Astros 1 - 4 Diamondbacks
Final
  for this game

Arroyo tries to continue his mastery of Astros

Jun 10, 2014 - 2:56 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - It's the unretirable force against the unhittable object.

While the Houston Astros have their offense to thank for a recent surge in the victory count, they'll face a veteran pitcher in game two of their four-game series on Tuesday -- Arizona right-hander Bronson Arroyo -- who's long had their number.

The Diamondbacks host Tuesday's game at Chase Field, before the scene shifts to Minute Maid Park for games three and four of the interleague series.

The Astros, who've won 12 of 16 games, took a 1-0 lead in the series on Monday thanks to top-of-the-order hitters Jose Altuve and Dexter Fowler. They combined for six hits in a 4-3 victory, while Altuve continued a stretch that's seen him hit .378 in his last 29 games and Fowler hit for the seventh straight game -- a run in which he's scored eight times and hit .538.

Against Arroyo, however, the two have combined for just two hits in 24 career at-bats.

The Key West, Fla. native is 9-1 in his last 12 starts against Houston while compiling a stingy 2.05 earned run average and going the nine-inning distance three times. It's the second-most wins against the Astros in that time period -- stretching back to August 2008 -- trailing Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo, who's beaten Houston 11 times in 15 starts.

Arroyo was dinged for four runs in 6 1/3 innings of his last start on Thursday at Colorado, but still emerged with a 12-7 win after the Diamondbacks scored seven runs with him on the mound.

The Astros reply with righty Brad Peacock, who's allowed only four runs in his last 17 2/3 innings and picked up two wins in his last three starts.

Both of those wins yielded eight runs of support.

He has never faced Arizona and got no verdict in a lone career interleague start against Cincinnati last September.

Houston could be without rookie star George Springer, who missed Monday's opener with right knee soreness.

On Monday, Jarred Cosart (5-5) picked up the win for the Astros, allowing three runs on five hits over six innings with eight strikeouts.

Josh Collmenter (4-3) took the loss after giving up four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits over seven innings of work. Miguel Montero and Paul Goldschmidt each knocked in a run for the D'backs.






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