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Pirates-Astros Preview

Jun 7, 2009 - 4:48 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Pittsburgh (25-29) at Houston (24-29), 2:05 p.m. EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended their struggles at Minute Maid Park with a strong effort against longtime nemesis Roy Oswalt. Facing Felipe Paulino shouldn't seem nearly as tough.

After beating the Astros' ace, the Pirates look to take advantage of a matchup with Paulino in Sunday's series finale.

Pittsburgh (26-29) had lost five straight road games against Houston (24-30) before evening this three-game set with a 6-4 victory on Saturday.

The Pirates averaged 2.0 runs during their skid in Houston, so their success against Oswalt was somewhat of a surprise. All of Pittsburgh's runs came against the two-time 20-game winner, who fell to 13-7 with a 2.62 ERA in 26 career games against the Pirates.

It was also the first win in four road games overall for Pittsburgh, which has been held to two runs or fewer in 12 of its 29 contests away from PNC Park. The Pirates scored a total of four runs during their road skid.

Pittsburgh is 2-1 since trading Gold Glove outfielder Nate McLouth to Atlanta, and they're getting a big contribution from his replacement. Andrew McCutchen, now starting in center field, delivered a two-run single off Oswalt in the second inning to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

McCutchen, considered one of Pittsburgh's top prospects, has driven in three runs in three games since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis. The 2005 first-round pick has been batting leadoff.

He'll likely get the Pirates' first batter against Paulino (1-4, 6.21 ERA), who has struggled in his first full season in the majors.

The right-hander went 0-2 with an 8.80 ERA in three starts before looking sharp Tuesday. It was one of Paulino's best outings of the season, giving up two runs and five hits while striking out a season-high seven in six innings of a 3-2 win in 11 innings over Colorado on Tuesday.

The right-hander's only appearance against the Pirates was in relief, allowing one hit and striking out two in one scoreless inning during a 9-7 Astros win on Sept. 15, 2007.

Pittsburgh counters with Ian Snell (1-6, 5.64), who is 0-4 with a 6.21 ERA in his last eight starts. The right-hander managed to avoid a loss Monday despite yielding five runs, six hits and walking five in six innings of an 8-5 win over the New York Mets.

"I don't care if I go 1-20, as long as we get the win, it doesn't matter," he said.

Snell is 2-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 12 starts and one relief appearance versus the Astros, who went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position Saturday.

"We couldn't get the big hit," Houston right fielder Hunter Pence told the team's official Web site.

Pence, though, continued his hot hitting, with a two-run homer and a triple. He's 8 for 16 (.500) with two homers, two triples and six RBIs in his last four games.