Pro Baseball News

Astros' Backe has strained side muscle (AP) (sports.yahoo.com)

Brandon Backe threw two scoreless innings Sunday before leaving the Houston Astros' 11-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates with a strained side muscle. Backe, trying to win a spot in Houston's rotation, was injured when his front foot slipped on the mound as he threw his last pitch of the first inning. Freddy Sanchez, Craig Monroe and Garrett Jones homered for the Pirates.