NEW YORK -- Redemption would be a strong word. Defined as a "deliverance from sin," Brandon Backe still has to take a breath when imagining that Saturday's performance could wipe clean the bad memories that accumulated after allowing 11 runs in two out of his previous three starts.

The fourth start, what was considered for salvation, began with divine perfection through 14 batters. But that's piecemeal when you consider that Roy Oswalt had retired his last 20 batters on Friday and still lost.

No, Backe will need more than 4 2/3 innings of perfection and seven-plus innings of three runs allowed to resurrect a peace within him that says his end of the bargain has been fulfilled. While the score is even between the Astros and Mets after an 8-3 win behind Backe on Saturday, the Houston starter is cautiously optimistic.

He remembers the last time he surrendered 11 runs and the one-run outing that followed -- and then the second 11-run caper this past Saturday.

Until quality starts are marching toward the heavens, farther than the 34 consecutive Mets hitters who were retired from the second inning Friday to the fifth inning Saturday, Backe said he doesn't sense deliverance quite yet.

"I have a long way to go to redeem myself," Backe said. "I am not going to sit here -- I said last time -- I am not going to sit on a good win just because I had a bad start before and things are better. I owe a lot more to myself and this team this year to, I guess, redeem myself."

While Backe might only be scratching the surface of what it would take to earn back self-respect, the Astros finally broke through with the bats after scraping their claws thin against Johan Santana on Friday. Lance Berkman led the charge with four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the third inning to put the Astros up, 5-0.

Manager Cecil Cooper watched as a team that couldn't come close to a run in Game 1 of the series pounced on John Maine in Game 2. Miguel Tejada had two RBI singles, and second baseman David Newhan felt right at home, connecting on his first home run since May 12, 2007, when he was with the Mets.

"We got some runs early. It's always easier when you get some runs earlier in the ballgame," Cooper said. "It allows your starting pitching to go out and relax, and [Saturday], I thought Brandon was very, very sharp."

Backe commanded a two-seam fastball to the third-base side of the plate, he said, keeping the ball down in the zone and away from the Mets' dangerous bats. Of New York's six hits, middle-of-the-order powers David Wright and Carlos Beltran didn't have one of them.

Attacking the strike zone was Cooper's one command for Backe, who was so confident in his pitches that he called his own game throughout. When first asked about the quality of the Mets' lineup, he said kiddingly but with a straight face, "They're all right."

"I had the stuff tonight to figure it out on my own, how to get them out," Backe said. "I just had the stuff. I had a plan and the execution was there."

Everybody knew the plan. Berkman said it himself that Backe is one of the better pitchers on the Astros' staff when he throws strikes, and the righty had 65 of them on Saturday. And as far as Berkman is concerned, Backe is "redeemed."

The whole team is in many ways emancipated after being shut out by Santana the night before, leaving three less runners on base Saturday, which would have tied the Mets on Friday. And now, the series is even at one game apiece.

"Different night and a different result," Berkman said. "That's why you play them. You can't expect the same thing every night. As long as we continue to give ourselves a chance with runners in scoring position, eventually somebody's going to get a hit."

Backe even produced from the batter's box, maintaining his .302 average by going 1-for-4 with a run scored. It was just a small contribution within a small step toward escaping the scene of two disasters.

"I am proud of this start. I am going to take the positives from this start and try to mimic them for my next start," Backe said. "But in no way, shape or form am I totally redeemed from the foul starts that have come in the last four."