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Slumping Dodgers lean on Stults vs. Astros

Jun 30, 2008 - 12:24 PM La Dodgers (38-43) at Houston (39-43) 8:05 pm.

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Eric Stults has been nothing short of spectacular in his first two starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The way the Dodgers' offense has been sputtering they will need another strong effort from Stults on Monday in the opener of a three-game series with the Houston Astros.

Stults (2-0, 0.60 ERA) fired a four-hitter in leading the Dodgers to a 5-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. The 28-year-old lefthander should not expect that much run support this time around.

Los Angeles made history on Saturday when it became jus the fifth team ever to win a game without the benefit of a hit in a 1-0 victory over Anaheim. On Sunday, the Dodgers were held to three hits in a 1-0 loss to the Angels.

The Dodgers, who have been held to one or zero runs in four of their last six games, will try and get untracked against Houston ace Roy Oswalt. Oswalt (6-8, 4.77), who has lost eight games for the first time since 2006, is 2-5 with a 4.29 ERA in his last eight starts.

Houston, which took two of three from Boston over the weekend, outscored the Dodgers, 20-6, during a three-game sweep from May 9-11.