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Astros hope to get brooms out against Mets

Sun 3rd, August 2008

(Sports Network) - The Houston Astros will attempt to post their first three- game sweep of the New York Mets in nearly 15 years today, when the two clubs conclude their set at Minute Maid Park.

After taking the first game of this series on Friday, the Astros rallied from four runs down against the Mets bullpen to post a 5-4 extra-inning victory on Saturday. That win has Houston in position for its first three-game sweep of New York since September 6-8, 1993.

Down by two in the ninth inning Geoff Blum delivered a pinch-hit two-run double off Billy Wagner in the ninth inning to force extra innings. Darin Erstad then drove in the game-winner in the 10th inning off Aaron Heilman, handing the reliever his second loss in as many games.

Kaz Matsui hit a home run, tripled and scored twice for the Astros, who have won five of their last six. Roy Oswalt got the start and gave up four runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in six innings of work. Jose Valverde (5-3) got the win for pitching a scoreless 10th.

The Mets, meanwhile, suffered their third straight loss despite another strong outing from Johan Santana, who allowed just a run on three hits over 6 1/3 innings of work. New York fell into third place in the National League East, a half game back of second-place Florida and two behind front-running Philadelphia.

Damion Easley hit a two-run home run in yesterday's setback.

With John Maine getting scratched from his scheduled start today due to a right rotator cuff strain, Oliver Perez takes his place on the hill. Perez, though, will still be pitching on regular rest due to Thursday's off day.

The left-hander has allowed just one run in each of his last two starts, including Tuesday in Florida when he also gave up five hits and three walks over six innings of the victory. The outing improved Perez to 7-6 with a 4.02 earned run average this year.

Perez, 26, is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in four career games against the Astros, who counter with a left-hander of their own in Randy Wolf.

Wolf made his Houston debut on Sunday after getting acquired from San Diego by way of trade. The 31-year-old got a no-decision versus Milwaukee, allowing four runs (3 earned) on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings of work. Wolf went 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts with the Padres.

Wolf is 10-5 with a 3.35 ERA in 26 career tests versus the Mets. He faced them on June 6 with the Padres and allowed only one run on seven hits over seven innings of a victory.

Carlos Delgado, who hit .357 in July with nine homers and 24 RBI, is just 3- for-23 (.130) in his career versus Wolf, while Fernando Tatis is only 1-for-20 (.050).

New York and Houston are meeting for the first time since the Mets won five of seven matchups a year ago.

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