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RHP Oswalt looking to shut down Diamondbacks again

May 12, 2007 - 1:37 PM Arizona (20-17) at Houston (16-19) 7:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Roy Oswalt is one of the best pitchers in the league. The Arizona Diamondbacks know that first hand.

Oswalt takes the mound on Saturday as the Houston Astros look to snap a two-game skid against Arizona in the middle game of a three-game series.

Oswalt (5-2, 3.00 ERA) is tied for the National League lead in wins with five and if history is any indicator, he will have little trouble getting his sixth win.

The hard-throwing Oswalt is 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA in six career starts vs. Arizona. Oswalt picked up a win in his last start, allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings in a 5-4 win over Cincinnati on Monday.

The Diamondbacks, who have won four of five, will counter by sending Livan Hernandez (3-1, 3.20) to the hill. In his last start Hernandez shut down the potent lineup of the New Yor Mets, allowing just one run and six hits over seven innings in a 3-1 win on Sunday.

Rookie Chris Young, a Houston native, hit a pair of homers and Brandon Webb allowed one run and six hits in a complete game effort as the Diamondbacks won 3-1 in the series opener last Friday.