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Padres-Astros Preview

May 7, 2010 - 4:15 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (17-11) at Houston (9-18), 8:05 p.m. EDT

San Diego is coming off its first losing series in almost a month. Despite their recent history against the Astros, a visit to Houston could help the Padres get back on track.

The Padres try to avoid a sixth consecutive road loss to the struggling Astros on Friday night.

San Diego (17-11) is one of the biggest early surprises in the majors, but it dropped two of three to Colorado this week. The Padres had won their previous five series since losing two of three at Atlanta from April 12-15.

Though San Diego has lost eight of nine overall to Houston (9-19) and hasn't won at Minute Maid Park since July 29, 2007, it's facing an Astros club that's dropped nine of 10.

In order to end their skid at Houston, the Padres will likely need to improve at the plate after they hit .215 and scored 10 runs in the Rockies series.

Chase Headley was one of the few Padres to produce, going 4 for 12. The third baseman is batting .327 this season but 4 for 21 against the Astros.

Among the major league leaders with a 2.89 ERA, San Diego hopes Mat Latos (1-3, 5.47) can avoid a third straight loss when he faces Houston for the first time.

After throwing seven strong innings in a 1-0 win over San Francisco on April 20, Latos has allowed nine runs in 8 2-3 innings over his last two outings. The right-hander was better in his last start, giving up two runs in six innings of a 2-1 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday.

"There are still a number of things Mat needs to be aware of on the pitching side, but he listens well," manager Bud Black told the Padres' official website. "He's receptive to teaching and he works."

The Astros turn to Bud Norris (1-3, 7.25), who also looks to avoid a third consecutive loss when he makes his debut against San Diego.

Norris allowed seven runs in 4 2-3 innings of a 7-1 loss at Atlanta on Sunday.

"It's very frustrating," the right-hander told the Astros' official website. "You want to help your guys out and compete as best you can. In the midst of the process and the battle, you have to keep trying to make adjustments. I have to figure it out and go from there."

Geoff Blum had two hits with an RBI in Houston's 6-3 loss to Arizona on Thursday, one day after it snapped an eight-game skid with a 4-2 win.

"Not being able to sustain an inning, that's been really hurting us," said manager Brad Mills, whose team has scored 20 runs in the last 10 games.

Lance Berkman went 0 for 4 in the series finale, hours after he said he would waive his no-trade clause if the Astros fall further out of postseason contention.

Berkman is batting .196 with two homers and seven RBIs in 15 games this season. He's 10 for 19 with two home runs and eight RBIs in his last six against the Padres.