Houston @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2011 ) Houston 1, San Francisco 2

THE STORY: The Houston Astros may want to pitch around Jeff Keppinger in Sunday’s series finale against the host San Francisco Giants. Keppinger has delivered the game-winning hit against his former team in back-to-back games, helping the Giants remain three games behind Arizona in the National League West. Houston has lost six of its last seven games.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Houston, CSNBA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Bud Norris (6-8, 3.61 ERA) at Giants RH Matt Cain (10-9, 2.90 ERA)

Norris, who is making his first start against the Giants, gave up five runs – four earned – over five innings against the Rockies last Tuesday. He ranks seventh in the National League in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (8.66).

Cain gave up five runs – three earned – over seven innings last Tuesday against San Diego. He is 1-3 with a 3.29 ERA in six career games – five starts – against the Astros. He lasted only 2 2/3 innings in his last start against Houston, giving up seven runs on nine hits on June 24, 2010.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (43-90): J.A. Happ has been a disappointment since being acquired from Philadelphia last July as part of the Roy Oswalt trade, but the Astros are going to be patient with the left-handed starter. Happ, who returned to the rotation Friday after spending three weeks at Triple-A Oklahoma City, fell to 4-15 despite making his first quality start since June 3. He allowed two runs – one earned – on four hits over six innings and ended a club-record streak of eight starts of allowing five or more runs. He’ll likely remain in the rotation for the rest of the season. As expected, Jordan Schafer will be the team’s center fielder in September. The Astros want to see how Schafer handles left-handed pitching. Starting pitcher Brett Myers turned in one of his best outings this season Saturday when he gave up one run on two hits over seven innings, but he received a no-decision for his efforts. Myers hasn’t won since a complete-game victory against the Dodgers on June 17.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (71-62): Starting pitcher Erik Surkamp made his major-league debut Saturday, and he could stick around awhile. Jonathan Sanchez and Barry Zito are both expected to miss several more weeks with ankle injuries, and Surkamp impressed Saturday with six quality innings. To make room for Surkamp, outfielder Nate Schierholtz was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hairline fracture in his foot. Schierholtz, who tried to play through the injury, will likely rejoin the Giants in mid-September. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval is battling through a number of nagging injuries, but he was able to return to the starting lineup Saturday after taking Friday off. Sandoval has a sore left shoulder and right foot, along with a tight quadriceps muscle. Carlos Beltran is 5-for-11 in the first three games of the series, but only one of those hits went for extra bases.

FINAL PITCH: Norris is a native of Novato, Calif., located close to AT&T Park, and he’ll have plenty of friends and family in the crowd for his first game in his hometown.