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Counsell has 3 hits in Brewers 6-2 win

Aug 16, 2009 - 2:32 AM MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Craig Counsell had three hits and drove in three runs, Mike Burns pitched seven solid innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Saturday night.

The victory gave Milwaukee three consecutive wins for the first time since sweeping Cleveland June 15-17. Houston has lost five of six games.

Mike Burns (3-4) gave up two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven in his seventh big league start. The right-hander, facing an Astros team that drafted him in the 30th round in 2000, tossed a shutout until Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer in the seventh.

Houston starter Brian Moehler (7-9) pitched five innings, giving up three runs and 10 hits.

Counsell had a pair of singles and a triple, and is 9 for 19 against Houston this year.

Felipe Lopez had three hits for Milwaukee and rookie shortstop Alcides Escobar had two hits and scored two runs in his third major league start. The Brewers had 13 hits one night after getting 14 hits in an 11-2 victory over Houston.

Astros pitching has struggled recently, giving up at least 10 hits in 10 of 12 games.

Frank Catalanotto doubled to open the second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Burns' RBI groundout. Escobar and Lopez then hit consecutive singles and scored on Counsell's triple down the right-field line for a 3-0 lead.

Milwaukee scored three more in the sixth. Escobar, who replaced J.J. Hardy as the Brewers' shortstop, led off with a single and moved to third on Lopez' single. Counsell's single made it 4-0, Lopez scored on Prince Fielder's sacrifice fly, and Counsell scored on Mike Cameron's groundout.

David Weathers pitched the eighth inning and Todd Coffey pitched the ninth.

NOTES: Brewers RHP Jeff Suppan made a 39-pitch rehab start for Class-A Wisconsin, giving up four runs and five hits in 3 1-3 innings. Suppan has been on the DL since July 30 with a left oblique strain, but could start for Milwaukee next weekend at Washington. ... Dave Bush threw a 45-pitch simulated game and will make a rehab start Tuesday night. Bush has been on the DL since June 23 with a micro tear of his right triceps muscle. ... Houston's Kaz Matsui had an infield single in the third, giving him 2,000 hits combined in his careers in Japan and the major leagues. ... The victory evened Milwaukee's record at 58-58.