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Astros seek fourth straight win

Apr 19, 2007 - 2:23 PM Houston (7-6) at Cincinnati (8-7) 7:10 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- A pair of pitchers will be after their first win of the season when the Houston Astros visit the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.

Woody Williams (0-2, 5.63 ERA) gets the start for Houston, which has won three straight games. A

As a member of the San Diego Padres last season, Williams never faced the Reds. However, his last start against Cincinnati, as a Padre in 2005, was forgettable as he allowed three home runs and seven runs over five innings.

The Reds counter with Bronson Arroyo (0-2, 3.48), who will be looking for some run support in his fourth start of the year. Cincinnati has scored a total of three runs in games started by the righthander this season.

Arroyo was 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA in four starts against the Astros a year ago.

The Reds will try to put Wednesday's 7-2 loss to Houston behind them. Cincinnati led 2-1 through seven innings, but the Astros rallied for five runs with two outs in the eighth inning off relievers Todd Coffey and Rheal Cormier, who had not allowed a hit in his first five appearances this season.

Jason Lane's three-run home run off Cormier highlighted the inning, but two-out singles by Lance Berkman and Mark Loretta set the table. Berkman has enjoyed facing Cincinnati pitching in his career, batting .327 with 35 homers and 99 RBI in 101 games.

Cincinnati's Josh Hamilton hit his fourth home run in Wednesday's loss. He is tied with Adam Dunn for the team lead in homers.