Los Angeles (39-44) defeated the Astros 7-6 in 11 innings Tuesday to pull within three games of NL West-leading Arizona.

Despite being near the top of the standings, the Dodgers are tied with San Francisco for the fourth-fewest runs in the majors with 339, and had scored just two runs in their previous three games combined. Los Angeles matched that total in the first inning Tuesday, though, on Russell Martin's two-run homer.

Jeff Kent ended Tuesday's scoring with a solo homer in the 11th - his first home run since belting two against the Chicago Cubs on June 5 - as the Dodgers had their highest run total since defeating Colorado 8-2 on June 2.

"We had some good at-bats and finally put some runs on the board for our pitching staff," said Martin, who finished Tuesday 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs Tuesday going 1-for-8 his previous three games.

Martin and the Dodgers hope to provide Hiroki Kuroda (3-6, 4.04 ERA) with similar run support as he takes the mound for his first start in three weeks.

Los Angeles placed Kuroda on the disabled list on June 19 with right shoulder tendinitis after continuing pain. In Kuroda's last start on June 12, the Japanese right-hander was tagged for six runs, five hits and four walks in 2 1-3 innings of a 9-0 loss at San Diego. That outing was considerably different than his previous one on June 6, when he threw a four-hitter and struck out a career-high 11 in a 3-0 win over the Cubs.

In his only start against the Astros (40-44) on May 11, Kuroda gave up one run and one hit in 6 2-3 innings of an 8-5 loss, but was not a factor in the decision.

Houston's loss Tuesday snapped a three-game winning streak. The Astros, who have won seven of 11 following a season-high eight-game skid, trailed 6-1 after 5 1/2 innings before scoring three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to tie the score.

Carlos Lee had four hits and drove in two runs Tuesday, and is 9-for-18 with a homer and five RBIs in his last four games.

Houston has won four of five over the Dodgers this season, and manager Cecil Cooper gives the ball to Runelvys Hernandez (0-1, 5.40), who looks to build off his season debut.

Hernandez is taking the spot in Houston's starting rotation for Shawn Chacon, who was placed on waivers Thursday, one day after he got into a physical confrontation with general manager Ed Wade in the Astros' clubhouse.

In his first appearance in the majors since 2006 with Kansas City, Hernandez gave up three runs, five hits and struck out five in five innings of a 6-1 loss to Boston on Friday. The right-hander's only major mistake was a three-run homer to J.D. Drew in the third inning.

"I gave 100 percent and that's usually enough to win," said Hernandez, who threw 99 pitches. "But I didn't want to be too excited. I was just trying to do my job."

In his only career start against Los Angeles on June 14, 2005, Hernandez gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings of a 3-2 win for the Royals.