updated 10:43 p.m. ET Aug. 9, 2008

CINCINNATI - Houston slugger Carlos Lee was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday night because of a broken left pinkie and is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks.

Outfielder Reggie Abercrombie’s contract was purchased from Triple-A Round Rock.

Lee left the Astros’ game at Cincinnati in the third inning Saturday night after getting hit by a pitch.

The left fielder, who reached the 100-RBI level for the fourth consecutive season on Friday night and leads the NL in that category, was hit by a pitch from Bronson Arroyo with Lance Berkman on first base, two outs and Houston leading 1-0. What looked like blood was seen on Lee’s left pinkie finger when his batting glove was pulled off.

“It’s tough to lose him,” manager Cecil Cooper said after Houston’s 3-1 win. “It didn’t look good. He carried us the last month-and-a-half. It’s a big hole to fill, but we’re capable of filling it. I’m just now starting to suck it up.”

Darin Erstad pinch ran for Lee, who drove in three runs in Houston’s 9-5, 10-inning win on Friday to give him 1,001 RBI in his career. He took an eight-game hitting streak into Saturday’s game and walked in the first inning.

Erstad will get the bulk of the playing time in left field, and Ty Wigginton will also play, Cooper said.

“They can do it,” he said. “They’re very capable.”

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