=== Houston Astros Team Report - August 2 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The NL Central-leading Astros will shoot for their third win in four games tonight when they collide with the Florida Marlins in the second of a three-game set at Pro Player Stadium.

Houston, which leads the Central by two games over St. Louis, got the best of the Marlins on Friday night. The Astros picked up a 2-1 win led by starter Tim Redding, who limited Florida to six hits and a lone run over seven innings. Redding struck out five and walked one in the winning effort. The righthander is now 4-1 in his last five starts.

Billy Wagner worked the ninth for his 32nd save of the year for the Astros, who won for the second time in their last five games.

Jeff Kent homered to lead the Astros' offensive attack, while Jeff Bagwell added a triple and a run scored. Kent was 3-for-23 with no homers and two RBI in his previous six games.

Houston outfielder Lance Berkman returned after missing the last two games with a sore right knee. Berkman went 0-for-3 and had his 10-game hitting streak end.

The Astros will send 26-year-old lefthander Jeriome Robertson to the mound this evening. Robertson had a six-game winning streak halted last week, as he was touched for six hits and three runs over 1 2/3 innings of action. The hurler allowed two homers, while fanning one in the ugly outing.

Robertson will be facing the Marlins for the first time in his career. The southpaw has been solid on the road this year, going 5-2 with a 4.93 ERA in 10 outings.

Houston has won eight of its last 12 road contests and is 26-30 outside Minute Maid Park this year.

The Astros swept a three-game set from the Marlins at Minute Maid Park May 2-4. Houston has won six of the last seven meetings.