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Phillies-Astros Preview

Sep 5, 2009 - 5:21 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Philadelphia (77-54) at Houston (63-70), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies have a sizable lead in the NL East, but that cushion might dwindle if their struggles at the plate don't come to an end.

The Phillies will try to break out of their funk Saturday night by beating Houston Astros right-hander Roy Oswalt for the first time in more than six years.

Philadelphia (77-55) leads Florida by 7 1/2 games in the division but has averaged 2.1 runs while splitting its last 10 games. The Phillies were shut out for the second time in three contests Friday night, when only one runner reached third base in a 7-0 loss to the Astros.

"We have to do better," manager Charlie Manuel told the team's official Web site. "We had some chances to score some runs, but we didn't."

Philadelphia has scored 16 runs and batted .314 in its last four matchups against Oswalt (8-5, 3.80 ERA) but has had little to show for it as the right-hander is 2-0 in those starts.

He's also 6-0 in eight appearances against the Phillies since suffering his only career loss to them on May 9, 2003.

Oswalt struggled in his first two starts after coming off the disabled list due to a strained hip July 28, but is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his last three outings, including a 5-3 win Monday night in Chicago. He allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings.

That outing came after he criticized the Astros for their uninspired play following a 3-2 loss in St. Louis on Aug. 27.

"I think no one questions that I want to win," Oswalt told Houston's official Web site. "Sometimes I show maybe a little too much emotion, but you'll never see me not show emotions. It's hard to be one-keel, I guess, all season."

After enduring their own hitting struggles, the Astros (64-70) had an inspired effort Friday as they scored six runs in three innings off Philadelphia ace Cliff Lee and finished 12 hits, including home runs from Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence.

Houston had batted .227 while losing eight of its previous 10 games.

The Astros, however, are 7-3 in their last 10 at home to improve to 36-30 there this season. They'll next try to add to those marks by extending Philadelphia right-hander Joe Blanton's winless streak away from home.

Blanton (9-6, 3.77) hasn't won on the road since June 1, and is 0-2 in his last six outings away from Citizens Bank Park despite a 2.84 ERA in those games.

Blanton, though, has won two straight overall and has a 2.14 ERA in his last 10 starts, including Sunday's 3-2 victory over Atlanta. He limited the Braves to one run and three hits while striking out seven over seven innings.

Blanton has pitched past the sixth inning in each of his last 10 outings and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 straight. He won his only start against the Astros on June 13, 2007.

"Anytime in our starting rotation when we get our pitchers very consistent, that makes our club much better, and he's definitely been that," manager Charlie Manuel said of Blanton. "He's been very consistent for a long time now.'"

These teams have split eight meetings since the beginning of last season.