There was good reason for the Astros to celebrate at Up on Sunday night. Earlier in the day, the guys had ended an eight-game losing streak by besting the Cincinnati Reds. So they cheerfully ditched their uniforms in favor of casual party threads and headed to the Highland Village eatery for the Astros Wives Gala underwriter fete.

This was one pre-event gathering for which celebration was truly in order. In the spirit of a wining day, Up owner Haidar Barbouti pulled out all the stops, opening the bar to the party crowd and ordering up hefty hors d'oeuvres that included beef short rib sandwiches, crispy duck rolls, pizzas and more.

The point of the gathering was to salute underwriters of the Black Ties & Baseball Caps gala that takes place Aug. 16 at Minute Maid Park. Among those on hand contributing generously to the evening that will benefit the Houston Area Women's Center were Trish and Gregg Perkin, Sybil Roos, Patricia and Randall Swearingen, Janis and David Roberts, Chuck Simmons and Roy Marsh. Voice of the Astros Milo Hamilton introduced them. Look for these and other big donors to have the best seats in the house at the gala with the best players as their table guests.

Among Astros management grooving to the Motown sounds of Old School Harmony were manager Brad Mills with wife Ronda, first base coach Bobby Meacham with wife Gari, Astros’ president George Postolos with wife Nicole, and team vice president Kathleen Clark.

Players and their squeezes mixing it up with guests included Jason Castro and fiancé Maris Perlman, Bud Norris with Aubree Gerardi, Chris and Carla Snyder, Wesley and Sherrell Wright, Fernando and Myla Rodriguez, Wandy and Luz Rodriguez, David Carpenter with Brooke Keene, Travis and Summar Buck and Brian Bogusevic and fiance Kelley Smith.