Astros send Albers against Olsen, Marlins

Baseball Betting Lines

08/05/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Matt Albers gets his ninth start of the season today when the Houston Astros complete a three-game weekend series with the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium.

A 24-year-old Houston native, Albers has made 11 trips from the bullpen and eight starts over 19 appearances in 2007.

He pitched in relief on July 31 and August 1, allowing five hits and seven runs in 2 1/3 innings in a pair of Astros losses to Atlanta. His last start came July 25 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He posted a no-decision after allowing just three hits over five scoreless innings in a 2-1 Houston victory.

Albers, who is 1-4 with a 5.54 earned run average in his eight starts, has never faced the Marlins.

He reached the major leagues last season with the Astros, going 0-2 in four appearances -- two starts -- while posting a 6.00 ERA in 15 innings.

Lefty Scott Olsen tries to snap a two-start losing streak for the Marlins.

The 23-year-old has been touched for 18 hits and 13 runs in just 10 innings over those two outings, dropping decisions to Arizona and Colorado in July 25 and 31, respectively.

He was mired in off-the-field trouble late in the month as well, including a team suspension handed down by manager Fredi Gonzalez and an arrest in connection with a traffic incident.

Olsen has made one career start against the Astros, winning it after allowing six hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. He is 6-3 in 12 home starts in 2007, with a 4.65 ERA.

On Saturday, Miguel Cabrera belted the tying homer in the seventh inning and scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 12th, as Florida edged Houston, 6-5.

Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla also homered for the Marlins, who snapped a two- game skid. Ramirez had three RBI, as Florida beat Houston for just the fourth time in the last 13 meetings.

Jason Lane hit a three-run homer for the Astros, losers in four of their last six contests.

Cabrera was intentionally walked by Stephen Randolph (0-1) with two outs in the 12th, and went to second on a wild pitch that hit catcher Eric Munson in the throat. Cabrera scored all the way from second on another wild pitch on a ball that bounced into the Florida dugout.

Lee Gardner (3-2) threw the top of the 12th to get the victory.

Houston swept a two-game set from Florida at Minute Maid Park back in April and has taken nine of the last 13 matchups between the clubs.

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