• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Astros-Marlins Preview

Aug 11, 2009 - 3:52 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Houston (55-56) at Florida (58-53), 7:10 p.m. EDT

More first-inning struggles helped send the Houston Astros to their latest road defeat against the Florida Marlins. Roy Oswalt's return to the rotation should help the club's next attempt to snap its Miami skid get off to a better start.

Making his first start in two weeks, Oswalt will try to continue his first-inning success Tuesday night when the Astros try to end a six-game road losing streak against the Marlins, winners of four straight overall.

Houston (55-57) gave up four runs in the first inning of Monday night's series opener and eventually lost 8-6. It was a familiar scenario for the Astros, who have allowed at least one first-inning run in four of their last seven games and given up 75 this season - tied for fifth-most in the majors.

"We're not built to fight back like that," manager Cecil Cooper said.

First-inning problems are also a major reason the Astros haven't won at Land Shark Stadium since Aug. 3, 2007. Houston's allowed 13 first-inning runs during its six-game skid there.

The Astros will try to end those early game struggles Tuesday with Oswalt (6-4, 3.61 ERA) taking the mound. The right-hander has held opponents to two runs and 11 hits in the first innings of his 22 starts.

Oswalt will make his first start since he left his July 28 outing against the Chicago Cubs after 1 2-3 innings because of a lower back strain. He had a pain-killing injection last week and didn't report any problems after throwing bullpen sessions Friday and Sunday, according to the Astros' official Web site.

Cooper said Monday that even though Oswalt appears healthy, he won't know for sure until he throws in a live game.

"I've got my fingers crossed," said Cooper, whose club has won Oswalt's last six starts.

Oswalt was 5-2 with a 1.88 ERA in his first nine starts against the Marlins before going 0-2 with an 11.70 ERA in two outings against them in 2008. He's 2-3 with a 3.46 ERA in six starts at Land Shark Stadium.

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez is 8 for 19 (.421) with two homers and two doubles in his career against Oswalt, while outfielder Jeremy Hermida is 5 for 12 (.417) with two homers and one double.

Ramirez, leading the NL with a .348 average, had two hits and an RBI in Monday's victory. He is batting .452 with six RBIs and seven runs over his last six games, helping the Marlins (59-53) pull within 3 1/2 games of NL East-leading Philadelphia, which they swept over the weekend.

"It was really big," catcher John Baker said of Monday's fast start. "It prevented us from having any kind of a letdown coming off a big sweep of Philadelphia."

The Marlins hope to continue their climb in the standings by handing the ball to Chris Volstad (8-9, 4.48). The right-hander gave up seven runs - four earned - in 4 1-3 innings Thursday but didn't get a decision in a 12-8 loss at Washington.

Volstad made his only previous start against the Astros on Sept. 16, holding them to one run and four hits in eight innings to win 5-1.