Cincinnati (20-30) at Houston (18-31), 2:05 pm EST
HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros will vie for their fourth
winning streak of three or more games this season when they
start a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
So far, the Astros are 3-0 vs. the Reds at Minute Maid Park this
season. They will look to continue that trend when seven-time
Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens takes the mound.
Clemens (3-2, 1.19 ERA), who leads the majors in ERA, had his
last start on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs cut short due to
tightness in his right groin. The righthander, who has allowed
more than three earned runs just once in 10 starts, yielded two
hits and struck out six in five scoreless innings vs. the Cubs
but did not figure in the 4-2 loss.
On Sunday, Mike Lamb homered in the first and Eric Bruntlett
ripped an RBI triple in the fifth to support six scoreless
innings by Andy Pettitte in a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee
Brewers.
Cincinnati will attempt to reverse its fortunes here behind
Aaron Harang (3-2, 3.32), who will vie for a win his third
consecutive start.
In his last outing, Harang set a season high with nine
strikeouts in a 2-1 interleague victory over the Cleveland
Indians. The righthander has allowed two earned runs or fewer
in three of his last four starts.
The Reds, who pounded out seven extra-base hits in an 11-2
triumph against Pittsburgh at the Great American Ball Park on
Sunday, have lost their last four road games.