NBA: Houston 5, Atlanta 3

HOUSTON, April 19 (UPI) -- Brandon Backe pitched seven innings Tuesday to help the Houston Astros post a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Backe (1-0) gave up three runs on seven hits to pick up the win. He struck out eight and walked one..

Willy Taveras hit his first career home run, Craig Biggio went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Jeff Bagwell, Adam Everett and Brad Ausmus each had an RBI for the Astros.

Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer and Raul Mondesi an RBI triple for Atlanta, which has lost three of its last four games.

Atlanta's John Thomson (1-2) gaves up four runs on seven hits in six innings for the loss.