Astros' young outfielder evolving in second season

HOUSTON -- Lance Berkman was trying to decide last week whether it was more important to hit for power or average.

How about both?

In his second full season in the big leagues, the Astros' center fielder on Monday found himself leading the majors in RBIs (35) and sharing the lead in home runs with Sammy Sosa (13).

Berkman, selected Monday as NL player of the week, raised his average to .301 with a 3-for-5, two-homer, five-RBI performance on Sunday during a 12-1 victory over the New York Mets.

"As hitters, you joke around and say, 'Would you rather hit .250 with a lot of home runs and RBIs or hit .350 with not as many home runs or RBIs?"' said Berkman, a switch hitter.

"You want to hit for a high average, but your job is to produce runs. If you can do that with a home run, that's good."

Berkman ended April hitting just .255, despite his strong home run and RBI production. But in his first five games in May, Berkman is 10-for-19 (.526) with nine RBIs and three homers.

So is real Berkman a man of power, average or both?

"I don't have enough experience to say how it's going to turn out after the first month of the season, to be this way or that way," Berkman said. "Hopefully, I'll just start to be more comfortable at the plate. That's my goal."

Despite his home run success, Berkman is trying to find the right stroke.

"My approach is worse this year," Berkman said. "I haven't really felt comfortable for any stretch like last year. The mark of a good hitter is someone who hits the ball hard often, and if you run into a few home runs, that's fine.

"But you need to hit singles on the line, and I haven't done that this year so far."

Former teammate Chris Truby, now with the Montreal Expos, said he isn't surprised at Berkman's success.

"When I played with him in the minors, you could tell right away he was going to be special," Truby said. "He had that swing and that unbelievable power. He'll be hitting .330 before it's over."

Berkman was an All-Star in his first full major league season in 2001, hitting .331 -- third in the NL -- and driving in 126 runs. That earned Berkman a three-year contract worth $10.5 million.

"Everything's cyclical, home runs and hits seem to come in bunches," Berkman said. "You'll run into a streak where for whatever reason, you're getting elevation on the ball. It's funny how it comes to you and then leaves and comes back a month later."

Monday's game

BREWERS 8, REDS 5

CINCINNATI -- Adam Dunn hit a grand slam in front of Cincinnati's smallest crowd in 10 years, and the Reds overcame Joey Hamilton's hamstring injury to beat the slumping Brewers.

Despite returning from a West Coast trip in first place in the NL Central, the Reds drew only 12,867. The fans saw Sean Casey get four hits as Cincinnati ended a four-game losing streak.

Hamilton pulled his left hamstring while covering first base in the fourth inning. There was no indication how long he will be sidelined.

The Reds batted around in the first for five runs off Ruben Quevedo (1-4), and the Brewers wound up losing for the 11th time in 14 games. At 9-23, they have the NL's worst record.

Jim Brower (2-0) gave up a run in 2 2-3 innings after Hamilton left. Scott Sullivan struck out Richie Sexson with the bases loaded in the seventh, and Danny Graves got the last three outs for his 11th save in 14 chances.-- From wire reports