Astros  8    Phillies  2

Houston Astros (72-83) at Philadelphia Phillies (90-65), 7:05 p.m.

Sports Network | September 28, 2009

(Sports Network) - Still seeking to lock up their third straight National League East title, the Philadelphia Phillies begin a season-ending homestand this evening with the first of four straight contests against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies return home for their seven-game residency having split a four- game set in Milwaukee. They won Sunday's finale, 6-5, to reduce their magic number for clinching the division to three.

Jimmy Rollins had three hits, one a home run, and Shane Victorino drove home two runs for the Phillies, who matched a franchise record for road wins in a season with 48. They are 42-32 as the host this season.

Ryan Madson calmed Philadelphia's struggling bullpen for at least one day, posting a four-out save. Regular closer and former Astro Brad Lidge was perfect in save chances last year while helping the Phillies to their first World Series title since 1980, but has blown 11 saves this year.

The Phillies hope they won't need their bullpen tonight with Cole Hamels set to take the hill.

The reigning World Series MVP has struggled through most of 2009, but is 3-1 with a 2.01 earned run average over his last six starts. He did allow four runs on eight hits over seven innings versus the Marlins on Wednesday, getting a no-decision in his club's 7-6 loss.

The 25-year-old lefty is 10-9 with a 4.11 ERA this year, but is 7-3 with a 3.29 ERA in 15 home starts.

Hamels lost to the Astros on September 6 thanks to six innings of four-run ball, his first setback in six career starts against Houston. He is 3-1 with a 4.66 ERA lifetime versus the club.

The Phillies hope to clinch the division in this series against an Astros club that swept them in Houston from September 4-7.

The Astros have won just five of their last 18 games since that sweep and ended a nine-game slide to Cincinnati with Sunday's 3-2 win over the Reds. Humberto Quintero hit a solo homer in the victory, while Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee each knocked in a run.

Houston ended the home portion of its 2009 schedule on Sunday, going 44-37 as the host. The club is just 28-46 on the road this year.

Yorman Bazardo is still seeking his first victory with the Astros, a win he'll try to claim tonight. He is 0-2 with a 9.55 ERA in eight games, four of those starts, this year.

The 25-year-old righty is coming off a loss to the Cardinals on Tuesday in which he allowed six runs on six hits over just 3 2/3 innings. He has never started against the Phillies, but has yielded a run on two hits over an inning of relief against them.