Astros-Brewers - Series Recap

The Brewers took two of three from the Astros and finished their homestand 5-1. The Crew is now 11-4 against Houston this year.

Monday - Astros win 9-7: This game seemed destined to be a low scoring affair with Ben Sheets facing Roy Oswalt but things turned out differently. The Astros struck first with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Two of the runs scored on what was ruled a triple by Brad Ausmus. Gabe Gross had a bead on the play but slipped and fell before being able to get a glove on the ball. The Brewers came back with two in the bottom of the inning. Geoff Jenkins and Craig Counsell each had RBI singles in that inning. The Brewers tied the game in the sixth when Corey Hart reached on a fielder's choice that scored Ryan Braun. Counsell gave the Brewers the lead with a two-run triple later in the inning.

Sheets pitched six innings and gave up three runs but did walk a career high six hitters. He left with the lead but the bullpen would not be able to hold it for him. Oswalt was let off the hook as he gave up five runs in five and two thirds innings. The Astros got one back in the top of the seventh but the Brewers answered right back with two more in the bottom of the inning. Braun doubled home Gross and Bill Hall picked up a sac fly that scored Braun for the two runs in the seventh for the Brewers. However, that three run lead would not last once again. The Astros put up a four-spot in the eighth inning. The big blow came when Hunter Pence hit a two-run triple off Brewers reliever Greg Aquino to tie the game. Pence scored the go ahead run on a passed ball by Johnny Estrada. The rookie center fielder went 3-4 with two RBI and two runs in the game.

Tuesday - Brewers win 5-3: The Crew bounced back with a solid win behind the pitching of Carlos Villanueva who picked up the win for the Brewers. Villanueva threw six innings and gave up just one run in his first start since June. Braun gave the Brewers the lead in the first with a solo homer. The Brewers made it 2-0 with a infield single by Gross that scored Villanueva. Chris Burke cut the Brewers lead in half with a solo home run in the third inning. RBI hits from Geoff Jenkins and Corey Hart gave the Brewers a 4-1 lead in the fifth inning. The Astros scored two unearned runs off Scott Linebrink in the seventh inning to cut the lead to one. Johnny Estrada hit a sac fly that scored Braun to make it 5-3 Brewers.

Astros pitcher Brandon Backe made his first start in about a year and picked up the loss. Backe was returning from Tommy John Surgery. He pitched five and two thirds innings and gave up four runs, three earned. Brian Shouse pitched the eighth for the Brewers and Francisco Cordero the ninth to pick up his 40th save of the year, a Brewers team record.

Wednesday - Brewers win 14-2: This one turned out to be a laugher for the Brewers. The Crew started this game with three-run homers from Prince Fielder and Braun in the first and second innings, respectively. Corey Hart hit another three-run home run in the fourth inning and that was followed by a homer from Jenkins. Both of those homers were the 20th of the season for those players. Hart joined the 20-20 club with his home run. Hall homered in the sixth as a pinch hitter for Hart. Vinny Rottino doubled home Rickie Weeks and Gross to the seven inning to give the Brewers two more runs.

Yovani Gallardo pitched seven scoreless innings to pick up the win for the Brewers. He struck out five and walked two in his seventh win of the season. The shutout ended in the ninth inning when Luke Scott homered against new Brewer Ray King. Matt Albers started for the Astros and lasted just three innings and gave up seven runs to be charged with the loss.