Russ Ortiz, pulled after giving up four runs and six hits in three innings Thursday against the Nationals, leveled several criticisms against manager Cecil Cooper, becoming the latest pitcher to rip Cooper in the last two years.

Cooper had already addressed the media, but he was still around his office at Minute Maid Park when he was asked if the Houston Chronicle could interview him again to see if he would respond to Ortiz's comments.

Through spokesman Gene Dias, Cooper declined to comment.

"There's no doubt that I wasn't on point," Ortiz said of his performance Thursday. "It was just one of those games. But I have no idea why I was pulled out. The last inning I got behind one hitter."

Ortiz said there is no margin for error with Cooper.

"It became apparent to me from the very beginning of the season that I wasn't going to be given much of a chance or room for error, and today is another example of that," he said. "My first start was an example of that, and my fourth start was an example of that. The last two months I don't think I've really struggled pitching. I struggled today and I'm out after three innings and we come back and win.

"I don't understand it, and I haven't been given a real good reason why I was taken out. They said I was walking and getting behind too many guys, but, like I said, in my last inning four out of the five guys I made my pitches to. They just did a good job of hitting them."

NATIONALS 11, ASTROS 10 (11 innings); ASTROS 9, NATIONALS 4: All-Star SS Miguel Tejada committed a throwing error, allowing the Nationals to win a suspended game on an unearned run in the 11th inning.

In the regularly scheduled game, the Astros mounted a four-run rally in the sixth inning for a come-from-behind victory. RHP Alberto Arias contributed two scoreless innings of relief to get the win.

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