(Sports Network) - Without a victory since April 12, Brett Myers tries to get back on the winning track this afternoon when he takes the mound for the Astros against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Myers, who is off to a shaky 1-3 start with a 4.79 ERA this season, posted his only victory against the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander, who is 0-3 over his last six appearances, is coming off a six-inning no-decision against Atlanta on Monday.
This will be Myers' third appearance against the Blue Jays, but his first start. The other two resulted in saves. Myers owns a 6-7 record and a 5.64 ERA in 23 career games (21 starts) against American League opponents.
Brandon Morrow goes after his second consecutive victory today for the Blue Jays. The righty lasted five innings in an 11-3 victory at Minnesota on Sunday. Morrow struck out eight batters in that game. He's given up just one home run in 26 innings this season.
Morrow has faced the Astros once, and that came in relief when he allowed four hits and three runs over just a third of an inning on June 17, 2007. Morrow was in his rookie season and pitching for Seattle.
Last night, Chris Johnson hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, and the Astros rallied for a 5-2 win. Hunter Pence ignited the comeback by stroking a game-tying two-run double in the eighth off Toronto reliever Jon Rauch, who had retired the first two batters with ease.
Frank Francisco (1-1) didn't fare as well in the ninth. After issuing a one- out walk to Matt Downs, Francisco served up a 3-2 fastball that Johnson launched over the left-field wall, giving Houston a 4-2 lead. Michael Bourn tacked on an RBI single later in the frame.
The Blue Jays went down quietly in the home half as Mark Melancon notched his second save of the season.
Bourn collected three hits for Houston, which snapped a five-game losing streak. Astros rookie Aneury Rodriguez gave up two runs and eight hits in his 5 1/3-inning start, while Johnson's blast made a winner out of Wilton Lopez (1-1).
Toronto starter Jo-Jo Reyes tossed seven scoreless innings, but remains in search of his first win since June 13, 2008 because of the bullpen, which entered play on Friday with an AL-best 2.72 earned run average. The left- hander has now gone 27 consecutive starts without recording a positive decision.
The Astros are making their first-ever trip to Toronto. They swept a three- game set from the Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park in 2005, the only other meeting between the two teams.
Toronto was 7-11 last season in interleague play, while the Astros finished a club-worst 3-12 versus the American League a year ago.