(Best E Casino) - After an extended night for the team's bullpen, the Houston Astros will be counting on some quality innings out of Wandy Rodriguez in tonight's middle test of a three-game set with the host Washington Nationals.

Roy Oswalt left Friday's series opener after just one inning due to a left hip abductor strain, an injury that also caused the Astros ace to miss his last scheduled turn in the rotation. Houston's relief corps failed to step up in Oswalt's absence, as Washington battered the bullpen en route to a 10-0 victory.

Most of the damage came against Dave Borkowski, with the right-hander surrendering seven runs on five hits -- including a pair of homers -- in just two innings of work. Chad Paronto, who replaced Oswalt in the bottom of the second, received the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over 2 1/3 frames.

Ronnie Belliard led the Nationals' offensive eruption with a pair of home runs, a two-run shot off Paronto in the second and a three-run blast against Borkowski in the fifth. Austin Kearns also homered in the rout and finished 2- for-2 with three RBI, while Jesus Flores added a two-run single for Washington, which won for only the second time in its last nine games.

Tim Redding (7-3) cruised through the first six innings for the Nationals, with the ex-Astro scattering seven hits and striking out six without a walk. Steven Shell completed the shutout by throwing the final three frames to earn his first career save.

Houston has now dropped eight of its last 10 contests and is 2-5 thus far on a nine-game road trip.

The Astros would be bolstered by a long outing out of Rodriguez this evening, although the Dominican southpaw hasn't pitched more than 5 2/3 innings in three of his last four starts. He hasn't lost during that stretch, however, posting one win and three no-decisions despite Houston losing all three of those contests he did not factor in.

Rodriguez was in line for his fourth victory of the season during Sunday's start at Atlanta, where he allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings while leaving with a 6-3 lead. However, the Houston bullpen gave up three late runs and Rodriguez was stuck with a no-decision.

The 29-year-old owns a 2-1 record with a 5.34 ERA in five lifetime starts against Washington, with tonight's tilt marking his first career appearance at the brand-new Nationals Ballpark.

The Astros will get their first look tonight at Washington rookie Collin Balester, who's delivered mixed results through two starts as a major leaguer.

Considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Nationals' system, Balester did not disappoint in his big league debut on July 1. The lanky 22- year-old held Florida to one run and a single hit over five innings to pick up the victory in Washington's 9-6 triumph at Dolphin Stadium.

Balester took a step back in Sunday's matchup at Cincinnati, where the young right-hander was roughed up for five runs in 5 2/3 innings to suffer the loss in the Nationals' 6-5 setback.

This will also be the first start at Nationals Ballpark for Balester, who has yielded just five hits through his first 10 2/3 innings pitched in the majors.

Houston won two of three matchups with the Nats at Minute Maid Park back in May, but Washington is 10-4 in its last 14 clashes against the Astros. Houston has also lost six of its last seven in D.C.

BC-AAN;PREVIEW-HOU-WAS

=== Astros play second of three in DC ===

(Best E Casino) - After an extended night for the team's bullpen, the Houston

Roy Oswalt left Friday's series opener after just one inning due to a left hip abductor strain, an injury that also caused the Astros ace to miss his last scheduled turn in the rotation. Houston's relief corps failed to step up in Oswalt's absence, as Washington battered the bullpen en route to a 10-0 victory.

Most of the damage came against Dave Borkowski, with the right-hander surrendering seven runs on five hits -- including a pair of homers -- in just two innings of work. Chad Paronto, who replaced Oswalt in the bottom of the second, received the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over 2 1/3 frames.

Ronnie Belliard led the Nationals' offensive eruption with a pair of home runs, a two-run shot off Paronto in the second and a three-run blast against Borkowski in the fifth. Austin Kearns also homered in the rout and finished 2- for-2 with three RBI, while Jesus Flores added a two-run single for Washington, which won for only the second time in its last nine games.

Tim Redding (7-3) cruised through the first six innings for the Nationals, with the ex-Astro scattering seven hits and striking out six without a walk. Steven Shell completed the shutout by throwing the final three frames to earn his first career save.

Houston has now dropped eight of its last 10 contests and is 2-5 thus far on a nine-game road trip.

The Astros would be bolstered by a long outing out of Rodriguez this evening, although the Dominican southpaw hasn't pitched more than 5 2/3 innings in three of his last four starts. He hasn't lost during that stretch, however, posting one win and three no-decisions despite Houston losing all three of those contests he did not factor in.

Rodriguez was in line for his fourth victory of the season during Sunday's start at Atlanta, where he allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings while leaving with a 6-3 lead. However, the Houston bullpen gave up three late runs and Rodriguez was stuck with a no-decision.

The 29-year-old owns a 2-1 record with a 5.34 ERA in five lifetime starts against Washington, with tonight's tilt marking his first career appearance at the brand-new Nationals Ballpark.

The Astros will get their first look tonight at Washington rookie Collin Balester, who's delivered mixed results through two starts as a major leaguer.

Considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Nationals' system, Balester did not disappoint in his big league debut on July 1. The lanky 22- year-old held Florida to one run and a single hit over five innings to pick up the victory in Washington's 9-6 triumph at Dolphin Stadium.

Balester took a step back in Sunday's matchup at Cincinnati, where the young right-hander was roughed up for five runs in 5 2/3 innings to suffer the loss in the Nationals' 6-5 setback.

This will also be the first start at Nationals Ballpark for Balester, who has yielded just five hits through his first 10 2/3 innings pitched in the majors.

Houston won two of three matchups with the Nats at Minute Maid Park back in May, but Washington is 10-4 in its last 14 clashes against the Astros. Houston has also lost six of its last seven in D.C.