Astros host Pirates in battle of Central cellar-dwellers

Sep 14, 2007, 15:26 GMT

- The Pittsburgh Pirates will kick off a 10-game road trip tonight, when they travel to Houston for the first of three straight games against the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Ian Snell starts for the Pirates and is 9-12 on the season with a 4.00 earned run average. He comes into tonight's start after losing his last decision on Saturday against the Cubs, when he yielded four runs (three earned) on seven hits over seven innings of work. Snell is just 2-7 over his last 12 starts.

The right-hander didn't factor into the decision of an August 24 start against the Astros after giving up three runs over seven innings, and is 2-3 lifetime versus Houston with a 4.23 ERA in eight games (seven starts).

The Pirates have won three of four after defeating Milwaukee, 7-4, on Wednesday. Ronny Paulino singled home the go-ahead run as the Pirates scored three times in the eighth inning. Josh Phelps added a two-run triple in the frame.

Bucs starter Tom Gorzelanny threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits for the Pirates, who are two games ahead of last-place Houston in the National League Central standings. Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

The Astros have lost nine of their last 11 and fell to the Chicago Cubs, 6-2, on Thursday. Carlos Lee and Mark Loretta each hit solo home runs in the setback.

Woody Williams (8-15) was tagged with the loss for Houston, allowing six runs on 11 hits across seven innings.

Houston's Roy Oswalt will try to shake off two bad starts when he toes the rubber tonight. The right-hander got a no decision on September 3 against Milwaukee after allowing five runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings. Oswalt was then tagged for four runs on nine hits over seven frames of a loss to the Mets on Sunday. The defeat moved Oswalt to 14-7 with a 3.41 ERA.

Oswalt began a five-start winning streak in late July with a win over the Pirates and is 11-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 21 games (20 starts) against them.

The Pirates have won nine of their 12 meetings with the Astros this season after dropping 13 of 16 against Houston in 2006.

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