reminiscent of last October, Albert Pujols touched up Brad Lidge again to hand Houston a wrenching defeat.
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HOUSTON - Carlos Beltran met with Astros officials on Wednesday, Houston&#39;s latest effort to keep the All-Star center fielder who led the team within one win of its first World Series berth.
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Carlos Beltran waited until the final hour Saturday night before telling the Houston Astros whether he would re-sign. New York Mets officials also awaited an indication from the 27-year-old center fielder. While he faced a midnight EST deadline to re-sign with Houston because he finished the season with the Astros and became a free agent, the deadline doesn't apply to any talks he might have with the other 29 major league teams.
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The Houston Astros are hitting their way into the NL wild-card race.
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By wire services. Now it&#39;s Roy Oswalt &#39;s turn to try to pitch the Astros to their first playoff series victory. He can only hope for more help from his bullpen than Roger Clemens got Sunday.
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Houston starter Roy Oswalt gave up 12 hits. Closer Brad Lidge couldn't finish the ninth inning. The Astros left 15 runners on base. And Houston still found a way to win a game it hopes will provide an emotional lift as it tries to defend its NL pennant.
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Rick Ankiel and the St. Louis Cardinals put together a memorable home finale at the expense of Houston closer Brad Lidge.
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The Houston Astros return home for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series tomorrow with ace pitchers Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt ready to go against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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The Cardinals received kudos for acquiring Larry Walker during the season in a trade that continues to reap dividends. The Astros deserve similar praise for getting center fielder Carlos Beltran .
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The veteran relief pitcher was told by manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Dave Wallace prior to last night&#39;s game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays [stats, schedule