Arizona Diamondbacks Vs Houston Astros MLB Live Streaming Online Radio Feed Power Ranking Schedule Score Roster Yes Network May 29, 2011. Early Match Review: Josh Collmenter has been an effective starter for the Arizona Diamondbacks thanks to his unusual throwing motion.
Collmenter takes the mound as the Diamondbacks close a three-game series against the Houston Astros on Sunday, trying for their first road sweep between the two in over a decade.
The Diamondbacks have won five straight and 13 of 15. They have scored five or more runs in eight of the last 12.
Arizona had one of its biggest outbursts of the season in its last game, finishing with 13 hits, including five for extra bases. Stephen Drew had four hits and scored twice and Miguel Montero added three hits.
Montero, who also scored three runs and had two RBIs, is hitting .342 over his last 10 games.
The Diamondbacks are looking to sweep the Astros in Houston for the first time since July 4-6, 2000.
"Things are falling into place for us now," manager Kirk Gibson said. "We're getting good contributions from everybody."
Collmenter (3-1, 1.19 ERA) will try to follow up Duke's outstanding outing. He was charged with Arizona's only loss in the last 12 games after he gave up five runs -- two earned -- and five hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 12-4 defeat to Colorado on Tuesday.
The right-hander left with the bases loaded in the fifth following an error by first basemen Xavier Nady, a single and a walk.
"I missed a few spots, location was off today," Collmenter said. "It wasn't going out there and putting it wherever you wanted, I had to fight it today."
Collmenter, who uses an overhand tomahawk delivery, had pitched 12 scoreless innings in the previous two starts and hadn't allowed a run in the previous 19. In 10 appearances this season, spanning 30 1/3 innings, he has allowed four earned runs and 17 hits while striking out 16.
The Astros try to avoid the sweep as catcher J.R. Towles continues to get used to a starting role. Houston placed Humberto Quintero on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ankle he suffered in a collision at the plate with Ryan Roberts on Friday.
One night after blowing a 6-0 lead, Houston came out flat although Hunter Pence extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the ninth. He is hitting .395 during the stretch.
"We haven't had one like that in a while," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "We've been playing really well and in all those games. That's probably the biggest shock.
The Astros will hand the ball to J.A. Happ (3-6, 4.99), who is trying to avoid a third straight loss.
Happ hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last four starts. He surrendered one earned run among his five total and three hits in five innings of a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday.
The left-hander is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Arizona.
Collmenter takes the mound as the Diamondbacks close a three-game series against the Houston Astros on Sunday, trying for their first road sweep between the two in over a decade.
2:05 PM ET, May 29, 2011
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Todays Match LineupsArizona (28-24) is in position to try and sweep Houston (19-33) after Zach Duke pitched seven scoreless innings of 3-hit ball and hit a three-run homer in an 11-3 win Saturday.
NO. Arizona Houston
1. W. Bloomquist, SS M. Bourn, CF
2. R. Roberts, 2B J. Keppinger, 2B
3. J. Upton, RF H. Pence, RF
4. C. Young, CF C. Lee, LF
5. X. Nady, LF B. Wallace, 1B
6. J. Miranda, 1B C. Johnson, 3B
7. M. Mora, 3B C. Barmes, SS
8. H. Blanco, C J. Towles, C
9. J. Collmenter, P J. Happ, P
The Diamondbacks have won five straight and 13 of 15. They have scored five or more runs in eight of the last 12.
Arizona had one of its biggest outbursts of the season in its last game, finishing with 13 hits, including five for extra bases. Stephen Drew had four hits and scored twice and Miguel Montero added three hits.
Montero, who also scored three runs and had two RBIs, is hitting .342 over his last 10 games.
The Diamondbacks are looking to sweep the Astros in Houston for the first time since July 4-6, 2000.
"Things are falling into place for us now," manager Kirk Gibson said. "We're getting good contributions from everybody."
Collmenter (3-1, 1.19 ERA) will try to follow up Duke's outstanding outing. He was charged with Arizona's only loss in the last 12 games after he gave up five runs -- two earned -- and five hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 12-4 defeat to Colorado on Tuesday.
The right-hander left with the bases loaded in the fifth following an error by first basemen Xavier Nady, a single and a walk.
"I missed a few spots, location was off today," Collmenter said. "It wasn't going out there and putting it wherever you wanted, I had to fight it today."
Collmenter, who uses an overhand tomahawk delivery, had pitched 12 scoreless innings in the previous two starts and hadn't allowed a run in the previous 19. In 10 appearances this season, spanning 30 1/3 innings, he has allowed four earned runs and 17 hits while striking out 16.
The Astros try to avoid the sweep as catcher J.R. Towles continues to get used to a starting role. Houston placed Humberto Quintero on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ankle he suffered in a collision at the plate with Ryan Roberts on Friday.
One night after blowing a 6-0 lead, Houston came out flat although Hunter Pence extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the ninth. He is hitting .395 during the stretch.
"We haven't had one like that in a while," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "We've been playing really well and in all those games. That's probably the biggest shock.
The Astros will hand the ball to J.A. Happ (3-6, 4.99), who is trying to avoid a third straight loss.
Happ hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last four starts. He surrendered one earned run among his five total and three hits in five innings of a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday.
The left-hander is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Arizona.
