San Francisco @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( May 16, 2010 ) Houston 3, San Francisco 4
The San Francisco Giants started it all for the Houston Astros.
Houston dropped its first eight games to begin the 2010 season with one of the worst starts in franchise history.
The Giants were there opening weekend, kicking it all off with a three-game sweep at Minute Maid Park.
Then when Houston won four in a row to have one of its best stretches of the season in early May, the Astros were swept again by the Giants.
It’s hardly the sole reason Houston is in last place in the NL Central at 26-44, but it didn’t help, either.
Now with the Astros on a four-game losing streak, the Giants come to Minute Maid Park for another three-game series, which starts on Tuesday.
Could Houston be in line for another beatdown - or have the Astros had enough of the second-place team in the NL West?
Houston is running out right-hander and potential trade bait Roy Oswalt, who is in the top 30 in major league history in winning percentage at .645.
San Francisco counters with ace Tim Lincecum, who has won the last two National League Cy Young Awards and would rank second in winning percentage if he qualified (100 decisions) at .712.
In other words, the offenses in this game might be struggling to put together a rally or two.
After a slow start to begin the year, the Giants hitters are starting to come around with the emergence of two players who weren’t with the team in April.
Top-prospect Buster Posey provided a spark early on after he was recalled and veteran Pat Burrell has provided some pop since his arrival from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Posey is in the dumps right now as the league adjusted to his quick hands and plate discipline. Meanwhile, Burrell is hitting .341 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 14 games with the Giants.
The Astros come into the series with big-bopper Carlos Lee showing some signs of life. After hitting .206 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in the first two months, Lee is hitting .268 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 19 games.
San Francisco has won eight straight against Houston, dating back to August 2009.