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Reeling Astros open series with Pirates

Sep 19, 2008 - 10:19 AM Houston (80-72) at Pittsburgh (64-90) 7:05 p.m. EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- With their hopes of capturing the National League wild card dwindling, the Houston Astros hope a visit to the NL Central cellar dweller Pittsburgh Pirates can help improve their chances.

The Astros, losers of five straight since Hurricane Ike devastated the Gulf Coast area, face the Pirates on Friday.

Houston had won 14 of 15 before Ike forced the postponement of a pair of games last weekend against the Chicago Cubs. When they finally took the field on Monday for a 'home' game in Milwaukee against the Cubs, they were no-hit by Carlos Zambrano in a 5-0 loss.

The Astros (80-72) went on to lose their next four games, being outscored 33-5 during that stretch to fall into a tie with the Marlins (80-72), five games behind the New York Mets (85-67) in the NL wild-card standings.

Ian Snell (6-11, 5.69) will look to continue the tough times for Houston. The righthander is 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA in three starts against the Astros this season.

He struggled in his last outing, a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals in which he allowed six runs - five earned - and nine hits over four innings.

The Astros turn to Randy Wolf (10-12, 4.58) as they attempt to halt their longest losing streak since they dropping eight straight from June 11-19. Wolf is coming off his shortest outing of the season, a 2 2/3-inning performance in which he allowed five runs - four earned - six hits and a walk in a 5-0 loss to the Cubs.

The veteran lefthander beat the Pirates on September 9, allowing three runs, four hits and walk over seven innings during the Astros' 9-3 win.