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Brewers shoot for another defeat of lowly Astros

Sep 3, 2011 - 2:50 PM (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers try to make it two straight wins this evening when they continue their three-game series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

On Friday, the Brewers exploded for eight runs in the final three innings to beat the Astros, 8-2.

Milwaukee was coming off a disastrous series against St. Louis, in which it was swept in three games and outscored by an 18-8 margin. But the NL Central- leading Brewers rebounded with Friday's win, and extended their advantage over the second-place Cardinals to 8 1/2 games.

Ryan Braun hit a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh, Casey McGehee slugged a two-run homer in the eighth and Prince Fielder added a two-run shot in the ninth.

"Prince looked really good today at the plate," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said of Fielder, who finished 4-for-4. "His rhythm was great, his swings were great. Even the balls he was fouling back. And he's also seeing the ball really well."

Lucas Harrell was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to make his first start with the Astros, who claimed him off waivers from the White Sox in July. The right-hander pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks, to put Houston in position to win.

"I feel like I got in a groove a little bit later on," Harrell said. "You're always a little bit nervous, a little excited. I feel like after I got through a few innings it went a little bit better."

But the Astros' bullpen failed -- Aneury Rodriguez (1-6) was responsible for three runs in the seventh, David Carpenter allowed McGehee's homer and Jordan Lyles gave up three runs in the ninth as Houston had its four-game win streak broken.

Heading to the hill for the Brewers tonight will be lefty Chris Narveson, who has won his last three decisions and is 9-6 with a 4.28 ERA. Narveson hasn't started since August 22 when he tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings to beat Pittsburgh.

Narveson beat the Astros the last time he faced them, but is 1-2 in eight games (seven starts) against them with a 4.38 ERA.

Houston, meanwhile, will counter with righty Bud Norris, who is 6-8 with a 3.68 ERA. Norris did not get a decision on Sunday in San Francisco, but pitched well as he surrendered two runs and three hits in seven innings. He also struck out 10 in the 4-3 win.

"I wanted to go deep into the game, which I did, and give these guys a chance to win," Norris said.

Norris has faced the Brewers six times and is 3-1 against them with a 3.50 ERA.

The Brewers have won seven straight versus the Astros and 10 of the 13 overall meetings this year.