Oswalt: Another tough loss
(c) Associated Press
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In Jason Castro's first big league at bat, he singled against Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. He scored on a double by Michael Bourn for a 1-0 Houston lead. However, runs don't come often against the San Francisco ace and he eventually outdueled Roy Oswalt, 3-1, on Tuesday to extend the Astros' losing streak to five games.
Lincecum evaded further damage in the third when Lance Berkman hit into a double play and escaped two errors behind him in the fifth to post his eighth win.
Oswalt had six shutout innings but ran into trouble in the seventh. Ex-Astro Aubrey Huff singled and Juan Uribe walked before Pat Burrell tied it up with a base hit and Pablo Sandoval bounced into a force play that scored Uribe. A third Giants run scored in the ninth against Wilton Lopez.
Castro ended up 1-for-4 in his debut, as did Chris Johnson in his return from Round Rock. Johnson did make a throwing error in the ninth that led to the insurance run.
The series continues Wednesday night in a 7:05 Central start. Lefty Barry Zito (7-3) will square off against Brett Myers (4-5). Zito has already beaten the Astros twice this year, allowing three runs in 13 innings pitched.
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