Final
Brewers-Astros Preview
Aug 8, 2009 - 4:52 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS WriterMilwaukee (54-54) at Houston (53-55), 7:05 p.m. EDT
Speedy center fielder Michael Bourn could be ready to return from a minor groin injury for the Houston Astros' next game. If he isn't, manager Cecil Cooper probably won't have a problem with keeping Bourn's replacement in the lineup.
Whether it's Bourn or Jason Michaels in center field, the Astros hope to continue getting solid production from the position as they host the NL Central rival Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night.
Bourn has been the catalyst at the top of Houston's batting order this year, hitting a career-high .286 with 39 stolen bases and 70 runs scored, also a personal best.
However, he hasn't been able to help the club lately because of a nagging groin problem. He's day to day, but Cooper expects him to be ready to play Saturday.
That would likely send Michaels back to the bench in spite of his success at the plate in two starts in Bourn's place. The veteran homered twice and drove in four runs to lead the Astros (54-55) to a 6-3 win in the series opener Friday night, two days after he delivered a two-run double and scored a run in a loss to San Francisco - his first start in nearly three weeks.
Michaels said after Friday's game he'd accept his role as a reserve if Bourn can play Saturday.
"That's the life of a bench guy," said Michaels, who has lifted his average 18 points to .211 and tripled his home run total to three over the last two games.
"That's the way it is. I'm just trying to go out and have some good at-bats, play good defense. But it felt nice to contribute."
Michaels' contributions helped Houston pull into a tie with Milwaukee (54-55), five games behind division-leading St. Louis. The Brewers fell to 4-3 against the Astros this season, all at Minute Maid Park.
Milwaukee hopes to bounce back Saturday by handing the ball to Manny Parra (6-8, 6.33 ERA), who has won all three of his decisions since the All-Star break after dropping his last four of the first half.
The left-hander won Monday as he gave up four runs in a career-high eight innings in a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's 3-3 with a 4.88 ERA lifetime versus the Astros, including a loss in his only start against them this year.
Houston left fielder Carlos Lee is 7 for 12 (.583) with a home run, two doubles and three walks against Parra.
The Astros counter with Mike Hampton (7-8, 5.14 ERA). After giving up a career high-tying nine earned runs in his previous outing, the left-hander held San Francisco to two runs - one earned - in six innings of his 4-3 victory Monday. He's 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA over his last five home starts.
Hampton is 4-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 13 career starts against the Brewers. He has no record and a 5.40 ERA in two games against them this season, both Astros losses.
Milwaukee catcher Jason Kendall, who hit a two-run shot in the opener for his first homer of the season, has hit .359 in his career against Hampton.
- ** CONFIRMED **
NL
MILWAUKEE 12
HOUSTON 5 FINAL
Aug 8 10:40 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY FELIPE LOPEZ SCORED JODY GERUT
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, F LOPEZ ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 12
HOUSTON 5 TOP,9TH
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: M CAMERON (.251, 1-FOR-4, BB)
Brewers 12, Astros 5 Top 9, 0 OutsAug 8 10:25 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY CARLOS LEE (19) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE
7TH OFF CLAUDIO VARGAS.
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 11, HOUSTON 5
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M TEJADA (.321, 0-FOR-3)
Brewers 11, Astros 5 Bot 7, 0 OutsAug 8 9:56 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY PRINCE FIELDER (27) TO LEFT CENTER WITH
2 OUT IN THE 7TH OFF TIM BYRDAK SCORED FELIPE LOPEZ.
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 11, HOUSTON 4
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: C MCGEHEE (.318, 2-FOR-4, RBI)
Brewers 11, Astros 4 Top 7, 0 OutsAug 8 9:47 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY KAZUO MATSUI SCORED JASON MICHAELS
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, G BLUM ON FIRST, C COSTE ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 9
HOUSTON 4 BOTTOM,6TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J KEPPINGER (.270, 1-FOR-2, BB)
Brewers 9, Astros 4 Bot 6, 0 OutsAug 8 9:36 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CHRIS COSTE SCORED IVAN RODRIGUEZ
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C COSTE ON FIRST, J MICHAELS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 9
HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM,6TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: W WRIGHT (.333, 0-FOR-1)
Brewers 9, Astros 3 Bot 6, 0 OutsAug 8 9:29 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BILL HALL SCORED PRINCE FIELDER
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B HALL ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 9
HOUSTON 2 TOP,6TH
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: J HARDY (.229, 1-FOR-1, 2 BB)
Brewers 9, Astros 2 Top 6, 0 OutsAug 8 9:14 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
FORCE OUT BY HUNTER PENCE SCORED WESLEY WRIGHT
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, H PENCE ON FIRST, K MATSUI ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 8
HOUSTON 2 BOTTOM,5TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.315, 1-FOR-2)
Brewers 8, Astros 2 Bot 5, 0 OutsAug 8 9:05 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY PRINCE FIELDER SCORED MANNY PARRA
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, P FIELDER ON FIRST, F LOPEZ ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 8
HOUSTON 1 TOP,3RD
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: C MCGEHEE (.321, 2-FOR-2, RBI)
Brewers 8, Astros 1 Top 3, 0 OutsAug 8 8:16 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY YORMAN BAZARDO ALLOWED MIKE RIVERA TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, M PARRA ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 7
HOUSTON 1 TOP,3RD
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: F LOPEZ (.303, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Brewers 7, Astros 1 Top 3, 0 OutsAug 8 8:09 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MIKE RIVERA SCORED J.J. HARDY, BILL HALL AND CASEY
MCGEHEE
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M RIVERA ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 6
HOUSTON 1 TOP,3RD
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: M PARRA (.100, 0-FOR-0, SAC)
Brewers 6, Astros 1 Top 3, 0 OutsAug 8 8:07 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY CHRIS COSTE SCORED IVAN RODRIGUEZ
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM,2ND
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M HAMPTON (.286, 1 HR, 6 RBI)
Brewers 3, Astros 1 Bot 2, 0 OutsAug 8 7:52 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RYAN BRAUN SCORED JASON KENDALL AND J.J. HARDY
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, R BRAUN ON FIRST, M CAMERON ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 3
HOUSTON 0 TOP,2ND
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: P FIELDER (.299, 0-FOR-1)
Brewers 3, Astros 0 Top 2, 0 OutsAug 8 7:45 PM - NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 1 1 2 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - MANNY PARRA
HOU - MIKE HAMPTON
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: K MATSUI (.249, 5 HR, 28 RBI)
J KEPPINGER (.268, 3 HR, 19 RBI)
H PENCE (.290, 14 HR, 45 RBI)
Brewers 1, Astros 0 Bot 1, 0 OutsAug 8 7:18 PM
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