Diamondbacks at Astros
The Houston Astros broke out of a slump in the finale of a road trip and will try to keep the bats going Wednesday when their four-game, two-city interleague series with the Arizona Diamondbacks heads to Texas. The Astros averaged 2.4 runs in going 1-6 to begin their trip before erupting for 13 hits in Tuesday's 9-4 triumph, which gained them a split of the two contests in Arizona.
Jose Altuve added two more hits to lift his MLB-leading average to .363, and catcher Max Stassi - brought up from the minors with backstops Brian McCann and Evan Gattis on the disabled list - doubled in the game's first run in the second and slugged his second career homer in the ninth. The result, which gave the clubs identical 10-2 marks in interleague play, left Houston with a 12 1/2-game lead in the American League West. The Diamondbacks lost for the seventh time in 10 games and are tied with Colorado for the top wild card - five games clear of the St. Louis Cardinals. Taijuan Walker, who is 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA in his last five interleague starts, gets the start for Arizona opposite Houston veteran Charlie Morton.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Taijuan Walker (6-6, 3.76 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (9-5, 3.83)
Walker has not won in eight starts and the Diamondbacks have lost in each of his last six appearances, but the 25-year-old has five quality starts in his winless stretch. He was reached for four earned runs in five frames while striking out two and walking three in a rocky outing versus the Chicago Cubs on Friday at home. Walker owns a 5.85 ERA in seven career starts at Minute Maid Park and has had his troubles with Altuve (9-for-25) and Josh Reddick (4-for-9, two homers).
Morton will be making his third attempt at his 10th win, which would match a career high set in 2011. He had a string of three straight quality starts snapped in a loss at Texas on Friday, allowing three earned runs in 5 2/3 frames. The 33-year-old, who is 6-2 at home this year, is 3-1 with a 3.97 ERA in six career starts against Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks SS Ketel Marte had two hits Tuesday and has reached safely in a career-high 15 straight games.
2. Eight of Houston's 13 hits in Tuesday's win went for extra bases.
3. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt is 6-for-16 with two homers, two doubles, four walks, four runs scored and three RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.