Final
Brewers-Astros Preview
Sep 13, 2010 - 1:07 AMVideo
Milwaukee (65-76) at Houston (67-75), 8:05 p.m. EDT
After having major offensive problems over the weekend, the Milwaukee Brewers may not find it any easier to score runs against Brett Myers.
The Houston Astros' steady right-hander looks to win his fourth consecutive decision as the Brewers open a six-game road trip Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
The Brewers (66-76) totaled two runs in their last three games against the Chicago Cubs, although they won the finale 2-0 behind ace Yovani Gallardo after combining for six hits in shutout losses Friday and Saturday.
"Our pitchers have really thrown the ball well for the last few weeks," said outfielder Ryan Braun, who went 2 for 4 with an RBI double. "It's nice to finally pick somebody up."
In their only other visit to Houston this season, the Brewers also totaled two runs and two shutout defeats in a three-game set, getting swept July 30-Aug. 1.
Myers (11-7, 2.91 ERA) didn't pitch in that series, but he has held most opponents in check throughout a consistent year. He has been especially sharp lately, going 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA in his last six starts.
Myers allowed three hits in seven innings of a 4-0 win over the Cubs on Wednesday. While he struck out eight, Myers said he's not trying to rack up big strikeout numbers.
"I go out there and pitch to contact. I want them to hit the ball. I'm not a big strikeout pitcher," he said. "I want them to hit the ball on the ground in the least amount of pitches and get deep in the game."
That hasn't been a problem all season for Myers, who has set a franchise record by pitching at least six innings in each of his 29 starts. It's the longest such streak in the majors since Curt Schilling's run of 35 straight for Arizona in 2002.
Myers has pitched exactly six innings in each of his three outings against Milwaukee, going 0-2 with a 6.50 ERA. Five of the 15 home runs he's allowed this year were hit by the Brewers, including two by Prince Fielder.
All three of those starts came at Miller Park. In three career home starts against the Milwaukee - all with Philadelphia - Myers is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA, including two complete games.
The Brewers will also feel good about their starter as Chris Narveson (11-7, 5.20) chases a fourth consecutive winning decision.
The left-hander hasn't lost since July 28 against Cincinnati, and is 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA in his last three outings. Opponents are batting .186 in that stretch, while Narveson has 23 strikeouts in 20 1-3 innings.
Narveson pitched seven strong innings and struck out nine in a 4-2 win over St. Louis on Tuesday, but was overshadowed when Trevor Hoffman picked up his 600th career save.
The Astros (68-75) beat Narveson on May 26, chasing him after four innings of a 5-0 win. They opened their current homestand by splitting a four-game set with the Dodgers, winning 7-4 on Sunday to improve to 15-6 in their last 21 games overall.
Hunter Pence went 3 for 4 with a home run Sunday. The outfielder is batting .331 with nine homers and 25 RBIs in 29 contests over the past month.
"I'm getting more opportunities by hitting in the No. 3 spot," Pence said. "I am grateful for the opportunity and feel good that it's going the way it is."
- Astros 4, Brewers 2 - FINAL
MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 5 0 0 0 0 3 2 .261
A Escobar ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .244
R Braun lf 4 1 2 0 1 1 2 .304
C McGehee 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .284
C Hart rf 4 1 1 1 0 2 2 .278
M Gamel 3b 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .000
C Gomez
Sep 13 11:13 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARLOS GOMEZ SCORED RYAN BRAUN
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C GOMEZ ON FIRST, C MCGEHEE ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 2
HOUSTON 4 TOP,8TH
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: J LUCROY (.272, 2-FOR-2, BB)
Brewers 2, Astros 4 Top 8, 0 OutsSep 13 10:41 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY CARLOS GOMEZ ALLOWED CARLOS LEE TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C JOHNSON ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 1
HOUSTON 4 BOTTOM,7TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B WALLACE (.227, 1-FOR-3)
Brewers 1, Astros 4 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 13 10:17 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CHRIS JOHNSON SCORED JEFF KEPPINGER
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C JOHNSON ON FIRST, C LEE ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 1
HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM,7TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B WALLACE (.227, 1-FOR-3)
Brewers 1, Astros 3 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 13 10:15 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARLOS LEE SCORED JASON BOURGEOIS
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C LEE ON FIRST, J KEPPINGER ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 1
HOUSTON 2 BOTTOM,7TH
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C JOHNSON (.315, 0-FOR-3)
Brewers 1, Astros 2 Bot 7, 0 OutsSep 13 10:12 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY COREY HART (28) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
4TH OFF BRETT MYERS.
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 1, HOUSTON 1
DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: M GAMEL (.000, 0-FOR-1)
Brewers 1, Astros 1 Top 4, 0 OutsSep 13 8:55 PM - NL
AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JEFF KEPPINGER SCORED MICHAEL BOURN
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J KEPPINGER ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 0
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM,1ST
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.288, 24 HR, 84 RBI)
Brewers 0, Astros 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsSep 13 8:16 PM
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