(My Sportsbook) - Chad Billingsley can make it four wins in four starts tonight, as the
Los Angeles Dodgers try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the
Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
The 24-year-old Billingsley defeated San Diego on April 8, then returned for successive wins over San Francisco and Colorado on April 13 and April 18, respectively.
Combined, the 6-foot, 245-pound right-hander has allowed 11 hits and six runs in 19 innings.
Billingsley split a pair of decisions last season against Houston, allowing 12 hits and four earned runs in 13 innings.
For the Astros, Dominican right-hander Wandy Rodriguez tries to make it two straight victories.
The 30-year-old tossed seven innings of scoreless two-hit ball in his last start, a 7-0 defeat of Cincinnati on April 18. Previously, he'd posted a no- decision and a loss against the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis, giving up nine hits and four runs in 12 innings.
Rodriguez got a no-decision in one start against the Dodgers in 2008 after being touched for six hits and five runs in five innings.
After halting the Dodgers' eight-game winning streak on Tuesday, Houston made it two straight wins over Los Angeles on Wednesday, as Lance Berkman hit a game-tying homer and Ivan Rodriguez singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, lifting the Astros to a 6-5 win.
Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer and Jason Michaels added a two-run double for the Astros, who have won five of their last eight. Houston last swept the Dodgers at home July 8-10, 2005.
Houston starter Roy Oswalt allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings, but did not factor into the decision. Chris Sampson (1-0) took the win despite allowing a potentially decisive run in two relief innings, while LaTroy Hawkins tossed a perfect ninth to nail down his second save.
Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier and Casey Blake all homered in the sixth inning for the Dodgers, who have managed just 10 runs through the first two games of this series after averaging eight-per-game during their winning streak.
Los Angeles center fielder Matt Kemp, who had gotten at least one hit in each of the season's first 14 games, went 0-for-4.
Ronald Belisario (0-1) took the loss after allowing the two runs in the bottom of the eighth. He followed LA starter Randy Wolf, who gave up four runs on eight hits in seven frames of work.
Houston took four of seven from the Dodgers last season, but LA won the final three meetings.
