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Berkman looks to blast Brewers again

Jun 11, 2008 - 1:38 PM Milwaukee (33-31)at Houston (33-32), 8:05 pm EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Lance Berkman hopes to continue swinging a hot bat when the Houston Astros host the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday in the middle contest of a three-game series.

Berkman homered for the second straight game and drove in five runs Tuesday, leading the Astros to a 6-1 victory over the Brewers in the series opener. The 32-year-old slugger has a hit in 13 of his last 14 contests.

A Triple Crown threat, Berkman is among the National League leaders with a .379 batting average, 19 home runs and 56 RBI this season. Not known as a speedster, Berkman has also stolen 10 bases on the campaign.

Rookie lefthander Manny Parra (4-2, 4.33 ERA), who is on a three-game winning streak, will hope to slow down the red-hot Berkman.

The 25-year-old Parra tossed seven frames, yielding one run and four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in last Wednesday's 10-1 triumph over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

He will be opposed by righthander Brandon Backe (4-7, 4.66), who allowed four runs and nine hits over six innings during Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Milwaukee has lost three of its previous four contests.