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Astros-Padres Preview

Jun 29, 2009 - 4:32 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Houston (35-37) at San Diego (32-41), 10:05 p.m. EDT

Roy Oswalt may be the last pitcher the struggling San Diego Padres' hitters need to see.

Oswalt will try to continue his dominance of the Padres on Monday night when the Houston Astros begin a four-game series at Petco Park.

San Diego (33-41) is last in the majors with 286 runs, and is batting .234 while losing 16 of 24 games this month. Generating offense figures to be difficult against Oswalt, who is 9-2 with a 2.97 ERA in 12 starts versus the Padres, including a 12-5 victory on May 10.

The right-hander allowed four runs over six innings in that outing for his first win of 2009.

Oswalt pitched well in his last start Wednesday against Kansas City, allowing one run over seven innings and striking out eight in a 4-3, 11-inning loss.

"I didn't really feel good on the mound as far as physically," Oswalt said. "I've thrown a lot of pitches in the last three games, 120, 130 and 105 tonight. That's about all I had."

Although the Astros ace owns a stellar record versus the Padres, cleanup hitter Adrian Gonzalez and shortstop David Eckstein have fared well against him. Gonzalez is 6 for 13 with two homers and six RBIs versus Oswalt while Eckstein is 10 for 34 (.294).

Houston (35-38) is beginning a seven-game trip to San Diego and San Francisco on a down note. The Astros were in position for a fourth straight win Sunday before closer Jose Valverde surrendered a two-run homer to Brandon Inge with two outs in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to Detroit.

The defeat prevented Houston from climbing within three games of first place in the mediocre NL Central.

"There's nothing we can do about it right now," left fielder Carlos Lee told the Astros' official Web site. "We have a road trip and we should be able to take care of business in San Diego and San Francisco, and we're better than them. We have to come back and then hopefully come back home above .500."

The Astros have won five straight against the Padres - including a three-game sweep May 8-10 - but all of those wins have come at home. Houston is 7-9 all-time at Petco Park.

Lee should be confident facing the Padres after going 8 for 12 with one homer, three doubles and six RBIs in the series in May. He's in a bit of a tailspin currently, batting .220 with two homers and six RBIs in his last 17 games.

Oswalt will be opposed again by Josh Geer (1-2, 5.86), who lasted three-plus innings at Houston on May 10 and gave up seven runs in his shortest start of the season.

Geer, a right-hander, has not received a decision after yielding three runs over six innings in each of his last two outings - both versus Seattle, including Wednesday's 4-3 loss.

The Padres return home after finishing a 3-3 road trip with two straight wins at Texas. Chad Gaudin pitched one-hit ball for eight innings and closer Heath Bell moved into a tie for the major league lead with his 21st save with a hitless ninth Sunday in a 2-0 victory.