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Brewers look to get back on winning track against Astros

Jul 26, 2008 - 10:12 AM Houston (46-55) at Milwaukee (59-43), 7:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers look to rebound from their first loss in nine games on Saturday against the Houston Astros.

Thanks to the CC Sabathia trade, the revamped Brewers quickly became the National League's hottest team by rattling off eight straight wins, dating back to the final day of the first half. But Wandy Rodriguez's brilliant pitching performance and a three-run seventh inning doomed the Brewers and helped the Astros take the opening game in the series on Friday.

Manny Parra, who was looking for his ninth straight winning decision, was dominant through the first six innings, but hit a bump in the seventh. He loaded the bases with no outs and was lifted for reliever David Riske, who surrendered sacrifice flies to Mark Loretta and Kaz Matui before Lance Berkman connected on an RBI single to round out the rally.

Brandon Backe (6-10, 4.79 ERA) will take the mound for Houston with hopes of matching the outing Rodriguez notched on Friday. Rodriguez tossed six innings and allowed one run and three hits while striking out seven.

Backe is coming off a 9-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs in which he gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Milwaukee will counter with Dave Bush (5-8, 4.39), who has held opponents to one run or less while pitching at least seven innings in four of his past five starts.

Hunter Pence had a 2-for-4 effort on Friday, easing a 3-for-21 slump over his last five games.

For the Brewers, Corey Hart busted out of a skid of his own by going 2-for-4. He had been mired in a 1-for-19 hole.