Currently: - Game info: 7:05 pm EDT Sat Apr 30, 2005
- TV: CSN
The last person the punchless Houston Astros need to see is Kerry Wood when he’s on his game.
Yet that will be the scenario when the Astros and Chicago Cubs resume their weekend series at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros, who have the second worst offense in the major leagues, have scored a combined 12 runs during their six-game losing streak, with seven coming in an 8-7 defeat at St. Louis on April 22.
Roger Clemens had nothing to show for his strong seven-inning effort on Friday as the Astros dropped the series opener 3-2. The Cubs’ Greg Maddux earned his 306th career win.
“Anytime (Clemens is) on the mound we want to do our best,” said Astros right fielder Jason Lane, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. “It’s very frustrating that we haven’t been getting him runs. We want to be able to give him runs the way he’s been pitching.”
An anemic offense won’t be of much help against Wood, who appears to be back on track after a sluggish start.
The Cubs’ hard-throwing right-hander entered his last start battling shoulder stiffness and inconsistency, but left with his first win of the season, 5-2 over Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Wood had given up a combined five homers in his previous two outings, but responded by allowing two runs and three hits with a season-high eight strikeouts over five innings.
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