COLORADO, 1 July 2005 — Craig Biggio homered and set a modern Major League record for being hit by pitches as the Houston Astros beat the Colorado Rockies 7-1 on Wednesday in National League play in Denver.

Biggio, who has given new meaning to the saying “take one for the team,” was clipped in the elbow by Colorado starter Byung-Hyung Kim in the fourth inning, marking the 268th time he had been hit by a pitch.

That broke Don Baylor’s record of 267 set between 1970-1988.

The Houston second baseman also had a sixth inning solo homerun, helping the Astros to their seventh win in nine games.

Jason Lane and Morgan Ensberg also homered for the Astros, while Lance Berkman contributed a pair of doubles to the cause. Roy Oswalt was solid on the mound for the Astros, scattering six hits over seven shutout innings, striking out six and walking one.

In Chicago, Kerry Wood made an impressive return from the injured list and Todd Hollandsworth singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sidelined with an injured shoulder since April 30, Wood was activated just before the game and delivered six solid innings, giving up just one run on two hits while striking out nine and walking a pair.

With the score tied 2-2, Hollandsworth lined a base hit to center, scoring Jeromy Burnitz who had also homered in the fourth for his 13th of the season.

In Los Angeles, Antonio Perez belted a three-run homer and Jeff Weaver pitched 7 1/3 sharp innings, leading the Dodgers to a 4-2 decision over the San Diego Padres.

With the score tied 1-1, Perez put the Dodgers in front to stay in the fifth inning, parking his second home run of the season over the wall in deep center to bring across Cesar Izturis and Weaver, who had a single to lead off the inning.

In St. Louis, Larry Walker belted a pair of two-run homers in his first two at bats, Jim Edmonds added a three-run blast and Reggie Sanders chipped in with a solo shot as the Cardinals crushed the Cincinnati Reds 11-3.

The Cardinals spotted the Reds an early 2-0 lead but took control with a four-run burst in the second inning triggered by Walker’s first two-run homer over the wall in deep right.

In New York, Chase Utley smacked a three-run homer and David Bell had two RBIs as the Philadelphia Phillies ended a five game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Mets. Cory Lidle (7-6) turned in seven solid innings giving up three runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking one to get the decision.

In Miami, Juan Encarnacion’s 13th inning single drove in Miguel Cabrera with the winning run as the Florida Marlins rallied to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-5.

Encarnacion also had a homer, his 10th of the season, and finished 3-for-6 at the plate as the Marlins snapped the Braves five game win streak.

In Washington, Jose Guillen’s eighth inning RBI double lifted the Nationals to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, improving their home record to a major league best 28-10. Luis Ayala (7-4) worked one inning of scoreless relief to take the win while Chad Cordero came on in the ninth to get the final three outs and his 27th save.

In Phoenix, Moises Alous had three hits and two RBIs and Omar Vizquel singled home the winning run as the San Francisco Giants took a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.