Astros, Pirates start series in Steel City

Baseball Betting Lines

06/03/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lefty Phil Dumatrait will try to make it two strong starts in a row tonight when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Houston Astros in the first game of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Dumatrait entered 2008 without a major league victory, but picked up his second of the season with seven innings of two-hit ball against Cincinnati on May 29, allowing an unearned run and striking out nine in a 7-2 Pirates win.

The 26-year-old had reached the big leagues with the Reds last season but was 0-4 with a 15.00 earned run average in six starts over 18 innings.

He dropped his first decision with the Pirates this year, but has since won two of three, including a scoreless 5 2/3-inning effort against St. Louis on May 7, in which he allowed three hits and struck out five.

Dumatrait has never faced the Astros.

Lefty Wandy Rodriguez made his second start in a month-in-a-half for Houston.

The 29-year-old was touched for six hits and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Cardinals on May 28, dropping a 6-1 decision.

Rodriguez downed Florida for his lone win of the season on April 13, scattering five hits and allowing a single run over seven innings of a 5-1 Astros triumph.

He's made eight lifetime starts against the Pirates and is 2-3 with a 5.65 ERA in 43 innings, walking 15 batters and striking out 46.

On Monday in St. Louis, Adam Wainwright was well on his way to another dominant start, but Pittsburgh scored four runs in the seventh and added the game-winning tally on Jason Bay's RBI single in the eighth to post a 5-4 victory over St. Louis in the finale of a four-game series.

Matt Capps collected his 11th save of the season with a scoreless ninth, while Franquelis Osoria (3-1) picked up the victory with 1 2/3 scoreless frames. Wainwright, meanwhile, went eight innings and gave up five runs on seven hits to take the loss.

Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny gave up four runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts over six frames.

On Sunday in Milwaukee, Dave Bush threw seven stellar innings to lead the Brewers to a 10-1 victory over the Astros to complete a three-game sweep.

Mark Loretta provided Houston's only offense with his first home run of the season. Shawn Chacon (2-1) lasted just one inning and allowed four runs on two hits.

The Astros have lost five in a row on their nine-game road trip and were outscored 19-3 during the sweep at Miller Park.

Pittsburgh won 10 of its 15 matchups with the Astros last season.

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