HOUSTON, TX--The Houston Astros have acquired left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ and minor leaguers Anthony Gose (OF) and Jonathan Villar (SS) from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher Roy Oswalt and cash, General Manager Ed Wade announced today.

The 32-year-old Oswalt, who is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA (49ER/129IP) in 20 starts this season, had spent his entire career in the Astros organization after being selected in the 23rd round of the June 1996 Draft. In 303 career appearances, he is 143-82 with a 3.24 ERA. Oswalt is second in Houston franchise history in victories and ranks second in strikeouts and third in innings pitched and starts.

HOUSTON, TX--In what was the second trade of the day for the ballclub, the Houston Astros acquired first baseman Brett Wallace from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for outfielder Anthony Gose, General Manager Ed Wade announced today.

The 23-year-old Wallace, who has been assigned to Triple A Round Rock, hit .301 with 24 doubles and 18 home runs in 95 games (.509 slg pct) at Triple A Las Vegas this season, and was second on the club in RBI with 61. Wallace, who was selected in the first round of the June 2008 Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, played in in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game and was named to the Arizona Fall League All-Prospect Team in 2008.

HOUSTON -- Carlos Lee has been surprised more than anyone over his struggles this season for the Astros. Since arriving in Houston four seasons ago, Lee had been one of the team's most consistent hitters before his numbers took a significant dip this year.

And that lack of production has been noticed by the fans, who have responded to one of the team's highest-paid players with boos.

But those boos turned to loud cheers on Wednesday as Lee resembled the player he's been throughout his career, slugging two home runs in an 8-1 win over the Cubs and giving the Astros the series win.

"I had a good day," Lee said. "I'll take it as a positive day and I'm swinging the bat a little better."

Lee's day started negative with his first two at-bats against Cubs starter Randy Wells. In the first inning with runners on second and third, he grounded out weakly to first to end the threat. In the fourth with runners on first and second, he popped out to second.

HOUSTON -- Brett Myers jumped from his seat near the end of the Astros' dugout and began celebrating along with the rest of his teammates. A nip-and-tuck game had suddenly turned into a blowout, and Myers stood to benefit the most.

The workhorse Astros pitcher had put himself in position several times this year to pitch into the ninth inning before being pulled for a pinch-hitter in a tight game. But when Lance Berkman sent an Andrew Cashner fastball 442 feet into the right-field seats for a game-changing grand slam, the Astros had a lead Myers wasn't about to give up in their 6-1 win over the Cubs at Minute Maid Park.

"I was pumped," Myers said. "That was huge right there. They had one of their young studs in there that throws hard, and Lance was able to turn on it. That was good stuff."

HOUSTON -- Wesley Wright stood in front of his locker Monday as reporters closely crowded around him after the Astros' 5-2 loss to the Cubs. For Wright, who was making only his second career start, the bright camera lights and postgame questions were a new experience.

And as Wright has learned, it's one of many growing pains that come with that transition. His task Monday against the Cubs seemed simple enough: pitch the same way he did through four innings against them less than a week ago. But it's easier said than done for a player who's learning how to be a starting pitcher on the fly.

And unlike his previous start, this one got away from him much earlier. Rather than coasting through the Cubs' lineup as he once had, their hitters caught on to Wright and scored early runs in his Minute Maid Park starting debut.

HOUSTON -- Holding a one-run lead over a potent Reds offense in the seventh inning, Astros hitters gave starter Wandy Rodriguez a reason to relax. Rodriguez had held the Reds scoreless, but had only one run in his favor as he watched from the dugout.

Yet that all changed when the Astros came through in the seventh, scoring three times to assure Rodriguez a 4-0 win Sunday.

"We needed that just to get some breathing room for our pitcher," center fielder Michael Bourn said. "Whenever our pitcher has a little more of a lead, he can feel more comfortable. It gave our relievers a good lead to shut the door down."

Rodriguez didn't return after the runs, but he wasn't needed as Astros relievers held that lead to avoid the sweep. They had much more room to work with, thanks to the Astros' timely hitting, though.

HOUSTON -- Roy Oswalt delivered in one of the biggest moments in franchise history when he won Game 6 of the 2005 National League Championship Series, so facing the Cincinnati Reds amid constant trade speculation and needing one win to tie the franchise record didn't exactly amount to a pressure cooker.

With scouts from several contending teams, including the Yankees, Phillies, Cardinals and Dodgers, watching intently from behind home plate, Oswalt was rocked for nine hits and six runs en route to a 7-0 wipeout to the Reds on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

"It didn't go too well," said Oswalt, whose 12 losses tied a career high and lead the NL. "I pretty much lost the game in the first."

Reds first baseman Joey Votto hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give Cincinnati the only muscle starting pitcher Johnny Cueto needed. Cueto (10-2) beat Houston for the first time in his career as the Reds improved to 7-1 against the Astros this year and 16-2 in the past 18 meetings between the clubs.

HOUSTON -- Hunter Pence did a little bit of everything on Friday, recording a season-high four hits in his first four at-bats, hitting a home run, driving in three runs, stealing a base and even providing the most heady play of the night when he scored from third base on a short popup.

The one at-bat that Pence will likely remember the most came in the ninth inning, when he stepped to the plate representing the winning run and hit a line drive to center field that was caught by Drew Stubbs for the final out of a 6-4 loss to the Reds at Minute Maid Park.

"That last one was a better at-bat than a couple of the hits," Pence said. "Granted, it was one pitch, but I just hit it right at them. I went out there and I was ready to swing the bat and felt a lot better than I felt in a long time. What can you do?"

Pence, who is hitting .353 in his past 13 games, couldn't quite rescue the Astros, who lost to the Reds for the 15th time in their previous 17 games. The Astros were 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners on base, leaving the bases loaded in the eighth and two on base in the ninth.

There are numerous sticking points.

ESPN.com reported Wednesday that Oswalt, who has the right to veto any trade, would insist his $16 million option for 2012 be exercised. It remains to be seen if the Phillies would make that commitment -- they feel their $140 million payroll has reached its max -- or if Oswalt would accept a trade to Philadelphia in the first place.

Oswalt, who is owed roughly half his $15 million salary this season and $16 million next season, said Wednesday the Astros have not approached him about a trade.

Perhaps that's why the mashing, slugging Astros team that took the field Monday night looked nothing like the team that was held to three singles in a disheartening shutout loss to the lowly Pirates the day before.

The Astros rocked Chicago starting pitcher Carlos Silva for five runs and seven hits in the first inning -- tying Houston's season high for runs and hits in an inning -- and later got homers from rookies Jason Castro and Chris Johnson to blast the Cubs, 11-5, in the series opener at Wrigley Field.

Tickets on Sale Now; Event Themed “A Night in Paradise”

HOUSTON, TX - The Astros Wives will host the 21st Annual Black Ties and Baseball Caps Gala on Thursday, August 12 at Minute Maid Park. Chaired by Morgan Keppinger and Heather Byrdak, the event benefiting the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) will be attended by current and former Astros players.

Astros Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton will emcee the signature event themed “A Night in Paradise.” Supporters will mix and mingle with Astros players during the cocktail reception and silent auction at 6:00 p.m. followed by a dinner and live auction at 7:00 p.m.

Over the past two decades, the Astros Wives organization has raised more than three million dollars on behalf of the HAWC. These funds have in turn assisted the center’s core programs which offer support to thousands of domestic and sexual abuse survivors.

PITTSBURGH, PA -The Houston Astros announced today that the club has purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Gary Majewski from Triple A Round Rock. To make room for Majewski on the active roster, the club has designated right-handed pitcher Casey Daigle for assignment. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Ed Wade.

Majewski, 30, who will report in time for tomorrow night’s game in Chicago, has pitched his entire 2010 season in the bullpen at Triple A Round Rock, posting a 3-2 record and a 4.04 ERA (16ER/35.2IP) in 27 appearances. He is a veteran of five Major League seasons with Washington (2004-06) and Cincinnati (2006-08) and owns a 9-13 record and a 4.61 ERA (123ER/240.1IP) in 229 Major League relief appearances.

Daigle, 29, has posted a 1-1 record and a 11.32 ERA (13ER/10.1IP) in 13 relief appearances in two stints for Houston in 2010. The Astros have 10 days to either trade, release or assign outright his contract.