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Norris, Astros Take On Brew Crew

(Sports Network) - With the way Brett Myers has pitched in his first season with the Houston Astros, the club can only hope Bud Norris follows suit when he takes the mound Tuesday in the second portion of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Minute Maid Park.

Myers has lasted at least six innings in each of his 30 starts this season -- a franchise record -- and delivered seven innings of one-run ball with 10 strikeouts in last night's 4-2 win in the series opener. His current run is the longest in the majors since Curt Schilling lasted six or more frames over his first 35 starts for Arizona in 2002.

"I don't know who's done it or who hasn't done it. Honestly, it really hasn't occurred to me," said Myers on the team's site. "I assume when the season's over I might look back and reflect on it, but at this point in time, I have three starts left and I need to keep doing my job. I can't really look at everything that's happened before me. It's hard to reflect and look at stuff like that and be comfortable and worry about that every time I go out there and pitch."

The right-hander is one of seven different pitchers since 1920 to pitch at least six innings over his first 30 starts, joining Steve Carlton (1980), Schilling (2002), Bob Gibson (1968-69), Tom Seaver (1974), Fergie Jenkins (1972) and Jack McDowell (1993).

Astros closer Matt Lindstrom took care of business in the ninth for his 23rd save of the season. Jeff Keppinger and Carlos Lee both had two hits and an RBI, while Chris Johnson and Tommy Manzella each drove in a run for Houston, which has won seven of 10 games and improved to 3-2 on a 10-game homestand.

In other team news, Astros center fielder Michael Bourn is one stolen base shy of tying Gerald Young for 10th place on the franchise's all-time list with 153.

Norris, meanwhile, is 5-1 with a 3.93 earned run average in his last nine starts and is coming off last Thursday's 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he gave up two runs -- one earned -- in six innings. Norris is now 7-8 in 23 starts this season and was able to lower his ERA to 5.16.

The righty, who is 4-4 in 12 starts at Minute Maid Park in 2010, owns a 1-0 mark in three career starts against Milwaukee. Norris did not figure into the decision of a 9-5 win at the Brewers back on June 28.

Milwaukee has lost three of four games and wasted a strong start from Chris Narveson on Monday. Narveson held the Astros to a run on six hits over six innings and struck out seven batters in the no-decision. Brandon Kintzler was dealt the loss after he was touched for three runs and three hits in only two- thirds of an inning.

Corey Hart homered and Carlos Gomez added an RBI hit for the Brewers.

"We wound up 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, but their guy pitched well," Milwaukee manager Ken Macha said. "He had a good breaking ball, a good curve ball, a good slider."

Brewers starter Chris Capuano is looking to build off his last start when he takes the mound this evening. Capuano defeated St. Louis last Wednesday with seven innings of one-run ball to move his 2010 record to 3-3 in 20 games (five starts) this season.

Capuano, a left-hander, is 4-3 with a 3.49 ERA in 11 career games, eight of which have been starts, against the NL Central-rival Astros.

Houston leads the 2010 season series with Milwaukee by a 7-6 count and swept a three-game set between these teams at home from July 30-August 1. The Brewers, however, responded a few days later with an identical sweep at Miller Park.

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