News
Veterans on docket to restore order
Houston (62-67) at Arizona (58-72), 3:10 p.m. CT
By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
08/29/09 11:57 PM ET
PHOENIX -- The Astros face the possibility of another lost road series on Sunday in the finale of the three-game set against the D-backs at Chase Field. But at least they'll have some veteran starters for the next two games: Wandy Rodriguez on Sunday and Roy Oswalt against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Monday. Both pitchers were moved up a day because of a shortage of starters and relievers. In the first two games here -- both losses -- young starters Bud Norris and Yorman Bazardo allowed 14 runs on 13 hits. The Astros have dropped their last five out of six overall and 16 of 21 on the road. "If you can keep the game in check, you have a chance, that's what you want to do," manager Cecil Cooper said. "Those guys [Rodriguez and Oswalt] have done a good job at that. That's all we need." That didn't happen here by the third inning of the first two games. On Friday, the D-backs were already up 10-4 after three in a game they won, 14-7. On Saturday, they held a 5-0 lead after three on the way to a 9-0 victory. The Astros have had to go with young pitching since the shoulder injury to Mike Hampton earlier this month. On Saturday, Hampton said he'd miss the rest of the season and have surgery on his left shoulder and both knees. "Losing Hampton has probably had a little bit of a ripple effect," Cooper said about a pitcher who finished 7-10 with a 5.30 ERA in 21 starts. "It's not like he was 9-0 or 9-1 or anything. He had some struggles, too." Pitching matchupHOU: RHP Wandy Rodriguez (12-8, 2.82 ERA)
Rodriguez is coming off one of his best starts of the season, even if in a losing cause. Against the Cardinals on Tuesday in St. Louis, he gave up three hits, one run and one walk in seven innings. He retired 18 of 19 batters during one stretch. He's 7-2 with a 2.34 ERA in his past 12 starts and has held the opponent to one run or less in nine of his past 10 starts. ARI: RHP Dan Haren (12-8, 2.73 ERA)
Haren pitched well enough to win but didn't get much offensive support in his last outing. The right-hander held the Giants to two runs on six hits over seven innings at AT&T Park. One of the runs came on a Juan Uribe homer while the other scored when Haren uncorked a wild pitch. Reliever Jon Rauch gave up a game-deciding three-run homer in the eighth. It was a good bounce-back game for Haren, who allowed six runs on nine hits in five innings against the Phillies. In the first half of the season, Haren was 9-5 with a 2.01 ERA in 18 starts. Through eight starts in the second half, Haren is 3-3 with a 4.59 ERA. In one start against the Astros this year, on June 12, Haren tossed a complete game, allowing one run on two hits. Tidbits
Geoff Blum returned to the club after having an examination in Houston on Friday on his sore neck and shoulder. Doctors told Blum that he has a herniated disk located in his neck. Blum was told to relax, although he said on Saturday that he's ready again to play. "I don't think we're looking at any surgery," Blum said. "They said I could have [an anti-inflammatory] shot if I needed it. The doctors said it was playable, that I could play through it." But Cooper is taking a more cautious approach. He said he'll let Blum re-acclimate and probably play him sometime during the series against the Cubs in Chicago that begins Monday. ... With Rodriguez moved up to Sunday's starting slot, Oswalt is set for Monday and Brian Moehler is on the docket for Tuesday. Wednesday looks like it's being handed to Felipe Paulino, although he was hit on the inside of the knee by a Stephen Drew liner during his brief relief appearance on Saturday. He remained in the game and faced another three batters. ... Saturday was both Oswalt's 32nd birthday and the two-year anniversary of Cooper's first win as the Astros' permanent manager after replacing Phil Garner, a 7-0 victory at St. Louis. Tickets
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• Monday: Astros (Roy Oswalt, 7-5, 3.86) at Cubs (Rich Harden, 8-7, 3.99), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Astros (Brian Moehler, 8-9, 5.26) at Cubs (Randy Wells, 9-7, 3.06), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: Astros (TBD) at Cubs (Ted Lilly, 9-8, 3.35), 1:20 p.m. CT
Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
