Texas @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2011 ) Texas 7, Houston 3

THE STORY: Josh Hamilton may have trouble during the daytime, but night games are clearly not a problem. Hamilton homered on Tuesday night as the Texas Rangers continued their dominance over the Houston Astros. The Rangers have taken three of the first four between the instate rivals this season and plan on using the major league-worst Astros to stay on top of the American League West for at least a little while longer. Winning the final two games and evening this season series might be the only thing that could give Houston fans some pride this season. The Astros will be looking to steal one when they send Brett Myers to the mound at home Wednesday night.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Houston, FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Brett Myers (3-6, 4.65 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Colby Lewis (6-7, 4.44). Myers has been strong in his last two starts, allowing two earned runs while striking out six in each. The veteran righthander went six innings at Texas on June 22 but did not factor in the decision as the Astros avoided a three-game sweep with a 5-3 victory. Myers was lit up in his only other start against the Rangers, yielding five runs and five hits while walking four in two innings. Lewis opposed Myers on June 22 and left in line for the win, going seven scoreless innings while striking out eight and allowing three hits. But the Rangers increasingly suspect bullpen let him down. Lewis, who has struck out 18 in 13 2/3 innings in his last two outings, has always pitched well against Houston, posting a 1-1 record with a 1.78 ERA in six games - three starts.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (28-52): Houston, which has lost seven of its last eight and is five games behind the Kansas City Royals for the worst record in the majors, has plenty to complain about. Manager Brad Mills was ejected on Tuesday after his frustration boiled over with another missed opportunity when the Astros grounded into a third double play. Pitching has been the biggest issue as Houston has allowed an average of more than eight runs in its last four defeats, including Tuesday’s 7-3 setback. Twenty-year-old rookie Jordan Lyles was the victim Tuesday, failing to earn his first major league win in his sixth start. The Astros have won only one series in June when they took two of three at the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 17-19.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (42-38): Texas has not yet been able to find the magic that propelled it to the World Series last season. But a relatively weak crop of teams in the American League West keeps offering the Rangers more chances to figure it all out. They snapped a two-game slide with Tuesday’s win, getting a quality start and a triple from C.J. Wilson to go along with home runs from Hamilton, Ian Kinsler and Mitch Moreland. One target of criticism has been the bullpen, which figures to get the most attention from the front office at the trade deadline. Mark Lowe posted a scoreless eighth inning Tuesday but Yoshinori Tateyama had trouble securing the final out in the ninth, which forced closer Neftali Feliz into the game.

FINAL PITCH: The Astros started rookie Carlos Corporan at catcher for the 11th straight game Tuesday. Houston is shorthanded behind the plate with Humberto Quintero on the disabled list with an ankle sprain and J.R. Towles unable to comfortably wear a mask since taking a foul ball off the chin Friday.