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Astros deny Brewers ninth straight win

Jul 26, 2008 - 4:10 AM By Nick Berenz PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers were denied their ninth straight win, as the Houston Astros rolled to a 3-1 triumph on Friday behind a three-run seventh inning and a strong outing by Wandy Rodriguez.

Mark Loretta and Kaz Matsui each lifted a sacrifice fly while Lance Berkman laced an RBI single to complete the seventh-inning rally against David Riske, who relieved Manny Parra after the lefthander loaded the bases with none out.

"A walk, an infield hit and we tried to make a play at third on a bunt play that got him into trouble," Brewers manager Ned Yost said of Parra. "I thought Manny pitched very, very well."

Parra (9-3) failed to notch his ninth consecutive win and suffered his first defeat since May 3, which also came against the Astros.

"I've been pitching in and out of trouble all year," Parra said. "It's one of those situations where we score just one run, and I really would've liked to pick those guys up."

Rodriguez (6-3) threw six sterling innings, surrendering one run and three hits while striking out seven en route to his fourth straight victory.

"Wandy was magnificent, he matched Parra pitch for pitch," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "If you can do that to a good hitting team, you're doing some big-time pitching, and that's what we got tonight."

Chris Sampson and Wesley Wright bridged the gap to Jose Valverde, who worked around a hit in the ninth to record his 26th save.

"It was an exciting win, definitely electrifying out there late," said Sampson, who has settled into a setup role as of late. "It was fun."

Rodriguez pitched his second consecutive quality start against the National League Central Division's elite. He tossed 6 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs (60-43) in his previous outing on Saturday, holding them to one run while striking out seven.

"I'm very happy today. I (threw) my changeup a lot, and it worked," Rodriguez said. "That's what I needed."

With the Cubs' 3-2 loss to the Florida Marlins earlier Friday, a win by the Brewers (59-44) would have given them their first share of the division lead since April 8.

"We watched the game, but it doesn't matter if you don't win," Milwaukee's Mike Cameron said. "That's why you try to keep your focus on what you're doing."

Cameron delivered a run-scoring double in the second for Milwaukee, which has been baseball's hottest team since May 20, going 39-20 during that span. It returned home Friday after completing a franchise-best 7-0 road trip.

"Every time you come out here now, you expect to win, but we know that's not possible," Cameron said.