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Former batting champion Sanchez, Pirates seek sweep of Astros

Jul 23, 2008 - 10:10 AM Pittsburgh (46-54) at Houston (46-54) 2:05 pm. EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Freddy Sanchez is starting to show flashes of the form that made him a batting champion. He will look to lead the suddenly sizzling Pittsburgh Pirates to a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh entered the series scuffling offensively, having scored nine runs in its last four games.

However, Sanchez's three-run, inside-the-park home run capped the Pirates' 9-3, come-from-behind victory on Monday. The 2006 National League batting champion followed that with a home run and two more RBI in an 8-2 victory on Tuesday.

This season has been a struggle for the second baseman, but he is hitting .434 (10-for-23) with two home runs and six RBI over his last five games to raise his average to .239.

Sanchez will face Brian Moehler, who is 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA over his last six starts. Moehler (5-4, 4.03 ERA) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings, but did not factor into the decision in a 2-1 win over Chicago on Friday.

The Astros are floundering, having lost three straight and they can't even count on home-field advantage against the Pirates anymore. Entering last season, Pittsburgh were 11-42 here since Minute Maid Park opened in 2000. However, the Pirates have won eight of the last 11 meetings.

Ian Snell (3-8, 5.83) will try and make it nine out of 12. Snell, who has not won since June 11, allowed four runs - three earned - and six hits in six innings, but did not factor into the decision in a 5-2 loss to Colorado on Friday.