Houston @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 9, 2010 ) Houston 6, Colorado 2
Carlos Lee and Houston will try for a trifecta Thursday afternoon when they close out a four-game series at Coors Field seeking a third consecutive victory.
For the second straight night, Lee drove in the winning run. But unlike his eighth-inning single for a 4-3 victory on Tuesday, Lee put an exclamation point on Wednesday's victory. He smashed the first pitch he saw from Matt Belisle over the left-field fence for a grand slam in the top of the 10th inning in a 6-2 victory.
Belisle (1-3) suffered defeats in back-to-back nights as the Astros improved to 4-1 in extra-inning games and have won eight of their last 11 games. Belisle, who had entered this series with 11 consecutive scoreless innings, didn't offer any excuses, saying simply he put the ball in the wrong spot.
Lee's 15th career grand slam extended his hitting streak to 10 games and gave him 13 RBIs in that stretch.
The Astros (24-36) look to win the series Thursday with veteran Roy Oswalt (3-8, 3.22) taking on Rockies rookie Jhoulys Chacin (3-4, 3.77) in a matchup of right-handers.
Oswalt is 7-2 with a 1.88 ERA, his lowest against any opponent, in 11 starts against the Rockies. Oswalt also has never lost at Coors Field, taking a 3-0 record with a 2.17 ERA into Thursday's start.
Oswalt allowed a season-high nine hits and six runs in a loss to the Chicago Cubs. His eight losses rank near the bottom of the National League, but he no doubt will focus on his last outing at Coors Field, when he threw a one-hit shutout Sept. 6, 2008.
Chacin makes his first start against the Astros. After starting out with two wins and throwing 17 1/3 scoreless innings, Chacin is 1-4 with a 5.86 ERA. Against Arizona on Saturday, he had a career-best nine strikeouts, but allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings and suffered a 4-3 loss.
The Rockies went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position Wednesday night and are just 8-for-43 (.186) with runners in scoring position in their last seven games.
Rockies closer Huston Street will make back-to-back outings for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Thursday and Friday. Street has been on the disabled list all season with a right shoulder and a groin strain.
Houston right-hander Bud Norris will pitch four innings Saturday for Triple-A Round Rock on a rehab assignment. Norris has been out since May 24 with biceps and shoulder problems.