Berkman Ends June Swoon

Lance Berkman hasn’t been in the majors long enough to know when a slump is officially over.

He’s only guessing, but a grand slam and two-run homer ought to do it.

Berkman went four for five and set a career high with six runs batted in Thursday night in the Houston Astros’ 8-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Berkman, who has 16 homers in the first season that he started with Astros, had not hit a homer in June, and had only two RBIs. More telling, Berkman had walked only three times.

“That’s indicative of being too anxious and not seeing the ball,” Berkman said. “You try to go back to square one: See the ball, hit the ball.”

Berkman used a night off Wednesday to simplify his approach.

“You take a look at the season, there’s going to be at least one of those periods where you can’t find it and you have no idea. You always panic and think you can’t get out of it. If you can hold it to just one of these, you’ll have a pretty good season.”

Berkman helped Houston’s offense break through after being shut down the first two games in Minnesota.

The Astros had 16 hits against Joe Mays and three relievers after being held to one run and 10 hits by Brad Radke and Eric Milton in the previous two games.

Astro rookie Roy Oswalt (4-1), making his third start in the majors, retired the first eight batters before A.J. Pierzynski hit a two-out single in the third. Oswalt gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings.

“I felt good the first inning,” said Oswalt, who began the season in the bullpen. “I’m just now getting my stamina. When I do that, I’ll be all right.”