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Nationals hope to end skid in Houston

Aug 20, 2007 - 1:39 PM Washington (55-69) at Houston (56-68) 8:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Washington Nationals look to end a four-game losing streak when they visit the Houston Astros in the opener of a four-game set Monday.

After winning a season-high six straight games earlier this month, the Nationals have won just four of their last 13 games and have not won consecutive games during that stretch.

A visit to Minute Maid Park may not be the best way to break out of this slump considering the Nationals own one of the worst road records in the majors at 24-35.

Washington starter Tim Redding (2-3, 2.88 ERA) has pitched effectively in his last five starts although he has just one win to show for it. That is somewhat due in part to the punchless Nationals' lineup.

The righthander, who was drafted by Houston and played for the team from 2001-04, has pitched six of more innings in each of those outings and has an 2.25 ERA during that span. However, Washington has mustered just 11 runs in his last five starts. Jason Jennings (2-8, 6.16) takes the mound for the Astros, who have won two of the first three meetings between the teams this season. The righthander is winless in three starts since a horrific start against the San Diego Padres on July 29, when he allowed 11 runs in the first inning.

Houston's Carlos Lee needs to drive in three more runs to reach the 100 RBI for the third time in his career. As a member of the Chicago White Sox, the slugger drove in 113 runs in 2003 and set a career high in 2005 with 114 RBI.

In his second game with the Nationals since being acquired from the Boston Red Sox on Friday, Wily Mo Pena hit a solo home run for the Nationals during Sunday's 8-2 loss to the New York Mets.