=== Houston Astros Team Report - June 25 === (My Sportsbook) - In hopes of avoiding a sweep and falling further behind in the competitive NL Central, the Astros will battle the streaking Arizona Diamondbacks tonight. Houston will rely on 26-year-old righthander Wade Miller to take the mound this evening. Miller has won three of his last four decisions, including a victory over Texas last week. The righty held the Rangers to only six hits and two runs over six innings, while fanning four and walking one. Miller will be toeing the rubber versus Arizona for the first time this season. The hurler has registered a 1-2 mark with a 6.75 ERA in four contests against the Diamondbacks. The Astros dropped a 12-5 decision to Arizona on Tuesday. Tim Redding (4-7) suffered the loss after he was reached for five runs on 10 hits through five innings. He fanned four and walked three. Houston fell a game behind the Chicago Cubs in the standings. Craig Biggio and Lance Berkman both notched a pair of hits, a run scored and an RBI for Houston, which had won three straight before the start of this series, on Tuesday. Houston second baseman Jose Vizcaino, who scored a run in the game, exited the contest with a broken left wrist. Arizona took two of three meetings between these clubs last week at Minute Maid Park. The Diamondbacks own a 7-4 advantage in this series since the start of last season. The Astros are 18-22 on the road in 2003. The Astros have lost 13 of 21 games all-time at Arizona. |
