From Houston Chronicle

  • Houston Astros: Disastrous first inning too much in loss to Cubs

    CHICAGO — Each new series presents the Astros a chance to initiate the turnaround they seek. An off day let them renew the effort afresh Tuesday. To wreck it required one inning. Two swings against J.P. France in the first produced a five-run lead that the Cubs never relinquished. The Astros fell 7-2 in their series opener at Wrigley Field to extend a miserable month. Houston is 7-17. It is 10 games under .500 for the first time since May 2016. Its 5.16 team ERA is highest among American League...

  • Houston Astros: Justin Verlander's season debut provides a jolt

    WASHINGTON — His return imminent, Justin Verlander saw fit to rouse his reeling ballclub. A loss to Atlanta on Wednesday dropped the Astros to 6-14 and left them swept for the third time in their first six series. In its wake, Verlander spoke up. “He talked to us after the series against Atlanta,” outfielder Chas McCormick said. The gist of Verlander’s message, McCormick said: “We’ve just got to turn it up a little bit. We’ve just got to play better.” “Pretty much get our heads out of our...

  • Justin Verlander's brother Ben: Astros are 'embarrassing to watch'

    On the day his older brother Justin Verlander makes his season debut for the Astros, Ben Verlander delved into the Astros' problems on the latest episode of his podcast, released Friday, calling the team "embarrassing to watch." With three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander on the injured list, the Astros have gotten off to a 6-14 start as they open a weekend series with Verlander on the mound in Washington, D.C. "It is ridiculous what is happening there; it is embarrassing to watch," Ben...

  • Houston Texans uniform reveal: Team confirms alternate H logo

    One of the Texans' four new uniforms that will be revealed Tuesday leaked in March, and now one of the three helmets the team will use in 2024 slipped out on social media Thursday. A Twitter user who goes by Freddy posted a five-second video of a helmet that fit the bill of everything the Texans have described in what they're going for with the redesign. When questioned about the source of the video, the social media user wrote and then later deleted, "Got a homie that loads trailers and they...

  • Berkshire Hills: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

    BOSTON (AP) — BOSTON (AP) — Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. (BHLB) on Thursday reported a first-quarter loss of $20.2 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. The Boston-based company said it had a loss of 47 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 49 cents per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 47 cents per share. The bank...

  • Houston Rockets: Rookies lead the way in regular-season finale

    LOS ANGELES — Veterans sat. The Clippers benched their name brands. Fans cheered for chicken more than for anything else that would happen. The Rockets, however, did not fully embrace the occasion and how it could impact nothing until the start of the fourth quarter. That was when they turned to genial center Boban Marjanović to play the rest of the way, more than he has in a game all season. Marjanović to the delight of Clippers fans, responded, even acknowledging their cheers when he won them...

  • UTHealth backs doctor tied to Memorial Hermann transplant manipulation

    The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston released a statement Friday defending a physician who was accused in a New York Times report of manipulating a transplant database, possibly preventing some patients from receiving life-saving organs. Memorial Hermann said in a statement Thursday that a physician, whom the hospital did not identify, made "inappropriate changes" to information in the liver transplant database. The Times report identified him as Dr. J. Steve Bynon, a...