Kansas City Royals (30-39) at Houston Astros (32-36), 8:05 p.m.
Sports Network | June 24, 2009
(Sports Network) - Recent first overall draft pick Luke Hochevar tries for a third win in four June starts tonight when the Kansas City Royals visit the Houston Astros in the second of three interleague games at Minute Maid Park.
The No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft, Hochevar was 0-2 in three starts in May before bouncing back with a 6-2 defeat of the Toronto Blue Jays on June 6, in which he surrendered four hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings.
His 2009 masterpiece came six days later against Cincinnati, tossing a complete-game three-hitter with a walk and three strikeouts while downing the visiting Reds, 4-1.
Hochevar stumbled in his most recent start, however, getting tagged for nine hits and six earned runs over four innings while losing, 12-5, to Arizona.
He has never faced the Astros.
For Houston, veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt goes for a third win in five starts this month.
The 31-year-old Mississippian was 1-2 after 11 starts through the end of May, before downing Colorado, 4-1, with seven innings of six-hit, one-run ball, walking two and striking out eight.
A loss to Pittsburgh followed five days later, before Oswalt bounced back to down Arizona, 6-4, on June 13 with seven innings of five-hit, one-run ball.
He was roughed up for 10 hits and five runs over eight innings in his last start, dropping a 5-2 decision to Minnesota on June 19.
He beat Kansas City in one career start, allowing seven hits and a run in eight innings.
On Tuesday, Zack Greinke allowed one run over eight strong innings and Billy Butler's home run proved to be the difference, as Kansas City clipped Houston, 2-1.
Greinke (9-3) scattered eight hits with five strikeouts to record his first win since May 26, after two losses and two no-decisions in his prior four starts.
Miguel Olivo knocked in the other run for the Royals, who snapped a five-game slide which marred the end of a nine-game homestand.
Miguel Tejada went 3-for-4 and drove in the lone run for the Astros, who have split their last 10 contests.
Russ Ortiz (3-3) allowed five hits and two runs over a season-high seven innings pitched in defeat.
Kansas City took two of three the last time these teams met back in 2006.
