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Oswalt, Astros set to face Padres

Apr 21, 2008 - 1:20 PM San Diego (9-10) at Houston (7-12) 8:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) - The San Diego Padres finally found some offense on Sunday. Unfortunately, now they have to face a resurgent Roy Oswalt.

The All-Star righthander takes the mound Monday as the Houston Astros host the Padres in the opener of a two-game series.

San Diego put nine runs on the board for the first time this season in Sunday's 9-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Justin Huber clubbed a three-run blast for his first career homer during a five-run sixth inning.

The offensive onslaught came on the heels of a 49-inning stretch in which the club managed just six runs.

The Astros are coming off a 6-4 come-from-behind win Sunday over Colorado. Kaz Matsui drove in his first two runs of the season in the decisive eighth inning to lead the way.

Oswalt (1-3, 6.65 ERA) will be attempting to push San Diego back into offensive obscurity with his second consecutive strong outing. The veteran righthander started the season with three lousy starts, allowing 16 earned runs in his first 16 innings.

But he found his stuff at Philadelphia on Wednesday, yielding just one run and five hits with two walks while striking out four to earn his first win of the season. He is 7-2 with a 2.49 ERA in 12 career games against the Padres.

San Diego will counter with Justin Germano (0-1, 1.35). The 25-year-old righthander has been strong this season, allowing only three earned runs in 20 total innings, but has no wins to show for it due to the Padres offense providing him with only three runs.