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Streaking Astros look to extend Dodgers' struggles

Aug 15, 2007 - 2:23 PM Houston (54-65) at LA Dodgers (60-59) 10:10 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Winners of seven of their last nine games, the Houston Astros look to extend the offensive woes of the Los Angeles Dodgers as the teams continue their four-game series on Wednesday.

Astros starters Roy Oswalt and rookie Matt Albers combined to hold the Dodgers to just four of a total five runs in securing victories in the first two games of this series, including a 7-4 win on Tuesday.

Even though Los Angeles managed to score more than two runs for just the third time in its last 12 games, the Dodgers fell to 2-10 during that span.

Los Angeles has batted a major league-low .224 (98-for-437) in August, the worst mark in the major leagues this month.

The Dodgers have lost six straight contests at Dodger Stadium and 15 of their last 20 games at home.

Even Brad Penny (13-3, 2.54 ERA) has not been immune to the losing despite the fact that he dropped just one decision in his first 21 starts. The righthander had lost two straight games before failing to figure in the decision of Friday's 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals despite striking out six over seven scoreless innings.

That was just one of three wins in August for Los Angeles, which has dropped to 6 1/2 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West.

The two-time All-Star will be seeking his first win in five career starts against the Astros. Overall, he is 0-2 with a 5.84 ERA in four previous outings against the NL Central club.

Opposing him will be a pitcher who can relate to major struggles. Jason Jennings (2-7, 6.15), who earned his only win in his last 10 starts vs. the Dodgers on July 24, cannot seem to buy a win as the Astros are just 3-14 in the 17 games in which he has appeared.

In his last outing, Jennings gave up four runs and three hits - including two homers - in 5 1/3 innings but did not factor in a 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.