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  Monday, Jun. 5 8:05pm ET
Astros' Elarton beats Twins' Radke
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

HOUSTON (AP) -- Jeff Bagwell isn't about to savor his latest career milestone.

Bagwell broke out of a 1-for-15 slump with a two-run homer, giving him 1,000 RBI in his career and helping the Houston Astros beat the Minnesota Twins 8-2 Monday night.

Jeff Bagwell
Bagwell

"I haven't been in the league 10 years yet and to have 1,000 RBI is a good stat to have," Bagwell said. "Stats are something that I really don't pay much attention to. I will look back when my career is over and think about stats then."

Craig Biggio singled to lead off the sixth inning against Brad Radke (3-7) before Bagwell followed with his 14th homer of the season to make it 4-2. He became the first player to reach 1,000 RBI with the Astros.

"I've had slumps before and had a good game and I didn't come out of it. I'll just continue to work and see what happens," Bagwell said. "It's always a good sign when I go the other way, but that was my only good at bat all night."

Scott Elarton (4-1) allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Radke, who had been 8-2 in interleague play for his career, allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. He has lost five of his last six decisions. The Twins lost their fourth straight game.

"It was probably the worst start I've had this year," Radke said. "I didn't have any command on anything. I gave up two home runs and all those hits. You can't get any worse than that."

The Astros trailed 2-0 before Daryle Ward's two-run homer in the fifth tied the game. There have been 105 home runs in 29 games this season at Enron Field. Last year, there were a total of 118 at the Astrodome.

Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the second after Ron Coomer led off with a double, moved to third on a single by Corey Koskie and scored on a groundout by Butch Huskey.

Matt LeCroy's leadoff homer in the fifth inning made it 2-0 before the Astros rallied.

Houston added four runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Biggio, a two-run double by Lance Berkman and an RBI double by pinch-hitter Julio Lugo.

"It got away from us in the eighth inning," Twins manager Tom Kelly said. "As a team, we're having trouble scoring in National League cities.

"We can't manage to put together any big hits. That's not very good in the National League parks where the pitchers have to hit."

Game notes
Houston has homered in 32 of its last 34 games. ... Houston has not been shut out this season and owns the longest active streak for avoiding shutouts at 85. ... Radke has walked more the two batters in only two of his 13 appearances this season. ... Richard Hidalgo appeared to have hit his 19th home run in the second inning. However, after he had rounded the bases and entered the dugout the hit was ruled a double by third base umpire Brian Runge. The ball hit at the top of the left-field wall in fair territory and bounced to the left into the stands in foul territory, based on TV replays. Houston manager Larry Dierker argued the call for several minutes. ... In the eighth inning, Mitch Meluskey was called out for fan interference when he hit a potential home run which was caught by a fan who reached over and swiped the ball before Huskey could catch it.

 


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