(Sports Network) - Long-time Houston ace Roy Oswalt can make it four straight wins and eight in his last 10 starts tonight when the streaking Astros close out a four-game series with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates at Minute Maid Park.
Born in Mississippi in 1977, Oswalt was 7-8 through 19 starts this season before starting a run that's seen him go 7-1 in nine starts and lower his earned run average from 4.67 to 3.72.
He's allowed just one run over 24 1/3 innings in his last three outings, scattering 10 hits while walking four batters and striking out 12 in wins over Cincinnati, the Chicago Cubs and Colorado.
He is 11-6 lifetime against the Pirates with a 2.57 ERA in 23 appearances - 22 starts.
For Pittsburgh, lefty Zach Duke returns after ending a 14-start skid in his last outing.
The 25-year-old Texan won his fourth game of the season with a 5-3 defeat of Arizona on June 9, but went 0-9 over nearly three months before downing San Francisco, 7-0, on September 5.
In the win, Duke went the distance and allowed six hits while striking out four and walking two.
It was his third complete game in 95 major-league starts.
Lifetime against Houston, Duke is 1-3 in eight games - seven starts - with a 3.80 ERA in 47 1/3 innings.
On Wednesday, Miguel Tejada smacked a grand slam and Brian Moehler threw six effective innings, as the Astros continued their torrid post-All Star break stretch with a 7-4 win over the Pirates.
Moehler (11-6) gave up five hits and a pair of runs without issuing a walk and Hunter Pence helped the cause with a two-run home run for Houston, which ran its win streak to five.
The Astros, who have won 13 of their last 14 games and are an MLB-best 35-16 since the Mid-Summer classic, have moved to within four games of the NL wild card-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
Adam LaRoche homered and doubled with a pair of RBI and Nate McLouth had two hits and an RBI for Pittsburgh, which extended its losing streak to five games.
Starter Tom Gorzelanny gave up three hits and two runs with a pair of walks and as many strikeouts before leaving with a finger injury after 2 1/3 frames.
The Pirates are 3-6 on their current 10-game road trip.
