Lance Berkman figures the way he hits Reds pitching is just one of the quirky things about baseball. Berkman became the first major leaguer this season to homer three times in a game, driving in five runs as the Houston Astros hit five home runs in beating the Reds 8-3 Tuesday night.

Lance Berkman had his first three-homer game. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “Sometimes a guy just owns you and can't get a hit off him to save your life,” said Berkman, who tied Barry Bonds for the home run lead with seven.

        For his career, Berkman is hitting .416 (37-of-89) against Cincinnati with eight home runs and 29 RBIs.

        “Tonight was a good night,” Berkman said. “But the season's built around singles and base hits. You can't always hit the ball out of the ballpark.”

        Berkman hit a three-run homer in the first off starter Jose Acevedo and came back in the escond with a drive over the 40-foot “batter's eye” in center.

        “He left some pitches up and out over the plate,” Berkman said of Acevedo.

        Berkman also had a solo homer in the fifth off Jose Rijo, breaking a 24-inning scoreless streak by the Reds' bullpen.

        Berkman's homer over the black wall in straightaway center was only the second to clear the wall in the two years it has been in place. The first was hit by St. Louis' Albert Pujols last season.

        “Typically, the ball tends to carry pretty well here,” Berkman said. “I felt like I hit all three pretty solid, and they went to the right spot.”

        Jim Brower got Berkman to ground out in the seventh, and Luis Pineda struck him out in the ninth. Berkman said a fourth homer was in the back of his mind, but he wasn't going for it.

        “I was really just trying to get a base hit,” Berkman said. “You hit three home runs, you don't expect to hit a fourth one.”

        Dave Mlicki (1-2) allowed four hits in 7 2-3 innings, the longest outing by an Astros starter this year, including a fifth-inning solo home run by Ruben Mateo. Mlicki walked one and struck out six.

        Notes:The first-inning homers by Berkman and Hidalgo were the first consecutive homers by the Astros this season. Bagwell and Berkman duplicated that feat one inning later. ... The Astros extended their club record to 114 consecutive games without being shut out.

        ..

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