Washington @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 2, 2010 ) Washington 1, Houston 5
The Houston Astros are one victory away from their first series win at home in more than a month.
Brian Moehler gets the chance to secure the series win on Thursday as the Astros take on the Washington Nationals in the finale of their four-game set.
Houston, which has won three of four, failed to win a home series during the month of May, going 0-3-1. But after losing the opener against the Nationals on Monday, the Astros have won two straight, giving themselves the chance for their first home series triumph since sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates of a three-game set from April 23-25.
The sweep was Houston's second consecutive home series win, as it took two of three from the Florida Marlins right before the Pirates rolled into town.
The chance to clinch the series against Washington was made possible on Wednesday by Carlos Lee, Wandy Rodriguez and a quartet of relievers.
After the Nationals grabbed a 1-0 lead just three batters into the game courtesy of Adam Dunn's RBI double, Rodriguez got stingy, blanking Washington over the next 4 2/3 innings.
The left-hander worked out of a pair of bases-loaded jams before turning things over to the bullpen, which limited the Nationals to a mere two singles over the final four frames.
Houston's pitchers recorded 13 strikeouts - including a season-high eight by Rodriguez - for the second consecutive game.
Lee helped Rodriguez snap a personal three-game losing streak with his sixth home run of the season, a two-run blast in the third inning that gave Houston a 2-1 edge.
The Astros added three unearned runs later in the contest thanks to a trio of errors by Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond, who leads the league with 14 miscues.
Not only is Moehler hoping to secure the series for Houston, the veteran right-hander is looking to rebound from a dismal performance.
Following 12 relief appearances, Moehler made his first start of the season Saturday at Cincinnati. The 38-year old failed to make it out of the third inning, surrendering eight runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 frames en route to a 12-2 loss.
Moehler is just 3-4 in 14 career games - nine starts - against the Nationals but has pitched well against the club of late. He has posted a 1.17 ERA in his last five appearances vs. Washington, including a 5-0 victory on July 12 in which he tossed 6 1/3 solid frames.
Facing Moehler will be J.D. Martin, who also is making just his second start of the year.
In his season debut against San Diego on Saturday, the 27-year old Martin worked six innings, allowing four runs - but only one earned - in a 4-2 setback.
As a rookie last year, Martin went 5-4 with a 4.44 ERA in 15 starts.
The Nationals have lost four of their last five and are 3-6 on their 10-game road trip.