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Bud Norris Takes On Diamondbacks In Game Two Of Weekend Series

(Sports Network) - Longtime Pittsburgh hurler Zach Duke makes an injury- delayed debut in a new uniform tonight when the Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Minute Maid Park for the middle test of a three-game set with the host Houston Astros.

In Friday's opener, Juan Miranda smacked a pair of two-run homers to help erase a six-run deficit and give Arizona a 7-6 victory.

Daniel Hudson (6-5) earned the win despite allowing six runs - five earned - on eight hits and a walk in six innings. He also struck out four to give Arizona its 12th win in its last 14 games.

The Diamondbacks remained within 1 1/2 games of front-running San Francisco in the National League's West Division.

Houston's Wilton Lopez (1-2) took the loss when he allowed the winning run to cross the plate in the seventh inning. Brett Myers started the game and allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Michael Bourn went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored in the Astros' second loss in three games.

Duke, a 28-year-old Texas southpaw, made 159 starts for the Pirates over six seasons after they'd selected him in the 20th round of the 2001 draft.

He reached double digits with 10 wins in 2006 and won a career-best 11 times in 2009 before plummeting to 8-15 in 29 starts last season.

Duke, though, was dealt to Arizona in an offseason trade that sent Cesar Valdez to the Pirates. Duke's unveiling with the Diamondbacks, though, was delayed when he was hit by a line drive in a spring training game and suffered a fractured left hand.

He allowed five runs in five innings of a rehab start with Triple-A Reno on May 23 and is 3-5 with a 3.38 earned run average in 12 career games against the Astros.

Houston goes with third-year righty Bud Norris, who's dropped two straight decisions in four starts since defeating Milwaukee, 5-0, on May 1.

He takes the place of lefty Wandy Rodriguez, who was scratched due to discomfort in his left elbow. Rodriguez was subsequently scheduled for a precautionary MRI at Texas Orthopedic Hospital.

Norris allowed six hits and two earned runs in seven innings of his most recent outing, getting a no-decision in the Astros' 4-3 defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 23.

Houston is 5-5 in the 10 games he's started this season.

Norris, who won nine games in 27 starts last year, is winless in three career matchups with Arizona, allowing 19 hits and 17 runs in 10 2/3 innings.

The Diamondbacks have won nine of their last 12 versus the Astros.

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