Sat Aug 16 11:11:24 2008

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Diamondbacks attempt to slow down red-hot Astros

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(Sports Network) - The Arizona Diamondbacks will attempt to cool down the scorching Houston Astros for a second straight night when the two teams continue a three-game set tonight at Minute Maid Park.

The Astros entered Friday's series opener on an eight-game win streak, but that run came to a screeching halt at the hands of the National League West co-leading Diamondbacks. Arizona pounded out 14 hits and three home runs to back another sharp performance from Brandon Webb in last night's 12-2 rout.

Houston native Chris Snyder led the Diamondbacks' offensive onslaught by going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI, while ex-Astro Chris Burke had a three- run homer among his two hits. Chris Young, who also grew up in Houston, added a two-run blast to help Arizona remain tied with Los Angeles atop the NL West.

Webb (18-4) did his part as well, as the All-Star held the Astros to two runs and four hits over eight innings to become the first pitcher to record 18 wins this season.

Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (7-5) wasn't nearly as successful. The left- hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings and allowed four runs while issuing six walks.

Ty Wigginton went 3-for-4 and hit a solo homer to pace the Astros offensively.

The Diamondbacks are now 7-1 over their last eight encounters with Houston and took two of three games from the Astros in Phoenix earlier this season. Arizona has also won four of its last five contests overall.

Yusmeiro Petit gets the call for Arizona tonight and will be making his first start since August 7. The young swingman pitched five innings in that game, a 6-4 Diamondbacks' defeat to Atlanta, and was hung with the loss despite giving up just two runs on four hits and striking out six without a walk.

Petit has made four starts and nine relief appearances for Arizona this season. As a starter, the 23-year-old is 1-2 with a 3.00 earned run average in 21 innings.

The Venezuelan native's lone career encounter with the Astros came as a member of the Florida Marlins in 2006, with Petit allowing four runs and five hits in just 1 2/3 innings of work.

Houston will send out the erratic Brandon Backe in this evening's test, hoping the oft-injured righty can deliver a performance like his last start. Backe held light-hitting San Francisco to one run and four hits over seven innings on Monday, earning himself a win in the Astros' 3-1 triumph.

That line was a stark contrast of Backe's previous start, an August 6 loss at Chicago's Wrigley Field in which he was shelled for 11 runs on nine hits and issued six walks before being pulled after 3 1/3 innings. For the year, the 30-year-old is 7-11 with a 5.14 ERA in 25 starts.

Backe has only faced Arizona one time previously. That came in Houston on July 28, 2006, with the Texas native surrendering five runs and 12 hits in a five- inning no-decision.