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Astros vie to stop skid against Mariners

May 24, 2014 - 2:35 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Astros will attempt to halt their losing streak Saturday night, when they resume a four-game series with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

The Astros have lost four in a row and will send Brett Oberholtzer to the mound Saturday. He was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and the left- hander is 0-6 with a 5.68 earned run average in seven starts.

Oberholtzer last took the hill in an 11-4 loss at Detroit on May 6, when he gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings. He has allowed 16 runs over his past three starts and won his only career start against Seattle last Sept. 1 at Minute Maid Park. He tossed a four-hit shutout in a 2-0 win.

Brandon Maurer will make his sixth start of the season for the Mariners, attempting to improve upon his 6.00 ERA and 1-2 record.

Maurer allowed just two hits in his latest outing but lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing four walks and two earned runs in a loss to Tampa Bay on May 14.

The 23-year-old's only win of the season came against Houston on May 4, when he held off the Astros by going five innings and allowing six hits, two walks and four earned runs with three strikeouts.

Behind a dominant performance from their ace, the Mariners captured Friday night's contest, 6-1.

Felix Hernandez (6-1) won his third consecutive start, giving up only five hits, a walk and one earned run while striking out nine, lowering his ERA to 2.75 in the process.

The Mariners got on the board in the bottom of the first on a two-run single by Kyle Seager and never looked back. Seager finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Willie Bloomquist popped his first home run of the season.

Rudy Owens (0-1) took the loss, yielding nine hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Jose Altuve had three of the Astros' five hits and also registered his 17th stolen base of the year.

Seattle was 10-9 against Houston last season.