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Brewers-Astros Preview

Aug 1, 2010 - 3:52 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Milwaukee (48-56) at Houston (43-59), 2:05 p.m. EDT

Even with two of the franchise's most popular players no longer around, the Houston Astros have had little problem moving forward.

The Astros look for a season-high fifth straight victory to complete a series sweep of the slumping Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Hours after officially trading star and Texas native Lance Berkman to the Yankees, the Astros (44-59) shut out Milwaukee for the second straight night, 6-0 on Saturday.

Rookie third baseman Chris Johnson had three hits and rookie shortstop Angel Sanchez added two RBIs as the Astros matched their longest winning stretch of the season.

"It shows a lot for the guys we've still got here, that we can put that behind us and once we step on the field we've got to play hard and get the job done," said Johnson, batting .451 with 13 RBIs during a 14-game hitting streak.

Even without ace Roy Oswalt, who was dealt to Philadelphia on Thursday, Houston pitchers have allowed two runs over the last four games - none earned in the last three. The Astros have not given up a run since the first inning of an 8-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

After strong starts from J.A. Happ and Wandy Rodriguez, Houston hopes Wesley Wright (0-1, 5.12) fares better Sunday than he has in the first two of his career since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.

Wright made 126 straight career appearances out of the bullpen before going 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA in two starts in July - both against the Cubs. Five of the 10 runs Wright allowed in those starts were earned. He gave up four in five innings of a 5-2 loss to Chicago on Monday.

"I had a little extra energy going," Wright told the Astros' official website. "Learning how to be a starting pitcher, it's hard to control those emotions."

Facing a different opponent could help the left-hander, who is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA in 14 relief appearances against the Brewers.

After winning five in a row and 11 of 15, Milwaukee (48-57) looks to avoid a fifth straight loss. The Brewers have not been shut out in three straight games since May 3-6, 1972.

Despite being involved in trade rumors, Milwaukee opted to keep stars Prince Fielder and Corey Hart. The pair is 3 for 15 in the series. Fielder had two of the Brewers' six hits Saturday.

Former Astro Randy Wolf (7-9, 5.07) tries for a second straight strong start Sunday.

After giving up a career-high 12 runs in a 15-3 loss at Pittsburgh on July 21, Wolf bounced back by allowing two in seven innings but didn't factor in the decision of a 3-2 win over Cincinnati on Monday.

"(The loss at Pittsburgh) was a nightmare game," Wolf told the Brewers' official website. "Those are the kind of games you try to put behind you."

Wolf, who went 6-2 with a 3.57 ERA in 12 starts for Houston in 2008, is 5-5 with a 3.63 ERA against the Astros. The left-hander allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings of a 6-1 win over Houston on May 25.