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Brewers-Astros Preview

Sep 14, 2010 - 5:42 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Milwaukee (66-77) at Houston (69-75), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Houston Astros have been playing excellent ball at home in recent weeks.

They're particularly dominant at Minute Maid Park against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Houston goes for its sixth straight home win over Milwaukee on Tuesday as these NL Central rivals continue their three-game set.

The Astros (69-75), who lost 19 of their first 28 at home this season, are 17-6 at Minute Maid since July 26. They've won five straight home meetings with the Brewers (66-77), outscoring Milwaukee 22-4 in those contests.

That pattern continued in Monday night's opener of this series. Milwaukee stranded 10 baserunners in a 4-2 loss.

"We were like 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position," said Brewers manager Ken Macha, whose club has totaled four runs in its last four games.

Milwaukee's struggling offense could benefit from the return of first baseman Prince Fielder, whose streak of 327 consecutive games played ended Monday due to flu-like symptoms.

Ryan Braun, who is batting .394 (13 for 33) in his last eight games, is 3 for 9 with a homer against Bud Norris (7-8, 5.16 ERA), Houston's probable starter Tuesday.

Norris has won five of his six last decisions after striking out seven in six innings of Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander did not allow a run in his final five innings after giving up two in the first.

The Brewers will counter with Chris Capuano (3-3, 4.09), who is looking to build off his longest start since July 23, 2007. The veteran left-hander tossed seven innings of one-run ball in Wednesday's 8-1 victory over St. Louis. Capuano missed the last two seasons following his second Tommy John surgery.

"I don't think people realize how difficult it is to go through what he's been through and get back to this point," Braun said. "It's great to see him throwing the ball well. He's earned the right to get back here."

Capuano, 1-1 with a 4.80 ERA in three starts since taking Manny Parra's spot in the rotation, has not allowed a run in three relief appearances versus the Astros this season. He hasn't started against Houston since 2007.

Astros second baseman Jeff Keppinger went 2 for 2 with a career high-tying three walks Monday and is batting .368 (14 for 38) while hitting safely in 10 of 11 games. He is hitting .358 versus Milwaukee this season.

Michael Bourn, who Monday became the second player in Astros history to steal 50 or more bases in back-to-back seasons, is one stolen base shy of tying Gerald Young for 10th place on the franchise's all-time list with 153.