Astros 1 - 5 Dodgers
Final
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Capuano takes aim at win No. 7 vs. Astros

May 27, 2012 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - Chris Capuano goes after his seventh win of the season this afternoon when the Los Angeles Dodgers play the rubber match of their three- game set with the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium.

Capuano improved to 6-1 on Monday in Arizona, as he held the Diamondbacks to a run and four hits over six innings to lower his earned run average to 2.25. He also struck out five and walked a batter, while lowering his batting average against to .201.

"I couldn't be having more fun playing the game," Capuano said. "Since coming back from my second Tommy John surgery, both last year in New York and this year in L.A., I appreciate all of this, no doubt about it."

Capuano has faced the Astros 14 times (11 starts) and is 6-4 with a 3.34 ERA. However, he's 5-1 with 3.08 ERA in his last six starts against Houston dating to 2006.

Los Angeles continued to roll on Saturday and won for the 12th time in 16 tries, as A.J. Ellis belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Dodgers to a 6-3 win.

The Dodgers squandered a one-run lead in the eighth, but Ellis' first career walk-off homer evened this three-game series.

Wesley Wright (0-1) hit Andre Ethier with an 0-2 pitch to start the ninth. Pinch-hitter Scott Van Slyke dropped down a sacrifice bunt before Wilton Lopez intentionally walked James Loney. Ellis then crushed a 1-1 offering over the left-field wall, snapping Los Angeles' two-game losing streak.

"A great team effort tonight," Ellis said. "We picked each other up. I'm glad I got a chance in the ninth."

The Dodgers, who have won seven of their last nine, are the only team in the majors yet to lose three consecutive games this season.

Houston, which had its winning streak stopped at four games, will look to get back on track today behind lefty J.A. Happ, who is 4-3 with a 4.56 ERA. Happ won his second straight start on Tuesday against Chicago, holding the Cubs to a run and five hits in six innings. He had tossed six scoreless innings against Milwaukee his previous time out.

"Happ threw the ball great," teammate Brett Myers said. "That's back-to-back [good] starts for him, and I think he's back. He and [catcher Chris] Snyder worked fast, and that keeps Happ's rhythm going and being able to locate pitches. He's throwing the ball really well for us."

Happ lost to the Dodgers back on April 20 and is 0-2 in four games (three starts) against them with a 2.70 ERA.

The Dodgers took two of three from the Astros earlier in the year from April 20-22 at Minute Maid Park and have won seven of the last nine matchups.






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