Astros  0    Diamondbacks  9

Houston Astros (62-66) at Arizona Diamondbacks (57-72), 8:10 p.m.

Sports Network | August 29, 2009

(Sports Network) - The Houston Astros are fading fast from the playoff picture and will continue a three-game series tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Houston is 9 1/2 games off the lead in the Wild Card race and suffered a 14-7 setback to Arizona in Friday's series opener. Astros starter Yorman Bazardo was saddled with the loss for giving up eight runs and eight hits in only two innings of work. Wilton Lopez yielded six runs over the next four innings for Houston, which has dropped four of its last five games.

"I thought Bazardo was just out of the zone, did not throw a breaking ball in the zone, didn't really have a breaking ball tonight," said Houston manager Cecil Cooper. "Every time he threw his fastball, he seemed like he could pitch ahead and once he threw it in, it got hit pretty hard. He just has to learn to command the zone with his fastball and use his breaking ball and get it over."

Jeff Keppinger hit a two-run homer and Hunter Pence added solo shot with two RBI in a losing effort. Lance Berkman drove in a pair of runs, as the Astros slipped 12 games off the pace in the NL Central division.

Astros youngster Bud Norris gets the nod Saturday and has dropped two straight starts. Norris countered Garland back on August 23 and was reached for six runs and six hits in just an inning of work.

Norris, a right-hander, was making his first career appearance against the D- Backs and fell to 3-2 in six games (5 starts) this season. He also raised his ERA from 4.05 to 5.86.

Arizona has won two straight and three of five games since losing seven in a row. Alex Romero belted a three-run homer, John Hester added a two-run shot and Miguel Montero clubbed a solo home run for the D-Backs, who outhit the Astros by a 16-7 difference.

"Having him at the bottom of the order and Romero hits the home run in the eighth spot, it just makes for a longer line up," said Arizona manager A.J. Hinch.

Max Scherzer was able to pick up the win despite being reached for six runs -- five earned -- in six innings of work.

Jon Garland will take the mound for Arizona tonight and is 2-1 over his last five starts. Garland beat the Astros on August 23 in a 7-5 victory, allowing four runs and 10 hits in six innings of work.

Garland improved to 7-11 in 26 starts this season and is 1-1 with a 4.68 earned run average in four career starts against Houston.

The Astros have won four of seven versus the D-Backs this season, taking two of three in Arizona from June 12-14.