SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- For the seventh time this season, Chris Holt tries to break into the win column when the Houston Astros battle the San Francisco Giants in the middle contest of a three-game series. Holt (0-5, 6.29 ERA) was tagged for four runs and 11 hits over six innings against Montreal in his last appearance on May 9. He has pitched more than six innings in just one start and has allowed at least three earned runs in his last four outings. Holt is 0-2 with a 2.14 ERA in three appearances aganst the Giants. Russ Ortiz (5-2, 2.53) looks to extend a career-high four-game winning streak for San Francisco. Ortiz did not pick up a decision against the Astros on Sunday, allowing two runs and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings in a 5-4 win. Over the last five games, Ortiz has surrendered 10 runs -- eight earned -- and 28 hits in 34 1/3 innings. One of Ortiz's losses was against Houston on April 13 when he gave up four runs and six hits in six innings despite striking out nine in a 7-3 setback. That is his only decision against the Astros. The Giants defeated the Astros on Friday, 4-3, for just the third time in seven contests this season. Armando Rios doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Robb Nen picked up his 13th save to tie for the National League lead. Astros third baseman Ken Caminiti left in the third inning with a strained right calf while attempting to steal second. He is listed as day-to-day.  