Houston (8-11) at Pittsburgh (7-12), 7:05 pm EDT
PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros seek to snap a
four-game losing streak when they meet the Pittsburgh Pirates
on Thursday in the middle game of a three-game series.
Astros lefthander Andy Pettitte (1-1, 3.55 ERA) faces a Pirates
team that he dominated last season. In two starts against
Pittsburgh, the 32-year-old went 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA. Pettitte
picked up his first win of this season in his last start,
allowing three runs in seven innings against Milwaukee on
Thursday.
The Pirates send Kip Wells (1-3, 6.46) to the mound against a
team that has given him trouble throughout his career. In nine
career starts, Wells is 2-5 with a 5.48 ERA, including an 0-2
mark with a 6.17 ERA in three starts last year.
Pittsburgh won the opening game of the set on Monday as Oliver
Perez and two relievers combined on a five-hit, 2-0 shutout
against Houston ace Roy Oswalt.
The Astros have lost their last four games, including a
three-game sweep at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals this
weekend. Houston is 1-9 on the road this season.