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Brewers-Astros Preview

Jul 29, 2010 - 11:16 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Milwaukee (48-55) at Houston (42-59), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Houston Astros were scheduled to have their ace take the mound for perhaps the final time at Minute Maid Park. Instead, J.A. Happ will make his debut.

The former Phillies left-hander looks to continue putting an arm injury behind him as the Astros open a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Houston (42-59) was expected to have Roy Oswalt try to tie the franchise record for wins amid reports that he could be traded to a playoff contender.

A trade did happen before Oswalt could go for the milestone victory, as the Astros dealt him to Philadelphia on Thursday for Happ (1-0, 1.76 ERA) and two prospects.

The move was made with the Astros far back in the NL Central and the Phillies closing in on Atlanta in the East.

Happ joins Houston after spending parts of four seasons with the Phillies, including last year when he went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA and was the runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year award.

"This is all I've ever known," Happ said of playing for Philadelphia. "I had an idea driving to the ballpark it might be the last time. It was emotional."

He spent three months of 2010 on the disabled list with a forearm strain before returning Sunday, when he allowed three runs and four walks in five innings, not getting a decision in a 4-3 win over Colorado.

Happ won his only start at Houston on April 9, scattering six hits with five strikeouts in five innings of an 8-0 victory. He'll now face the Brewers for the first time since Sept. 24, when he yielded two runs and struck out seven in 5 2-3 innings of a 9-4 win.

The Astros are looking to win for the fourth time in five games. They outscored Chicago 14-2 to take the last two games of that series, winning 8-1 on Wednesday.

Rookie Chris Johnson will try to extend his hitting streak to 13 games Friday. The third baseman's run is the longest by an Astros rookie since Julio Lugo hit in 14 straight in 2000.

Johnson has a .400 average with three homers and nine RBIs during the streak.

The Brewers have dropped consecutive games after winning five in a row. They fell again Wednesday, 10-2 to Cincinnati.

Milwaukee could get an offensive boost from Corey Hart, who is expected to return after missing five games with a right wrist injury. The right fielder leads the team with 70 RBIs and has 22 homers, tied for second on the club.

Hart was hitting .333 over his last 13 games before getting hurt sliding into the wall during a win over Washington last Friday.

"(Head athletic trainer) Roger (Caplinger) is feeling pretty confident that he'll be able to be back in the lineup in Houston on Friday," manager Ken Macha told the team's official website. "I certainly hope so."

Macha will give the ball to Manny Parra (3-7, 5.33), who has gone 0-2 with an 8.82 ERA in his last three outings.

The left-hander showed improvement Saturday, allowing two runs in six innings of a 4-3 win over the Nationals. He didn't get the decision.

Parra is 4-3 with a 5.18 ERA in eight starts against Houston.