(Best E Casino) - With their longest losing streak of the season now behind them, the
Houston Astros will try to make it two in a row this evening when they continue a three-game interleague set with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Last night, Carlos Lee had two doubles and two runs batted in and the Astros held off a late rally by Tampa Bay for a 4-3 victory. Lance Berkman and Kazuo Matsui each clubbed an RBI for the Astros, who ended an eight-game slide.
Roy Oswalt (6-7) picked up the win as he went 7 2/3 innings and gave up just two runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking two batters.
Jose Valverde earned his 17th save of the year despite giving up a home run in the ninth.
Eric Hinske went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI for the Rays, who are still 5-2 in their last seven contests. Dioner Navarro hit a solo home run in the setback.
Matt Garza (5-4) took the loss as he was touched for four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits. Garza also fanned eight and walked just two batters.
Taking the hill for the Rays this evening will be Edwin Jackson, who is just 1-3 over his last four starts. The right-hander was last in action on Sunday, when he surrendered six earned runs and five hits in five innings of a 9-3 loss to the Florida Marlins. The loss dropped Jackson to 2-4 with a 4.75 ERA in eight home starts for the season.
Jackson is 2-0 with a 4.35 ERA in two career starts against the Astros, with each appearance coming as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004 and 2005.
Wandy Rodriguez will try to put a stop to a personal two-game slide, as he gets the call for Houston in this one. The left-hander is coming off a poor outing, allowing five earned runs and six hits in five innings of an 8-4 loss to the New York Yankees a week ago.
Rodriguez, who has never faced Tampa Bay before, is 1-1 with a 4.02 ERA in three road starts this season.
Houston swept a three-game set from the Rays the last time these teams met back in 2003.