Astros-Pirates Preview

By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Houston (18-27) at Pittsburgh (21-26), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Houston Astros got big lifts from a couple of unlikely sources to help end their longest losing streak in nearly a year. They'll try to build on that win by turning to someone they've been able to rely on all season.

After struggling starter Brian Moehler and rookie infielder Edwin Maysonet carried the team to its first win in eight games, the Astros hand the ball to Wandy Rodriguez as they continue a three-game road series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

Houston (19-27) had dropped seven straight before Moehler and Maysonet led the club to a 6-1 victory Friday night.

Moehler came into the game with an 8.31 ERA but held Pittsburgh (21-27) scoreless until the ninth inning in his first complete game since Aug. 8, 2000. Maysonet, who was playing in his 10th major league game and making his third career start, provided the offense, going 4 for 4 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.

"My first home run, I'm kind of excited about that," said Maysonet, who was 3 for 17 in the majors coming into the game. "It felt good coming off the bat, but I didn't think it had a shot. I was just trying to put the ball in play and it carried a little bit."

While the Astros were happy to get contributions from Moehler and Maysonet on Friday, they have to feel more confident that Rodriguez (5-3, 1.71 ERA) will be able to deliver Saturday. The left-hander has been Houston's most consistent starter in 2009, holding opponents to three earned runs or fewer in each of his first 10 games while compiling the NL's lowest ERA.

Rodriguez managed to lower that average Monday even though he struggled against Cincinnati and pitched a season-low four innings. He was reached for six unearned runs and a career high-tying 10 hits, and the Reds totaled eight unearned runs on three errors to beat the Astros 8-5.

Rodriguez didn't point fingers at Houston's defense, instead telling the team's official Web site that he had a "bad day."

Rodriguez is 3-3 with a 4.96 ERA in nine career games against the Pirates. He won his last start against them June 3, yielding five hits in six innings of a 2-0 victory in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates have dropped six of eight since a season-high five-game winning streak from May 16-20. They've been outscored 17-4 during a three-game skid.

"We had some pitches to hit, but we fouled them off or popped them up," manager John Russell said after Friday's defeat. "We've been in that situation a number of times, and we need to do something about it."

Pittsburgh hopes to snap its skid behind Jeff Karstens (1-2, 5.19). The right-hander, winless since April 21, gave up three runs in 5 1-3 innings of the Pirates' 4-3 road victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Karstens made his season debut April 16 against the Astros, not getting a decision as he gave up three runs in four innings of the Pirates' 6-3 loss. That was his only previous start against Houston, which has won three of the teams' first four meetings - all in Pittsburgh.