Author: Matt Pelc | Article Posted at: July 9, 09 - 12:43 pm

Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals

A very unique double-header takes place in Houston on Thursday. Prior to the Astros home game against the Washington Nationals, the teams will resume a game suspended in the top of the 11th inning with the score tied at 10.

Even though that game was played in Washington (24-58), Houston Astros (41-42) did not visit the Nation’s Capital again nor did the teams have a common open date that would work, so the Nationals “home” game will be played in Houston.

Each team may wish that they could forget about the game because Thursday’s resumption will remind each club about how they blew three-run leads in the sloppy game that featured 13 walks, three errors and 18 runners left on base.

The Houston Astros could use the game plus change as a way to get to and over the .500 mark for the first time this season after a hot stretch that has seen them win nine of their previous 14 games and capture five of their last six series.

The Washington Nationals are going the opposite after losing 10-4 to Colorado on Wednesday, they have now lost six straight on the road and have dropped 12 of their previous 16 games overall.

John Lannan (6-5, 3.45) will get the start in the second game trying to notch a win for the Nationals. Lannan has been the best pitcher for Washington. They have won 10 games in the last month and five of those were starts by Lannan, who is 4-0, with a 2.40 ERA in six games since June 6.

Russ Ortiz (3-4, 4.11) will look to break out of a dismal stretch in which he is 0-2 with a 4.31 ERA since becoming a starter in the middle of last month, including allowing eight run in a 9-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants in his last start on Saturday.