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Brewers hope to get back on top

Sep 5, 2007 - 2:54 PM Houston (62-77) at Milwaukee (70-68) 8:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - Ryan Braun will look to help the Milwaukee Brewers take back the National League Central lead when they host the Houston Astros in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday.

Braun, who is the favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year award, is 7-for-11 (.636) with two homers and five RBI over his previous three games. He blasted a solo shot in the Brewers' 5-3 triumph over the Astros on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Braun is batting .334 with 27 home runs and 73 RBI this season despite not being called up until May 5. He is just one home run shy of tying teammate Prince Fielder's mark - set last year - for most by a rookie in Brewers' history.

Milwaukee, which sits just one-half game behind the Chicago Cubs (70-67) in the NL Central, will send rookie Yovani Gallardo (6-4, 4.64 ERA) to the mound. The 21-year-old righthander yielded two runs and five hits with seven strikeouts in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Astros will turn to rookie Matt Albers (4-6, 5.36) to slow down the surging Brewers, who have won four of their last five. Albers has given up just two earned runs over 14 innings in his last two outings.

Houston has lost three of its previous four contests.