Cincinnati (3-2) at Houston (3-1), 2:05 pm EDT
HOUSTON -- After a rough start Opening Day, Roy Oswalt
looks to turn things around when he and the Houston Astros face
the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in the finale of a three-game set.
A 63-28 lifetime pitcher, Oswalt (0-1, 9.00 ERA) has done the
bulk of his damage against the Reds, posting an 11-0 mark with a
2.51 ERA in 15 appearances, including 13 starts.
The 28-year-old Oswalt, who gave up six runs in as many innings
in a 7-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, won three
of his four starts last year against Cincinnati, striking out 28
batters in 26 2/3 innings.
Since Oswalt's struggles on Opening Day, the Astros have rolled
to three straight wins, including a pair of one-run triumphs to
open their set with the Reds.
Pinch hitter Jose Vizcaino doubled in the winning run in the
bottom of the ninth inning in a 4-3 victory Saturday. Jeff
Bagwell and Jason Lane both slugged their first home runs of the
year to contribute to the win.
Cincinnati, which won its first three games at home to start the
season before heading to Houston, turns to Eric Milton (1-0,
5.06 ERA) to stop the slide.
Milton allowed three runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings in a
9-5 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday. In five career
starts vs. the Astros, Milton is 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA.