NAMES AND NUMBERS

The Houston Astros’ 26-game, 28-day trip ends today in Philadelphia, 9,186 miles and countless laundry bags after it began.

They’re 11-14 on the trip, including four losses to the Padres in San Diego. That’s still an improvement on their previous 13-27 road record. Doug Jones had one victory and seven saves, and eight pitchers each won one game until Jimmy Jones recorded his sixth victory Tuesday, most among Houston’s starters.

It’s curious, too, that even with such a grueling trip on their schedule, the Astros have three players who have played every game this season. Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Steve Finley join Atlanta’s Terry Pendleton as the National League’s only iron men.

There is no telling what it means, but the Braves won their season series from the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7-5, including five of the last seven games. Ten were decided by two runs or fewer.

The Red Sox are 18-7 in games started by Roger Clemens but 39-60 in all other games. Only in games started by Greg Harris (1-1) do they have a .500 record; they’re 12-15 in games started by Frank Viola.

Closer Jeff Reardon was 15 for 16 in save opportunities when he earned his record 342nd save on June 15. Since then, he’s 12 for 19 in save attempts and has allowed 13 of 24 inherited runners to score.

Boston’s Jack Clark, who has averaged more than 28 homers a season over the last five years, has only five this season. None have come at Fenway Park.

In an eight-game span, the Toronto Blue Jays’ Dave Winfield has 12 runs batted in. Over 15 games, he is 22 for 65 with four homers and 20 RBIs. He has hit 20 or more homers in 13 of his 20 major league seasons.

While Winfield is helping keep the Blue Jays atop the American League East, their pitchers are dragging them down. Dave Stieb went on the disabled list this week for the second time because of a sore right elbow, and Juan Guzman remains idled by a strained back muscle. In a 19-game stretch, the Blue Jays are 8-11 and their starters have given up 95 earned runs in 107 1/3 innings, an earned-run average of 7.98.

Rookie pitcher Eric Hillman of the New York Mets is 6 feet 10, so he’s accustomed to being asked why he doesn’t play basketball. His reply: “You can catch cold in those uniforms.”

Cleveland right fielder Mark Whiten took the AL lead in outfield assists after throwing two runners out at home during the sixth inning of the Indians’ 8-1 rout of the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. The Indians are 22-13 since the All-Star break, tops in the AL East, and have a winning record (21-18) against the top two teams in each division. They are 4-5 against the Blue Jays, 5-4 against the Orioles, 6-3 against the A’s and 6-6 against the Twins.

Darren Daulton’s 22 home runs are the most by an NL catcher since Gary Carter had 24 for the New Mets in 1986. His previous best in a season was 12, in 1990 and 91.

With a 6-10 record, Dwight Gooden has reached double figures in losses for the first time in his nine major league seasons.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ Bob Tewksbury did not walk a batter in 16 of his 25 starts this season. He has issued 14 walks in 186 innings. However, he did walk a batter in the All-Star Game.

The Angels’ Jim Abbott has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 17 of his 22 starts this season, including each of his last eight starts. Since the halfway point of the 1991 season, his ERA is 2.65, with 83 earned runs in 282 1/3 innings.