• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Blum powers Astros past Sheets, Brewers

Aug 20, 2008 - 4:01 AM By David Cotey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros did all their damage just when the Milwaukee Brewers looked as if they were off the hook.

Geoff Blum hit a three-run home run and Michael Bourn added a two-run triple - both with two outs - as the Astros downed the Brewers, 5-2, at Miller Park on Tuesday.

Conversely, the Brewers were 1-for-10 with two outs and left nine runners on base while falling six games behind the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs.

"We definitely had opportunities to score runs early," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "We just couldn't get a big hit."

Blum snapped a 2-2 tie with his blast in the sixth off Brewers starter Ben Sheets (11-7). After Darin Erstad singled and Bourn was hit by a pitch, Sheets induced a flyout and strikeout and was poised to get out of the jam, but Blum ripped the 1-2 pitch over the right field wall.

"I was looking off-speed," Blum said. "It was a sinker or changeup and he left it out over the plate and I got a hold of it."

The home run, Blum's 12th, established a career high for the Houston shortstop and ended an 0-for-9 skid. Blum was 4-for-20 lifetime against Sheets before the hit.

"I didn't make many mistakes but the ones I did make they hit hard," Sheets said. "Sometimes I think I get caught up in trying not to make a mistake, you know, because one (run) can be the difference right now."

J.J Hardy and Mike Cameron had RBI doubles to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead after two innings against Houston starter Brian Moehler (9-4), but the Brewers squandered opportunities to break the game open.

Gabe Kapler struck out with the bases loaded to end the second and flew out with the bases loaded to end the fourth. Kapler was batting third in place of All-Star Ryan Braun, who sat with a back injury.

Bourn tied the score at 2-2 in the third with a triple off Sheets, his first hit in 11 at-bats.

"(Blum's home run) was a big base hit, but I thought Michael's hit was just as huge," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "Going down to Sheets, 2-0, and it looks like he's rolling, Michael got a big base hit for us and kind of got us on the board and got us rolling a little bit."

Moehler scattered nine hits, struck out four and allowed two runs - one earned - over 5 1/3 innings to win his fifth straight start for the Astros, winners of 10 of 13.

"My mechanics right now are a little off and I feel it," Moehler said. "You go through things like this over the course of the year. I was very fortunate tonight. I made some pitches when I had to."

Four Houston relievers retired 11 of 12 batters and held Milwaukee scoreless after Moehler departed, including Jose Valverde, who picked up his 32nd save.

Sheets struck out seven but allowed five runs on five hits in six innings, the sixth time in his last nine starts he has failed to pitch into the seventh inning. The righthander was trying to match a career-high 12 wins and is 1-5 in his last six decisions.

"I ain't pitching great, but I don't think I'm pitching as bad as it's made out to be," Sheets said. "I've pitched plenty winnable games and plenty loseable games during that stretch. The first half, I came away with a lot of victories, pitching the same way I'm pitching (now)."

Houston's Ty Wigginton's hitting streak was stopped at 15 games.