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Astros aim for rare back-to-back wins

Jun 21, 2008 - 1:15 PM Houston (34-40) at Tampa Bay (43-30) 6:10 p.m. EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The dismal Houston Astros have a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly a month when they continue a three-game interleague series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

Carlos Lee had two doubles and two RBI as the Astros handed the Rays only their fifth home loss in their last 30 games at Tropicana Field with a 4-3 victory during the series opener on Friday.

The win ended an eight-game losing streak for Houston, which has lost 18 of its last 23 games and hasn't won consecutive contests since May 23-24 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Wandy Rodriguez (2-3, 2.76 ERA) tries to snap a personal two-game losing streak when he takes the mound for the Astros on Saturday.

Rodriguez, who was just 3-10 with a 6.37 ERA in 16 road starts last season, has pitched better away from home in 2008 but still has room for improvement. The 29-year-old lefthander is 1-1 with a 4.02 ERA on the road but pitched six scoreless innings en route to a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates during his last start outside of Houston.

Edwin Jackson (4-6, 4.46) counters for the Rays in what may likely be his last start before he drops his appeal and serves a five-game suspension for his role in the bench-clearing brawl against the Boston Red Sox on June 5.