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Aug 24, 2010 - 4:18 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Houston (54-69) at Philadelphia (70-53), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies haven't given Cole Hamels much support all year, especially in his last three outings.

He's lost three straight starts without getting a single run of support, and hopes those streaks end Tuesday night when the Phillies continue a four-game home set against the Houston Astros.

Hamels (7-10, 3.51 ERA) has a 3.15 ERA during this losing streak, dropping two 1-0 games to the New York Mets before last Thursday's 5-2 loss to San Francisco in which he yielded five runs over five innings.

"I wasn't able to hit my spots," said Hamels, who has the fifth-lowest run support average in baseball at 3.23. "When I finally did, they hit me."

The left-hander is trying to avoid losing four straight starts for the first time since June 11-28, 2006, as a rookie. He's 3-2 with a 5.16 ERA in seven career starts against Houston (55-69).

Philadelphia (70-54) has totaled 12 runs over its last five games, falling 3-2 in Monday's opener. Cleanup hitter Ryan Howard is 2 for 16 in that span, Jayson Werth is 3 for 15 and Raul Ibanez 3 for 19.

The Phillies remained 2 1/2 games behind NL East leader Atlanta. Their lead for the wild card was cut to one game.

The offense could receive a boost with third baseman Placido Polanco set to return. Polanco did not start Monday due to left elbow soreness, and flied out as a pinch-hitter.

"I don't want to make a big deal out of it," manager Charlie Manuel told the Phillies' official website. "Every now and then when he swings or check swings ... he'll feel something in his elbow."

The third baseman leads the Phillies with a .317 batting average, although he is 3 for 19 in his last six games after going 23 for 60 over his previous 14.

Polanco went 6 for 13 in a three-game road sweep of the Astros from April 9-11.

Despite that series, the Astros are the only NL team with a winning record against the Phillies since 2004, going 27-16.

Houston, though, has also had recent trouble scoring, managing 18 runs in splitting its last eight games.

Starter Bud Norris (6-7, 5.23) is enjoying the longest win streak of his career, going 4-0 with a 3.31 ERA in his last five starts. He has pitched seven innings in each of the last two, yielding two runs and throwing a career-high 123 pitches Thursday to earn a 3-2 win over the New York Mets.

"I knew I wanted to pitch as deep as I could in the game and obviously to get through seven, I was very pleased with that," Norris told the Astros' official website.

The right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies - both at home. He lasted a season-low 2 2-3 innings April 9, giving up three runs in an 8-0 loss.