(Best E Casino) - With Lance Berkman continuing to play out of his mind, the Houston Astros have established themselves as a team nobody wants to face.

Meanwhile, the National League Central has become an interesting race with the Astros, Cardinals and Cubs all enjoying solid starts to their seasons. Houston did, however, just wrap up its seven-game homestand with a dud, a 15-6 thrashing at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Following the lopsided loss, Miguel Tejada offered to keep things in perspective.

"(Sunday) was a rough day," he said on the team's Web site. "You don't see many days like (this). But we're still fine. We're going to lose some games, and we're going to win some games. We just have to prepare for the road trip and stay strong."

The loss dropped the Astros' home record to a still respectable 15-9 on the season. They are playing .500 ball on the road, as they get set to kick off a nine-game road trip tonight in St. Louis.

Houston had won the preceding two games against the Phils and went into Sunday looking to win three of four in the series. The Astros sealed Saturday's 4-3 win after left fielder Darin Erstad threw out the would-be tying run at the plate in the ninth inning.

The high drama was not lost on Manager Cecil Cooper.

"There have been some pretty amazing wins for us this year, comebacks, walk-off homers, I guess this is another way we can do it," Cooper said. "Pretty incredible. Didn't think it could get much more exciting after (Friday) night, (but) here we are again."

Friday night, as Cooper referred to, was another 4-3 win for Houston. In that victory, emerging star Hunter Pence went yard twice, which proved to be the difference after the Phillies tacked on two runs in the ninth to make it a one- run game.

Closer Jose Valverde somehow stayed in the game and managed to pick up save No. 15 despite taking a liner off the face in the ninth inning. He reported feeling fine after the game.

"I felt a little dizzy," Valverde recalled. "I said you know what, I have to be in the game. Thank God it hit my glove first. If that didn't happen, I don't know where I would be right now."

If nothing else, it would appear the Astros have the guts to grind out another successful road trip. They went 6-3 on a trip earlier this month that included stops in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

WANDY ON THE REBOUND

Wandy Rodriguez, after all of one rehab start, has been deemed healthy enough to return to the rotation. And the Astros aren't wasting any time, as Rodriguez is set to take the hill Wednesday night in St. Louis.

Rodriguez strained his groin in mid-April and has been on the disabled list ever since. He is the team's only left-handed starter. Pitching for Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday, he allowed only one run on four hits in six innings, and reported no physical issues after the game.

It would appear Brian Moehler (2-1, 4.40) could be the odd man out in the rotation.

In other roster news, reliever Fernando Nieve, who put together a hefty 18.00 ERA in four appearances, was optioned back down to the minors on Sunday.

WHO'S HOT

After humming along with a .181 batting average only a couple weeks ago, Michael Bourn has began to pick up the pace. At the very least, the league's stolen base leader is being spared from hearing about how you can't steal first base.

Bourn hit .345 on the team's homestand, raising his average to .216. The coaching staff has maintained its confidence in Bourn, who insists he still has plenty of work to do with his swing. In any case, he has earned another chance at the leadoff spot.

"He's showing signs of being the guy we were hoping he would be," Cooper told the Houston Chronicle. "He's swinging the bat much better, he's getting on base, and when he's on base he creates some excitement. It takes a little pressure off the guys behind him."

WHO'S NOT

Kaz Matsui has just three hits in his last 23 at-bats (.130)

A LOOK AHEAD

Shawn Chacon (1-0, 4.11) gets the start tonight against Braden Looper (6-3, 4.34). On Wednesday, Rodriguez (1-0, 2.31) makes his return against Adam Wainwright (4-2, 3.06). And on Thursday, Roy Oswalt (4-4, 5.61) closes out the series against Kyle Lohse (4-2, 4.26). Brandon Backe (4-5, 4.19) will take the hill Friday to kick off the Milwaukee series.