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Astros-Cardinals Preview

Aug 3, 2010 - 4:55 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Houston (45-59) at St. Louis (59-46), 8:15 p.m. EDT

Mired in a frustrating season, the Houston Astros have managed to play well against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. That success could continue with Bud Norris on the mound.

The Astros look to extend their season-high winning streak to seven games with a sixth straight road victory over the Cardinals on Tuesday night.

Coming off a 6-3 homestand, Houston (46-59) scored seven times in the final two innings and ruined Jake Westbrook's St. Louis debut with a 9-4 win Monday. The Astros improved to 6-4 in the season series against the Cardinals (59-47), including five straight victories at Busch since dropping the first two games there.

The Astros have outscored their opponents 39-8 during the six-game winning streak, which has continued despite trading stars Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman.

"The last I would say 10 games there's been a lot of excitement," left fielder Carlos Lee said.

St. Louis, 37-17 at Busch, lost for just the second time in 13 games at home to fall one-half game behind Cincinnati for the NL Central lead. The Cardinals could have a hard time bouncing back against Norris (3-7, 5.63 ERA), who looks to remain perfect at Busch Stadium.

The right-hander, 4-1 with a 1.60 ERA in five overall outings versus the Cardinals, has allowed one earned run and struck out 22 in 20 innings while winning all three of his starts at St. Louis - two this season.

"I know what I'm capable of when I do it right," said Norris, who did allow five runs in 7 2-3 innings of an 8-0 home loss in his last appearance against St. Louis on July 9.

Norris gave up one run and struck out seven in six innings of an 8-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday for his first victory since winning at St. Louis on May 13. He had gone 0-3 with a 6.13 ERA in seven starts and spent time on the disabled list (biceps tendinitis) between victories.

Albert Pujols is 3 for 14 with two doubles against Norris, but has homered in three straight games. The two-time reigning NL MVP is batting .432 with three home runs and 11 RBIs against the Astros this season.

Jaime Garcia (9-4, 2.33) looks to continue his success at home and become the Cardinals' third 10-game winner when he makes his first career appearance against the Astros.

Among the major-league ERA leaders, the rookie left-hander went 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA in five July starts. Both wins came at home, where Garcia is 4-1 with a 1.46 ERA in nine outings.

He allowed three runs in six innings of an 8-7, 13-inning road win over the New York Mets on Wednesday.

Garcia will try to contain Houston's Jeff Keppinger, who is 8 for 16 in his last four games after recording two hits and four RBIs on Monday. The second baseman is 13 for 30 with 11 RBIs in eight games against the Cardinals in 2010.

"I guess I've got guys in front of me getting on base, giving me opportunities to drive in runs, and fortunately I've been coming through," Keppinger said.