• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Astros-Phillies Preview

Aug 25, 2010 - 6:10 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Houston (55-69) at Philadelphia (70-54), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies knew they'd be seeing a pair of familiar faces on the mound this week against the Houston Astros. What they didn't anticipate was needing to beat J.A. Happ to avoid dropping the series' first three games.

Opposing major league ERA leader Roy Halladay gives Happ a tough assignment Wednesday night in his return to Philadelphia, where both teams need efficient efforts from their starters following a 16-inning marathon.

Happ (3-2, 3.54 ERA) was the surprise of the Phillies' rotation in 2009, going 12-4 with a staff-best 2.93 ERA, but a left forearm strain shelved him for 10 weeks this season.

He only made one start for Philadelphia (70-55) upon his return before he was shipped to Houston on July 29, along with two prospects, for Oswalt.

"... It's strange seeing familiar faces, but being in a different clubhouse on the other side," Happ told the Phillies' official website. It'll be interesting. Hopefully, it'll be fun.

"I'm going to do my best to try to control those emotions."

Emotions got the best of Ryan Howard on Tuesday, and the Phillies slugger was ejected after arguing a check-swing strike in the bottom of the 14th inning with the score tied at 2.

That led to one of the more unusual scenes in recent memory. Raul Ibanez moved from left field to first base and Oswalt - who isn't scheduled to pitch in the series - moved to left field.

The first Phillies pitcher to play the field since 1971, Oswalt also got to hit. But after the Astros scored twice in the top of the 16th, Oswalt couldn't come through with two on in the bottom of the inning, grounding out to end a wild 4-2 loss that took 5 hours, 20 minutes.

"I'm not sure what I think about the whole situation," right fielder Jayson Werth said. "I think I'll take a nap, wake up refreshed and pretend the whole think didn't happen."

A total of 15 pitchers were used Tuesday, putting the pressure on Happ and Halladay (16-8, 2.16) to deliver strong starts.

Four of Happ's starts with the Astros (56-69) have been quality outings, with only a dreadful one-inning outing at St. Louis inflating his ERA to 4.62 in his new uniform.

He's 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA in the other four after allowing three runs over six innings in an 9-0 loss Friday at Florida.

Happ will try to follow former Phillie Brett Myers and Bud Norris' excellent outings in the series' first two games, but he may need to match zeroes with Halladay to stand a chance.

The former Cy Young Award winner is 6-0 with a 1.37 ERA in his last six starts, and he hasn't allowed a run in his last two. Halladay extended his scoreless streak to 15 innings by making it through seven in a 1-0 win over Washington on Friday.

Halladay didn't allow a run for the ninth start this season, and his six straight wins match a personal best. The last Phillies pitcher to win six in a row was Curt Schilling from June 18-July 18, 1999.

"He's having a special season," manager Charlie Manuel told the Phillies' official website. "A 2.16 ERA nowadays is absolutely outstanding."

Halladay's only career start against Houston was a good one. He gave up one unearned run while striking out eight in a 2-1, complete-game victory April 11 at Minute Maid Park.

Carlos Lee was 0 for 4 in that game, but is 7 for 23 (.304) with three homers in his career versus Halladay.