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Astros-Rockies Preview

Jun 7, 2010 - 3:44 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Houston (21-35) at Colorado (28-27), 8:40 p.m. EDT

The Houston Astros finally have some reason for optimism after their most successful homestand of the season. A strong performance on their upcoming road trip would be even more impressive.

The Astros begin a string of 10 consecutive road games Monday night with the first of four against the Colorado Rockies and their slumping offense.

Houston (22-35) has been the team struggling to score runs for most of the season. The Astros still rank last in the majors with a .237 batting average, but they've averaged 5.5 runs while winning five of six to begin June. Carlos Lee's eighth home run of the season - and third in the last five games - sparked Sunday's 6-3 win over the Cubs.

The Astros went 3 for 7 with runners in scoring position, improving to 18 for 61 (.295) this month.

"One of the reasons why we didn't score runs very consistently earlier in the season is we weren't getting those kinds of hits," first baseman Lance Berkman told the Astros' official website. "We were getting guys on base, and we wouldn't be able to come through. Really, this whole homestand, we've done a pretty good job of getting big hits when we needed them, and consequently we've scored more runs."

Houston, which will travel to Yankee Stadium after this series, remains tied for the worst record in the NL despite having played the fewest road games in the majors. Its 8-15 record away from home has not helped.

Neither have the struggles of probable starter Wandy Rodriguez (3-7, 5.07 ERA). The left-hander established career bests with 14 wins and a 3.02 ERA last year, but opponents have hit .314 against him during his disappointing first two months of 2010.

Rodriguez will be trying to build on Wednesday's promising outing against Washington. He struck out eight and allowed one run in five innings of a 5-1 win, snapping a three-start losing streak.

"I felt comfortable with my breaking ball," he said. "That was the most comfortable I've been with it all year."

Rodriguez will face a Colorado offense that has scored three or fewer runs four times in its last five games.

The Rockies (29-27) still snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win Sunday at Arizona behind red-hot ace Ubaldo Jimenez, who leads the majors with 11 wins and a 0.93 ERA.

Troy Tulowitzki's eighth home run and Carlos Gonzalez's 35th and 36th RBIs provided just enough offense for Jimenez, but Colorado went 5 for 44 (.114) with men in scoring position during its six-game trip.

"I really believe offensively the best of us is yet to come," manager Jim Tracy said. "It has not shown up yet."

Jason Hammel (2-3, 6.09) takes the mound for Colorado looking to continue his recent improvement. Hammel is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts since a stint on the disabled list with a groin injury.

The right-hander's best outing of the season came Tuesday at San Francisco. Hammel struck out five without a walk, scattering seven hits and one run in 6 2-3 innings of the Rockies' 2-1, 11-inning victory.