Houston @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2011 ) Houston 1, San Francisco 2

THE STORY: Nothing comes easy for the San Francisco Giants, who have scrambled to score five runs in their last three games. They grinded out a typical 2-1 win Friday to even their series with the visiting Houston Astros and remain three games behind Arizona in the National League West. The Giants aim to win back-to-back games for just the second time this month when they face Houston on Saturday.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, FS Houston, CSNBA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Brett Myers (3-13, 4.95 ERA) vs. Giants LH Eric Surkamp (0-0, 0.00 ERA).

Myers, who allowed seven runs in five innings Monday against Colorado, is in a career-long, seven-game losing streak that spans his last 11 starts. He is 2-4 with a 5.55 ERA in 10 career games – eight starts – against the Giants. Surkamp is making his major-league debut in place of Jonathan Sanchez (ankle sprain) after going 10-4 with a 2.02 ERA at Double-A Richmond. The Giants drafted Surkamp in the sixth round of the 2008 draft out of North Carolina State.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (71-62): When catcher Chris Stewart was charged with an error Friday, it was the Giants’ 93rd of the season compared with just 73 all of last year. Reliever Sergio Romo (elbow) will be activated Sunday, and he might share the closer’s job with Santiago Casilla and Jeremy Affeldt while Brian Wilson (elbow) is out. Casilla has been impressive this week while recording two saves. Wilson’s rehab is going well, but he’s unlikely to return until early September. To make room for Surkamp, the Giants might place Nate Schierholtz (foot) on the disabled list. Center fielder Andres Torres is completing his rehab assignment in Triple-A Fresno, and he could rejoin the Giants on Sunday. Mark DeRosa made a rare start at first base Friday and went 0-for-3, dropping his average to .167.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (43-90): Houston has 12 rookies on its 25-man roster, with left fielder J.D. Martinez leading the way. Martinez is 18-for-40 with runners on base, including seven doubles and four home runs. He has 15 extra-base hits in 95 at-bats, and 23 RBIs in August. With so many young players already, general manager Ed Wade doesn’t expect to promote too many minor league players when rosters expand next week. Outfielder J.B. Shuck and pitcher Jordan Lyles will return from Triple-A, but it’s unclear whether former starters Chris Johnson and Brett Wallace will be promoted. The Astros are eager to see more from third baseman Jimmy Paredes, who was promoted from Double-A on Aug. 1. Paredes has hit safely in five of his last six games, and he’s batting .289 (24-for-83) in August. When Lyles returns, he’ll work out of the bullpen in order to limit his innings.

FINAL PITCH: The Giants’ last six games, and nine of their last 11, have been decided by two runs or fewer.