MILWAUKEE - Jason Hirsh is coming off the best outing
of his career. The Houston Astros need him to keep it going
Saturday.
The righthander takes the ball for the Astros in the middle game
of a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Houston, which has won the wild card the last two years, is four
games behind San Diego in the crowded National League wild card
race.
Hirsh (2-3, 6.84 ERA) allowed three runs - one earned - and five
hits in six innings of a 4-2 loss to the New York Mets a week
ago. The 24-year-old struggled in August, going 2-2 with an
8.53 ERA in four starts.
Hirsh will be opposed by Tomo Ohka (4-4, 4.35), who pitched well
in his last outing. The righthander allowed three runs and
eight hits in seven innings of a 10-3 loss to Florida on Sunday.
The eight-year veteran also struggled last month, posting a 1-2
record with a 6.62 ERA in six starts.
In Friday's series opener, Roy Oswalt outdueled Ben Sheets to
lead the Astros to a 4-3 win. Oswalt allowed three runs and
five hits in seven innings and Aubrey Huff hit a go-ahead homer
in the eighth.
The Brewers have lost five of their last seven contests.