Oswalt: Streak breaker
(c) Associated Press
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It was up to the staff ace to snap Houston's eight-game losing streak. Roy Oswalt allowed two runs over 7-2/3 innings to lead the Astros over Tampa Bay, 4-3. Carlos Lee's two-run double in the first and Kaz Matsui's RBI double in the fifth keyed the two rallies that gave Houston the runs it needed. Jose Valverde gave up a solo homer in the ninth but held on for his 17th save.
But the star of the game was Oswalt who took it upon himself to put Houston in the win column for the first time since he beat the Brewers back on June 10th. Roy dropped his ERA down below 5.00 for the first time since early this season.
The Astros' last four wins have been series openers. You'd have to go back to May 24th for the last time Houston has won a game 2,3 or 4 in any series. So Saturday night's start by Wandy Rodriguez (2-3) against Edwin Jackson (4-6) will tell us if a possible turn-around has begun. Game time is 5:10 p.m. Central.
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