Pittsburgh welcomes two starters back from the disabled list in the first two games of this series, with Phil Dumatrait pitching Monday and Ian Snell to go Tuesday.

Dumatrait (3-4, 4.66) had gone four straight starts without allowing more than two runs before getting ripped in his last two - giving up 14 runs and 16 hits in 10 innings - as bursitis developed in his left shoulder. He has not started since June 19.

The rookie left-hander is 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in four home starts this season. The lone loss came to Houston even though he pitched well, going six innings in a 2-0 defeat on June 3.

Runelvys Hernandez (0-2, 5.40) makes his third start for Houston since being called up from the minors to take the spot in the rotation vacated by Shawn Chacon, who was released following his altercation with general manager Ed Wade. Hernandez has gone five innings and given up three earned runs in each outing, also allowing two homers and five walks.

Hernandez ended last season with the Pirates organization but never made it to the majors, going 1-3 with an 8.47 ERA in four starts for Triple-A Indianapolis. He has never faced Pittsburgh.

Astros first baseman Lance Berkman had barely finished discussing how pleased he was to be voted as the starting first baseman for the National League for the All-Star Game when he began campaigning for teammate Carlos Lee.

"Take nothing away from the two Cubs outfielders, but Carlos deserves to start ahead of either one of those two guys," Berkman said. "I'd like to see him in the game."

Berkman and Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada, who was chosen by the players as a reserve, will represent the Astros at the July 13 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium in New York, but they could be accompanied by Lee.

The Astros' left fielder is one of five players in the running to get the 32nd and final roster spot in the NL, joining Philadelphia's Pat Burrell, Milwaukee's Corey Hart, Philadelphia's Aaron Rowand and New York's David Wright.

Fans will be able to vote until Thursday, and Lee made it clear he would like to join Berkman and Tejada in New York. Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukodome of the Cubs and Ryan Braun of Milwaukee were chose as the starters in the outfield.

"Any time you have the opportunity to go you want to go, and I still have a chance," Lee said. "I need the support from the fans in Houston to try to go and vote.

"It's going to be tough because you're going against a major city like New York and David Wright is very popular. And the fans in Philadelphia vote a lot, too. It's going to be tough, but hopefully I make it."

Berkman ranks among league leaders in batting average (.349), runs (74), doubles (28), home runs (22), RBIs (69), total bases (210), slugging percentage (.667) and on-base percentage (.436).

Berkman started the 2004 All-Star Game at Minute Maid Park in center field because of an injury, but this is the first time he's been voted as a starter by the fans. He also made the All-Star Game in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006.

"That's just a great honor," Berkman said. "When you look at the National league first baseman it takes a pretty special half a season to get it done. I'm honored the fans chose me to start."

Despite being in the midst of a slump and finishing third in fan voting, Tejada was picked to participate in his fifth All-Star Game and first for the NL. He's hitting .283 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs.

"When I started playing this year and every year I never think I'm going to make the All-Star Game," he said. "I play to win it and have a good first half, not make the All-Star team. Me, I'm happy to get selected and I'm going to represent the Astros."

BRAVES 7, ASTROS 6 (17 innings): Astros reliever Tim Byrdak, working in his third inning of relief, gave up four consecutive singles to start the 17th inning and lose the longest game in the history of Turner Field. Ty Wigginton hit a grand slam in the third to give the Astros a 5-1 lead and nearly won the game with a line drive in the 15th. After closer Jose Valverde blew the save in the eighth, Geoff Geary, Dave Borkowski and Byrdak combined to throw seven innings of scoreless relief heading into the 17th.

--1B Lance Berkman was diagnosed with a case of pink eye in his left eye and was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday. But with the Astros forced to play 17 innings, Berkman wound up pinch hitting and flying out with the bases loaded to end the 15th.

"I told Cooper he could send me up there whenever he wanted," said Berkman, who coincidentally wore a pink shirt Sunday.

Berkman woke Sunday and couldn't open the eye and called manager Cecil Cooper to tell him he couldn't play. He came out of the clubhouse in the 12th inning and told Cooper he could see well enough to hit.

"I tried to say as far away from anybody as I could so I wouldn't contaminate the rest of the team," Berkman said.

--RHP Roy Oswalt will throw off flat ground Monday in Pittsburgh to test his ailing left side. Oswalt got a pain-killing injection Saturday in Houston and flew to Atlanta on Sunday in time to join the team charter to Pittsburgh.

Oswalt, who was scratched from his start Tuesday in Pittsburgh, will follow his flat ground session Monday with a bullpen session Tuesday to gauge his health.

--3B Ty Wigginton hit leadoff for the first time in his career Saturday. Wigginton, who had a team-high on-base percentage of .456 against lefthanders (the Braves started lefty Jo-Jo Reyes), went 0-for-3 but drew two walks. Wigginton was back in the No. 6 hole Sunday and hit his first career grand slam in the third inning.

--RHP Doug Brocail had his string of seven consecutive outings without allowing a run snapped Sunday. Brocail gave up two runs in the eighth inning, which allowed the Atlanta Braves to tie the game and force extra innings.

--OF Reggie Abercrombie was designated for assignment following Sunday's loss and the Astros purchased the contract of RHP Chad Paronto, who will join the team Monday in Pittsburgh. The move became necessary when the Astros' bullpen was depleted in Sunday's 17-inning loss to Atlanta.

BY THE NUMBERS: 601 -- Runners left stranded on base by the Astros this year, the lowest total in the National League.