Cincinnati @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2012 ) Cincinnati 1, Houston 2
The Houston Astros attempt to win consecutive games for just the second time since late June when they host the Cincinnati Reds in the rubber match of their three-game series. Houston snapped its six-game losing streak Saturday thanks to Cincinnati second baseman Wilson Valdez, whose error with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed the winning run to score. The Astros have posted back-to-back victories just once since defeating San Diego on June 26-27.
Since topping Milwaukee on Aug. 10-11, Houston won just twice in 17 tries prior to Saturday. Cincinnati, which fell to 4-1 on its six-game road trip, saw its lead over St. Louis in the National League Central shrink to 8 1/2 games. The Reds are hoping to avoid losing two of three series. They dropped two of three to St. Louis last weekend before sweeping the Diamondbacks in Arizona.
TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, FSN (Cincinnati, Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (11-7, 3.84 ERA) vs. Astros RH Bud Norris (5-11, 5.01)
Arroyo posted his fourth straight victory Monday at Arizona, allowing two runs over six innings while hitting the game-winning home run. The lanky 35-year-old has been in quite a groove as he has yielded three runs or less in six of his last eight starts while winning seven times in that span. Arroyo dropped to 12-7 lifetime against the Astros on June 3, when he surrendered five runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 frames in Houston.
Norris remained winless since May 21 despite allowing just one run over 6 2/3 innings against San Francisco on Tuesday. The 27-year-old is 0-10 in 15 starts since tossing seven scoreless frames in a triumph over the Chicago Cubs. Norris, who limited the Reds to one run in seven innings of a no-decision on July 25, is 0-2 in five career outings against Cincinnati.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Astros need four more wins this month to match their total in August.
2. Injured Reds 1B Joey Votto continued his rehab assignment Saturday, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run for Triple-A Louisville.
3. Houston OF Justin Maxwell has hit seven of his 13 home runs this season in games Lucas Harrell has started.