Pittsburgh Pirates (25-28) at Houston Astros (23-29), 8:05 p.m.
Sports Network | June 5, 2009
(Sports Network) - Mike Hampton will try to run his winning streak over Pittsburgh to nine straight decisions tonight, when the Houston Astros kick off a three-game set with the Pirates at Minute Maid Park.
Hampton's incredible run over the Pirates began with a victory on May 9, 2000. He's won eight consecutive decisions against them since, including a pair of wins this year. Lifetime versus Pittsburgh, the left-hander is 12-3 with a 2.51 earned run average in 24 games (18 starts).
"I don't really look into that stuff and I just go out and try to approach every team the same," Hampton told Houston's official site of his success versus the Pirates. "They are a way different team than in the past and it had been a few years since I'd faced them."
Hampton was last in action on Sunday versus the Pirates. He had one of his best outings of the season, holding the Bucs to a run on three hits over seven innings for his longest start of the year.
If the 36-year-old is to extend his win streak over Pittsburgh, he will have to earn his first home victory of the season to do it. Hampton is 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA in five starts at Minute Maid Park this year and 3-4 with a 5.07 ERA overall in 2009.
Houston will try to rebound this evening after Thursday's 10-3 loss to Colorado. The setback ended the Astros' season-high four-game winning streak and denied them a sweep of the four-game series.
Wandy Rodriguez allowed seven runs and was tagged for four homers in the five- inning start. Miguel Tejada went 0-for-5 to halt his hitting streak at 17 consecutive games.
Houston's offense will hope for better luck versus Pittsburgh starter Jeff Karstens, who ended a six-game winless stretch (0-2) on Saturday with a win over the Astros. He held Houston to a pair of runs and six hits over a season- high seven innings of a 7-4 win.
"Usually he doesn't go more than five our six innings...we just couldn't get a hold of him," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said of Karstens after that contest.
That win by Karstens was the only one Pittsburgh managed in that three-game set from May 29-31. Overall, the Pirates have lost four of six to the Astros this year and make their first trip to Houston tonight. They lost four of seven at Minute Maid Park a season ago.
The 26-year-old Karstens, who is 2-2 with a 4.83 ERA this year, improved to 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two career starts versus the Astros with last week's win. The right-hander has yet to post a decision on the road this season, notching a 5.64 ERA in four away starts.
Pittsburgh has won four of its last five games and is coming off a rain- shortened three-game sweep of the New York Mets. After a rainout on Wednesday, the Pirates completed the sweep with an 11-6 win on Thursday.
Jason Jaramillo drove in four runs, while outfielder Andrew McCutchen had an impressive major league debut. The 11th overall pick of the 2005 draft, McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. He played in center field just one day after Pittsburgh traded Nate McLouth to Atlanta for three prospects.
"It's a special day for him. Obviously a day he'll probably never forget," said Pirates manager John Russell. "He's a dynamic player. He can do a lot of good things for you on the field and on the bases. We're excited to have him."
Pittsburgh third baseman Andy LaRoche is questionable for tonight after getting hit by a pitch on his right knee in Thursday's win.
