Because of the Astros' insurance policy on his contract, Astros ace Roy Oswalt, who signed a five-year, $73 million extension on his 29th birthday Aug. 29, underwent a battery of tests and X-rays on his right shoulder and elbow during a physical at a Pittsburgh hospital on Tuesday.
It is unclear which insurance company is covering Oswalt's contract. The Astros filed a lawsuit earlier this year against Cigna to recoup on the claim they filed on the final year of the contract of Jeff Bagwell, who has been on the disabled list all season because of a bad shoulder.
Qualls, who has appeared in a team-high 78 games, had pitched in four consecutive games before Tuesday. Miller had pitched in three straight games, in 10 games since Sept. 11 and in 15 games this month.
"It's important (that they be honest)," Garner said. "You want guys to be tough. You want guys to give you what (they) have, but if you're just dead beat and you can't get your arm up, you're not doing the team any good if I say, 'Can you go today?' and you want to be a tough guy and say, 'I can go.' I've got to be a little understanding, too."
For the second time this year and only the sixth time in franchise history, the Astros played three different opponents on consecutive nights. They closed out a four-game series against St. Louis on Sunday, played a makeup game against Philadelphia on Monday at Citizens Bank Park and opened a three-game series against Pittsburgh on Tuesday at PNC Park.
"I've been blessed to be able to put the ball in play," said Palmeiro, who is 15th on the all-time list with 104 pinch hits, including four in his last four pinch-hit appearances. "Obviously, you get one shot."
With his tying two-run double in Monday's 5-4 win at Philadelphia, Palmeiro raised his pinch-RBI total to 12 this year, five shy of the club record Orlando Merced set in 2001.
2,927 — Career hits for Craig Biggio, who with his third-inning single Tuesday tied Hall of Famer Al Simmons for 33rd place on the all-time list.
RHP Jason Hirsh (3-4) will make his ninth career start and second of the year against the Pirates tonight. He is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA against Pittsburgh, which will start Shawn Chacon (2-3).
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