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Astros-Diamondbacks Preview

Sep 4, 2010 - 6:30 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Houston (62-71) at Arizona (55-79), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Arizona Diamondbacks' red-hot hitters got the better of Houston Astros' resurgent pitchers in the opener of this three-game series.

Joe Saunders hopes to get similar support as he tries to deliver the Diamondbacks' season-high fifth straight win and build on his first victory in nearly a month Saturday night.

Arizona (56-79), which has scored 54 runs while winning seven of eight, produced just enough offense to defeat Houston 4-3 on Friday. Adam LaRoche had a pair of RBIs and pinch-hitter Augie Ojeda brought home the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly.

The Astros had posted a 1.69 ERA in their previous 11 games. They couldn't seem to get the break they needed Friday, with too many balls hit by the Diamondbacks falling in and too many of theirs falling into Arizona's gloves on great defensive plays.

"The effort was there. It was just the balls were kind of spinning away from them," Houston manager Brad Mills said. "We saw them dive for a ball that went for extra bases. It seemed like it came off everyone's bat. It is going to go to the lines anyway but you couldn't have thrown them out there any better."

Prior to this eight-game stretch, Arizona managed 42 runs during a 3-9 slump.

The Diamondbacks will try to continue their offensive roll against Bud Norris (6-8, 5.17 ERA), who had a four-game win streak snapped his last time out. The right-hander gave up five runs over 5 2-3 innings in a 5-1 loss at New York on Sunday.

Norris had plenty of trouble against the Diamondbacks during his rookie season of 2009, going 0-2 with an 18.00 ERA in two starts.

Saunders (2-4, 4.70) beat San Diego 7-2 on Monday to snap a four-start slide. The left-hander gave up just two runs despite allowing 10 hits in eight innings after posting a 7.77 ERA during his losing streak.

Saunders, acquired from the Los Angeles Angels on July 25, is tied for second in the majors with a combined 14 losses heading into his first matchup with Houston (62-72), winner of nine of 12.

This game could mark the Diamondbacks debut of Mike Hampton, who signed a minor league deal Aug. 21. The 37-year-old former Astro was called up from Triple-A Reno on Friday.

The 16-year veteran last pitched in the majors Aug. 13, 2009, with Houston. Hampton made 21 starts that year before undergoing left shoulder surgery, one of his three major operations in the past four years.

The left-hander was 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four appearances in the minors.

"He's made all the money in the world, so he's not motivated by that," interim manager Kirk Gibson said. "He likes to compete, he's a fierce competitor. He really wants to come back."

Right fielder Justin Upton, batting .370 over his last 12 games, is 3 for 3 with a home run against Norris.

Arizona last won five in a row from Aug. 27-31, 2009.