(Sports Network) - Right-hander Daniel Hudson can continue a personal win streak and get the Arizona Diamondbacks another step closer to first place tonight when they visit Minute Maid Park to begin a three-game weekend series with the Houston Astros.
Hudson, a 24-year-old product of Old Dominion University, was 0-4 on the season before a 7-5 decision over Philadelphia on April 26.
He's since reeled off four more wins in five starts, including defeats of San Diego and Minnesota, allowing 16 hits and just three runs with 12 strikeouts in 15 innings.
The victories have dropped his season earned run average from 4.41 to 3.82.
The Diamondbacks are second in the National League West and trail the first- place San Francisco Giants by 1 1/2 games after a 6-3 defeat of Colorado in the finale of a four-game series.
Arizona has won 11 of its last 13 games.
On Thursday, Miguel Montero went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, as Arizona held off the Rockies, 6-3, at Coors Field.
Kelly Johnson hit a two-run home run for the Diamondbacks, who won the final three games of the series. Melvin Mora had an RBI.
Micah Owings (1-0) gave up one run on four hits over five innings to pick up his first win since May 5, 2010, when he was a member of the Reds. In his second start of the season, Owings struck out three and walked one.
On Wednesday in Houston, J.R. Towles broke out of an extended slump at the plate and singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Astros edged the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1, at Minute Maid Park.
Towles, who entered Wednesday's rubber match mired in an 0-for-32 skid, finished with three hits for Houston.
Brett Wallace hit a one-out double off Los Angeles reliever Matt Guerrier (2-3) in the ninth. After Bill Hall flied out, Towles stroked a 2-0 pitch to center field to score pinch-runner Brian Bogusevic.
Rookie Aneury Rodriguez gave up a home run to Matt Kemp among four hits in six innings for the Astros, who have won four of their last six games. Mark Melancon (4-1) tossed an inning of relief to earn the win.
Houston begins the series with righty Brett Myers, who's winless in seven starts since defeating the Chicago Cubs on April 12.
Houston is 3-7 in Myers's 10 starts this season.
He gave up eight hits and six runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 7-5 interleague loss at Toronto on May 21.
The loss boosted his ERA to 5.00 in 63 innings, one season after he posted a 3.14 mark over 33 starts and 223 2/3 innings.
He is 2-2 lifetime with a save against Arizona in eight meetings.
The Diamondbacks have won eight of their last 11 versus the Astros.