Berkman Hits Third Home Run for Astros

Lance Berkman insists there is no agreement between him and Houston Astro owner Drayton McLane.

But Berkman keeps hitting home runs, just in case.

Berkman tied a club record for homers at the start of a season with his third in three days, leading the Astros over the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-3, Thursday at Houston.

Berkman’s three home runs repeated what Chris Truby accomplished last year.

“Each game, [McLane] has said if I don’t hit a home run I have to get my hair cut,” Berkman said. “He thinks we have a deal, but I never agreed to it.”

Berkman, who has let his shaggy hair grow down over his neck in back, didn’t put much emphasis on the club record. He was surprised to learn the major league record for home runs at the start of the season is four consecutive games, shared by Willie Mays (1971) and Mark McGwire (1998).

“You don’t really think about a record like that,” Berkman said. “All it means is I had three home runs in three games and we have 159 games to go. If this is all I do, it will be a terrible year.

“I won’t be thinking about the major league record tomorrow, but it would be neat to tie, I guess.”

It wouldn’t surprise the Astros.

“I call him Cave Man because of the long hair and he’s big and strong,” winning pitcher Shane Reynolds said. “He is such a great hitter. He could wake up and step out of bed and get a hit. He works at the game, but he absolutely loves it and he’s a great hitter.”

Manager Jimy Williams likes what he sees in Berkman.

“He’s really swinging the bat well,” Williams said. “He’s driving the ball and hitting with power.... He’s just a very good hitter.”

The game at Astros Field drew 21,528, the smallest crowd in three seasons at the park formerly called Enron Field. That broke the mark set Wednesday night when 23,381 fans showed up.

Reynolds (1-0) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings.

Jamey Wright (0-1) went 41/3 innings, giving up four runs and seven hits, and walking six. Wright remained winless against the Astros. He is 0-6 with a 6.71 earned-run average in 10 starts against them.

Berkman’s RBI single started the scoring in the first. His two-run homer in the fourth gave Houston a 3-0 lead.

A squeeze bunt by Reynolds scored Morgan Ensberg for a 4-0 lead in the fifth, and Richard Hidalgo had a two-run single in the sixth.

Alex Ochoa hit a two-run homer for the Brewers in the seventh. It was Ochoa’s second homer of the year.