Astros-Braves Preview

The Atlanta Braves know they'll have to get their offense going if they hope to start clawing their way back up the NL East standings.

The Braves will be trying to bounce back from another lackluster performance at the plate Sunday when they wrap up a three-game series with the Houston Astros at Turner Field.

Atlanta (41-47) managed just four hits Saturday, falling 6-1 to the Astros (41-47). The Braves have been held to three or fewer runs in five of their last six games, losing each time.

"Absolutely pathetic," said Chipper Jones, who went 0-for-4 but leads the majors with a .385 batting average. "We didn't even get five hitters into our lineup, and we're down 4-0. And then all of a sudden everybody's going, 'Oh no, here we go again.' And then guys start to press."

Atlanta's 6-2 series-opening win marked the only time in 11 games that it has managed more than five runs. The Braves are hitting .218 in that span while going 3-8 to fall seven games behind division-leading Philadelphia.

"If we keep playing one good game every five, it's going to be a long summer," Jones said.

The Braves had hoped the return of several key players from injury this week would bolster their offense.

However, center fielder Mark Kotsay is 1-for-14 in four games since a stint on the DL, and shortstop Yunel Escobar is 3-for-17 after missing five games. Jones is 5-for-19 (.263) with a homer in five games since missing eight straight starts.

The Astros, meanwhile, had managed only five runs in their previous three games before Saturday's win. Chris Sampson made a fill-in start for Roy Oswalt and went five innings, helping Houston end a four-game losing streak.

Mark Loretta went 3-for-4 with three doubles and four RBIs and is batting .385 (10-for-26) with nine RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.

"Let's face it, (Loretta's) a professional hitter," manager Cecil Cooper told the Astros' official team Web site. "He knows how to get it done. He did a great job tonight."

Cooper moved Ty Wigginton, who owns a .361 on-base percentage, into the leadoff spot for the first time this season. He went 0-for-3, but walked twice and scored a run.

In the finale, the Astros will hand the ball to starter Wandy Rodriguez (3-3, 3.08 ERA), who was roughed up for five runs in five innings in the Astros' 11-inning, 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

"I had a lot of problems locating," he said. "My breaking ball was not what it usually is. Today was a bad day."

The left-hander has struggled against the Braves, going 1-1 with a 10.13 ERA in three career appearances, including two starts.

Atlanta counters with rookie Charlie Morton (1-2, 6.16), who is coming off the worst performance of his young career. In the right-hander's fourth start Tuesday, he was pounded for five runs and eight hits in two innings of an 8-3 loss to Philadelphia.

"Tonight was as bad as my arm's felt, in terms of life," he said. "It just wasn't there tonight. No life. No life whatsoever."

Morton had gone at least five innings in his first three starts, allowing no more than three earned runs in any of them. He has not faced the Astros.