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Tejada's homer lifts Astros over Rockies

Jun 3, 2009 - 5:14 AM By CHRIS DUNCAN AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON(AP) -- Miguel Tejada was surprised when someone told him that he was the NL's leading hitter.

A batting title isn't a personal goal, but the way Tejada looks at the plate these days, he just might make it one.

Tejada hit a game-winning homer off Josh Fogg in the 11th inning to cap a three-RBI night and lift the Houston Astros to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.

Tejada went 4-for-6 to boost his average to .362. The four-time All-Star is hitting .427 with 28 RBIs in his last 27 games and has at least two hits in his last four games.

Houston manager Cecil Cooper has placed him No. 2 in the batting order for the last 10 games and Tejada said that's the main reason he's been hitting well.

"What I've got in my head is just try to be on base as much as I can," Tejada said. "Right now, I'm really close to leading off. I'm really selective in the pitches to hit, I can wait for the pitch I want. I am really careful with what I do at the plate."

Tejada tied the game in the ninth with an RBI single off Huston Street. He also had an RBI single in the fifth against Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez.

He hasn't batted .300 in a season since 2006 and doesn't have a number in mind this year.

"I've never been leading the league (in hitting), not even for one day," Tejada said. "Now, I'm really happy to be leading for a couple of days. But it's not something I'm looking for. Right now, I just want to see how much I can help the team win some ballgames."

Fogg (0-1) got Michael Bourn on a groundout leading off the 11th before Tejada drove a 2-2 pitch into the left-field porch, his sixth homer of the season. It was the fifth time the Astros have won a game in their last at-bat, and the second time Tejada has driven in the winning run. Tejada has six career walkoff home runs.

"He's off to a great start," said Astros slugger Lance Berkman. "That's the kind of player he's been his whole career. It's not really surprising. He's a great player."

Colorado had a chance to score in the top of the 11th.

Omar Quintanilla led off with a single off Russ Ortiz (3-2) and advanced on Paul Phillips' bunt. Ortiz struck out Ian Stewart and backup second baseman Matt Kata made a diving stop to rob Dexter Fowler of a hit.

The Rockies took a 2-1 lead to the bottom of the ninth before Street blew a save for the first time in nine chances this season.

Ivan Rodriguez led off with a single and Bourn reached on a bunt after Street threw wildly to first for an error. Tejada drove in Rodriguez with a bloop single to right.

The Astros' rally ruined an effective start by the Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez, who allowed seven hits and four walks in six innings. Houston got hits in each of Jimenez's innings, but stranded 13 runners in the game.

"I know my fastball was there, but I was battling with control issues," said Jimenez. "I got runners on every single inning. My breaking ball was good, but they did a pretty good job against me."

Felipe Paulino was dominant early, striking out five of the first 10 batters he faced. But the Rockies took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Todd Helton and Brad Hawpe and an RBI single by Seth Smith.

Jimenez wasn't as sharp as Paulino early, but kept the Astros in check.

"This was a very tough game to lose," said Colorado manager Jim Tracy. "The way things are going for us offensively, tonight's game just illustrates it. We have no room for error. We had some chances to open this game up, but our pitchers had to be perfect."

Notes: The Rockies placed C Yorvit Torrealba on the restricted list for personal reasons and purchased the contract of C Edwin Bellorin from their Triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs. ... Astros RHP Geoff Geary threw about 40 pitches in a simulated game on Tuesday. The middle reliever has been on the disabled list since May 14 with tendinitis in his right biceps. ... Tejada's 16-game hitting streak is the longest by an Astro since Berkman's 17-game streak between April 30 and May 18 last season. ... Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki left in the fourth inning with an injured left hand and was replaced by Omar Quintanilla. X-rays were negative and Tracy said the hand was bruised.