• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Berkman, Astros look to keep rolling

May 15, 2008 - 1:38 PM Houston (23-18) at San Francisco (17-24) 3:45 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - The Houston Astros are having a great month - and the main reason for the club's success has been Lance Berkman.

The 32-year-old slugger will try to continue his torrid hitting Thursday when the Astros face the San Francisco in the finale of a four-game series.

Berkman blasted a two-run homer to help the Astros post a 6-3 victory over the Giants on Wednesday. During his 13-game hitting streak, Berkman is batting .549 (28-for-51) with six home runs and 17 RBI.

A nine-year veteran, Berkman leads Houston with a .388 batting average, 14 homers and 40 RBI this season. With the first baseman's help, the Astros have registered a 10-2 record during May.

Tim Lincecum (5-1, 1.61 ERA) will try to contain Berkman and the rest of Houston's talented offense. The young righthander has been one of the few bright spots for San Francisco this season.

Lincecum tossed eight innings, giving up two runs and four hits with eight strikeouts in Saturday's 8-2 triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Astros will send righthander Chris Sampson (2-3, 6.27) to the hill. Sampson is coming off his most impressive start of the season, pitching seven scoreless frames during Saturday's 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.