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Brewers send reeling Astros to NL Central basement

Jul 7, 2012 - 5:43 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Yovani Gallardo pitched six innings of one-run ball and Rickie Weeks hit a two-run home run as the Milwaukee Brewers took a 7-1 win over the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game set.

Gallardo (7-6) gave up four hits, three walks and struck out six to get the win. Norichika Aoki added a solo homer, two hits, two RBI and two runs scored for the Brewers, who snapped a two-game skid.

Scott Moore's solo homer was the lone run of the game for the Astros, who have dropped nine straight and now have the worst record in the majors. J.A. Happ (6-9) gave up seven runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Aoki and Ryan Braun hit back-to-back homers in the first to get Milwaukee on the board, but the Astros responded with Moore's second of the season in the bottom of the inning to make it a 2-1 game.

The score remained that way until the sixth when Corey Hart doubled with two outs and Weeks followed with his seventh homer of the season, a shot over the right field wall for a 4-1 lead.

The Brewers blew the game open with three runs in the seventh. Martin Maldonado walked to start the frame and came home on Carlos Gomez's triple. Aoki then singled to score Gomez and chase Happ from the game.

Enerio Del Rosario then took the mound and got Braun to pop out for the second out of the inning, but Aoki stole second and came home on Aramis Ramirez's double for a 7-1 advantage.

Kameron Loe pitched a 1-2-3 seventh while Livan Hernandez worked a perfect eighth inning and got around a two-on, two-out spot in the ninth to cap the win.

Game Notes

Aoki has a 13-game hitting streak...Gallardo is 11-2 in his career against the Astros...Happ fell to 3-3 lifetime against the Brewers...Each team has won three games in the season matchup...The Astros went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.