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Rookie Gallardo dominates punchless Houston

Sep 18, 2007 - 5:37 AM By Andrew Ferraro PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Thanks to another strong start by rookie pitcher Yovani Gallardo, the Milwaukee Brewers' season-long dominance over the Houston Astros continued.

Since losing three of four starts from August 8-25, Gallardo won his fourth straight start with a dominating performance in a 6-0 win over the Astros at Minute Maid Park on Monday.

Corey Hart and J.J. Hardy had two hits apiece for the Brewers, who improved to 12-4 against the Astros in 2007. Before this year, Milwaukee had not won a season series against Houston since 1997.

Milwaukee (77-72) remained a full game back in the National League Central standings behind the Chicago Cubs (79-72), who rallied late to defeat Cincinnati, 7-6.

Gallardo (9-4) pitched a career-high eight innings, allowing seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

"He's got another gear that he saves for only when he needs it," Brewers manager Ned Yost said of Gallardo. "He's got a lot of moxie, a lot of savvy, a lot of composure. He's a tremendous athlete. He's the total package."

Gallardo is glad that he came up big in the middle of a pennant race.

"Whenever I came up here, I knew (the race) was going to be close to the finish," Gallardo said. "I forgot about all that and just pitched the way I've been pitching. I feel pretty good. Arm feels good, body feels good. I'm already looking forward to the next start.

"I've been a little more aggressive. I lost a little bit of that in Colorado (when he allowed 11 runs and 12 hits over 2 2/3 innings). But I feel good, I feel healthy."

Hart drove in two runs in the first inning with a two-out double for a 2-0 advantage and sparked a three-run fourth. Prince Fielder started the inning with a single off Houston starter Matt Albers (4-9) and scored one batter later.

Hart singled and advanced to third when Astros rookie outfielder Hunter Pence committed a throwing error on Hart's single. He scored one batter later when Gabe Gross doubled to deep right.

That was enough for Gallardo, who has not allowed a run since August 31 - a span of 21 2/3 innings - when he allowed a run in the seventh inning of a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Since then, he has pitched seven scoreless innings against the Astros at home on September 5 and followed that with six shutout frames against the Pirates at PNC Park on last Tuesday.

"Anytime he's out there lately, he's been doing a good job for us," Hart said. "You feel like you're going to win. Especially on the road, any time you can score early, it's a confidence boost.

"You always settle down, and it was lights out for us. He's been incredible. We need a win on the road, and he just puts zeros out there for us."

Albers took the loss, surrendering five runs and five hits over just 3 1/3 innings, and remained winless in three September starts. He struck out three and walked one.

"It seems like it is the same old thing with me," Albers said. "I will throw a couple of good pitches, and then I will leave one over the plate, or I will get up 0-2 on a guy and leave the ball over the plate. It's frustrating, but I have to keep going."

For the Astros, rookie Josh Anderson continued his recent hot streak, singling in his first two official at-bats on the heels of Sunday's five-hit game against Pittsburgh.

With hits in seven straight official at-bats, Anderson fell just one hit short of the club record of eight, shared by Julio Gotay (1967) and Art Howe (1980).

"I am just feeling good and I don't want to make any changes right now until I have to," Anderson said. "I am just going to keep doing whatever I can do to get on base. That is my role and, fortunately, I have been selective and have been able to get on.

"Right now, I don't want to change any of that."