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Astros hope to avoid sweep against heavy-hitting Diamondbacks

Aug 17, 2008 - 6:36 AM Arizona (64-59) at Houston (62-61), 2:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros provided plenty of fireworks during a recent eight-game winning streak. However, they've been badly burned since in losing twice to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Astros hope to avoid a three-game sweep in Sunday's finale against the suddenly heavy-hitting Diamondbacks, who have outscored them, 23-7.

Randy Johnson (10-8, 4.18 ERA) hopes to benefit from that trend and can earn career victory No. 295 in the process. The 44-year-old has won six of his last seven starts and has surrendered two runs or fewer in eight of 10 outings.

On April 30, Johnson was tagged for six runs and nine hits in four innings against the Astros in what eventually turned into an 8-7 Diamondback triumph.

He does, however, have an impressive track record while pitching in Houston. In 1998, when he spent half the season with the Astros after being traded from the Seattle Mariners, Johnson was 5-0 with an 0.42 ERA, striking out 69 batters in 43 innings at the Astrodome.

Houston counters with Roy Oswalt (10-8, 4.52), who hopes to improve to 4-0 in five starts since returning from the disable list after suffering a hip injury. Over that span, he has posted a 4.32 ERA.

Chris Young belted a grand slam on Saturday and the outfielder is 5-for-11 with two homers and six RBI in the two games. Back-up catcher Miguel Montero was the star of the 11-5 victory, blasting a grand slam and solo homer while collecting three hits.

The power surge represented the first time in club history that the Diamondbacks hit two grand slams in one game.

For the Astros, Ty Wigginton extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI single in the ninth.