NL: COLORADO (38-40) at HOUSTON (32-46) <h3>Struggling Astros turn to Oswalt against Rockies</h3> <div class="pre">Colorado (38-40) at Houston (32-46) 8:05 pm EDT</div> HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Roy Oswalt takes the mound as the HoustonAstros look to snap a three-game losing streak when they facethe Colorado Rockies in the opener of a four-game series onThursday. Oswalt (7-5, 3.55 ERA), who has record just one win in hisprevious eight starts, pitched 6 1/3 innings and yielded threeruns and eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts in a 7-2loss to the Texas Rangers last Saturday. After starting the season by winning six of his first eightdecisions, the 29-year-old Oswalt has posted a 4-1 record with a4.14 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 50 innings in his last eightoutings. The Astros have struggled to pick wins recently as well, losingsix of their last seven contests. The Rockies will counter with Aaron Cook (4-5, 4.93), who hasnot won since May 26 against the San Francisco Giants. Cook surrendered six runs and nine hits with three walks overjust 5 1/3 innings in his last outing, an 11-6 loss to theToronto Blue Jays on Saturday. The 28-year-old Cook is 0-3 with a 6.28 ERA in his last fivestarts. Cook has not recorded a strikeout in his last twostarts. Colorado has lost six straight games since sweeping the New YorkYankees from June 19-21.
NL: COLORADO (38-40) at HOUSTON (32-46) <h3>Struggling Astros turn to Oswalt against Rockies</h3> Colorado (38-40) at Houston (32-46) 8:05 pm EDT HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Roy Oswalt takes the mound as the HoustonAstros look to snap a three-game losing streak when they facethe Colorado Rockies in the opener of a four-game series onThursday. Oswalt (7-5, 3.55 ERA), who has record just one win in hisprevious eight starts, pitched 6 1/3 innings and yielded threeruns and eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts in a 7-2loss to the Texas Rangers last Saturday. After starting the season by winning six of his first eightdecisions, the 29-year-old Oswalt has posted a 1-3 record with a4.14 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 50 innings in his last eightoutings. The Astros have struggled to pick wins recently as well, losingsix of their last seven contests. The Rockies will counter with Aaron Cook (4-5, 4.93), who hasnot won since May 26 against the San Francisco Giants. Cook surrendered six runs and nine hits with three walks overjust 5 1/3 innings in his last outing, an 11-6 loss to theToronto Blue Jays on Saturday. The 28-year-old Cook is 0-3 with a 6.28 ERA in his last fivestarts. Cook has not recorded a strikeout in his last twostarts. Colorado has lost six straight games since sweeping the New YorkYankees from June 19-21.
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">COLORADO AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS COLORADO HOUSTON AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Willy Taveras CF .312 2 17 Craig Biggio 2B .238 5 26 Kaz Matsui 2B .305 2 18 Hunter Pence CF .344 8 35 Matt Holliday LF .349 13 60 Lance Berkman RF .261 11 45 Todd Helton 1B .318 6 39 Carlos Lee LF .293 14 62 Garrett Atkins 3B .247 9 40 Mark Loretta 3B .322 1 25 Brad Hawpe RF .294 13 54 Mike Lamb 1B .299 6 20 Troy Tulowitzki SS .271 7 35 Brad Ausmus C .260 2 17 Chris Iannetta C .204 1 13 Eric Bruntlett SS .286 0 1 Aaron Cook RHP .250 0 1 Roy Oswalt RHP .125 0 0 (4-5, 4.93) (7-5, 3.55)</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON WARMUPS: COL - AARON COOK (4-5, 4.93) HOU - ROY OSWALT (7-5, 3.55) UMPIRES: HP - LARRY PONCINO 1B - BRUCE DRECKMAN 2B - GARY DARLING 3B - JERRY MEALS WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON STARTING BATS: COL - AARON COOK AND CHRIS IANNETTA HOU - ROY OSWALT AND BRAD AUSMUS DUE UP FOR COLORADO: W TAVERAS (.312, 2 HR, 17 RBI) K MATSUI (.305, 2 HR, 18 RBI) M HOLLIDAY (.349, 13 HR, 60 RBI)</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 0 0 2 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - AARON COOK HOU - ROY OSWALT DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.238, 5 HR, 26 RBI) H PENCE (.344, 8 HR, 35 RBI) L BERKMAN (.261, 11 HR, 45 RBI)</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .315 K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303 M Holliday lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .351 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .317 G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 A Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Totals 4 0 2 0 0 0 3 BATTING: GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344 L Berkman rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 M Loretta 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322 M Lamb 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (E Bruntlett-M Lamb). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 0 -- 0 HOUSTON - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.93 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.52 Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 2-1. Batters faced: R Oswalt 4. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Bruce Dreckman. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON CONFIRMED STARTERS: COL - AARON COOK HOU - ROY OSWALT</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 0 0 2 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - AARON COOK HOU - ROY OSWALT DUE UP FOR COLORADO: G ATKINS (.247, 9 HR, 40 RBI) B HAWPE (.294, 13 HR, 54 RBI) T TULOWITZKI (.271, 7 HR, 35 RBI)</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .315 K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303 M Holliday lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .351 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .317 G Atkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 B Hawpe rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 T Tulowitzki ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 A Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Totals 4 0 2 0 0 0 3 BATTING: GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342 L Berkman rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 M Loretta 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322 M Lamb 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (E Bruntlett-M Lamb). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 0 -- 0 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.89 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 3.52 Pitches-strikes: A Cook 6-3; R Oswalt 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: A Cook 2-1; R Oswalt 2-1. Batters faced: A Cook 3; R Oswalt 4. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Bruce Dreckman. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 0 0 0 2 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - AARON COOK HOU - ROY OSWALT DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.293, 14 HR, 62 RBI) M LORETTA (.322, 1 HR, 25 RBI) M LAMB (.299, 6 HR, 20 RBI)</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .315 K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303 M Holliday lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .351 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .317 G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270 C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 A Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Totals 7 0 2 0 0 1 3 BATTING: GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342 L Berkman rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 M Loretta 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .322 M Lamb 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (E Bruntlett-M Lamb). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 00 -- 0 HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.89 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 3.49 Pitches-strikes: A Cook 6-3; R Oswalt 23-17. Ground balls-fly balls: A Cook 2-1; R Oswalt 4-1. Batters faced: A Cook 3; R Oswalt 7. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Bruce Dreckman. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 0 0 0 2 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - AARON COOK HOU - ROY OSWALT DUE UP FOR COLORADO: C IANNETTA (.204, 1 HR, 13 RBI) A COOK (.250, 0 HR, 1 RBI) W TAVERAS (.315, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">COLORADO (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .315 K Matsui 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303 M Holliday lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .351 T Helton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .317 G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270 C Iannetta c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 A Cook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Totals 7 0 2 0 0 1 3 BATTING: GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 1. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342 L Berkman rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Loretta 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .325 M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259 E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (E Bruntlett-M Lamb). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 00 -- 0 HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.84 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 3.49 Pitches-strikes: A Cook 24-16; R Oswalt 23-17. Ground balls-fly balls: A Cook 4-2; R Oswalt 4-1. Batters faced: A Cook 7; R Oswalt 7. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Bruce Dreckman. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY CHRIS IANNETTA (2) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF ROY OSWALT. CURRENT SCORE: COLORADO 1, HOUSTON 0 DUE UP FOR COLORADO: A COOK (.250, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 0 0 1 1 6 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - AARON COOK HOU - ROY OSWALT DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: E BRUNTLETT (.286, 0 HR, 1 RBI) R OSWALT (.125, 0 HR, 0 RBI) C BIGGIO (.237, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">COLORADO (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 .317 K Matsui 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .301 M Holliday lf 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .353 T Helton 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .316 G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270 C Iannetta c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .211 A Cook p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 Totals 13 1 6 1 0 1 7 BATTING: HR - C Iannetta (2, 3rd inning off R Oswalt 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Iannetta (14). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Helton 1. GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 3. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342 L Berkman rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Loretta 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .325 M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259 E Bruntlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (E Bruntlett-M Lamb). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 001 -- 1 HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.84 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 3 6 1 1 0 1 1 3.54 Pitches-strikes: A Cook 24-16; R Oswalt 38-29. Ground balls-fly balls: A Cook 4-2; R Oswalt 4-3. Batters faced: A Cook 7; R Oswalt 13. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Bruce Dreckman. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 0 0 1 1 6 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - AARON COOK HOU - ROY OSWALT DUE UP FOR COLORADO: G ATKINS (.246, 0-FOR-1) B HAWPE (.293, 0-FOR-1) T TULOWITZKI (.270, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">COLORADO (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS COLORADO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg W Taveras cf 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 .317 K Matsui 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .301 M Holliday lf 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .353 T Helton 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .316 G Atkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 B Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 T Tulowitzki ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270 C Iannetta c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .211 A Cook p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 Totals 13 1 6 1 0 1 7 BATTING: HR - C Iannetta (2, 3rd inning off R Oswalt 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Iannetta (14). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Helton 1. GIDP - T Helton. Team LOB - 3. HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Biggio 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .239 H Pence cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341 L Berkman rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .259 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 M Loretta 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .325 M Lamb 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .259 E Bruntlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 R Oswalt p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .152 Totals 12 0 3 0 0 0 4 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - L Berkman 2. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (E Bruntlett-M Lamb). ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO - 001 -- 1 HOUSTON - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- COLORADO ip h r er bb so hr era A Cook 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 4.79 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 3 6 1 1 0 1 1 3.54 Pitches-strikes: A Cook 48-29; R Oswalt 38-29. Ground balls-fly balls: A Cook 5-4; R Oswalt 4-3. Batters faced: A Cook 12; R Oswalt 13. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Bruce Dreckman. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry Meals. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
NL: COLORADO at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - COLORADO 0 0 1 0 1 7 0 HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 3 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: COL - AARON COOK HOU - ROY OSWALT DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.292, 0-FOR-1) M LORETTA (.325, 1-FOR-1) M LAMB (.297, 0-FOR-1)</div>
