(Sports Network) - If only the Houston Astros could play the Milwaukee Brewers at home all the time. The surging 'Stros look to post their second sweep of Milwaukee this season today from Minute Maid Park.
Houston took all three matchups with the Brewers from July 30-August 1 in the Lone Star State and has won the first two tests of this series, including last night's 3-2 win thanks to Chris Johnson's three-run homer in the first inning. Johnson and Jeff Keppinger both finished with two hits for Houston, which has won three straight and six of eight games.
Astros starter Bud Norris pushed his record to 8-8 with 7 1/3 innings of one- run ball and seven strikeouts. He also walked five batters.
"The adrenaline kept me going," Norris said. "I tried to quick pitch a couple of times and keep moving the best I could. It was a little painful, but I stayed out there."
Brandon Lyon was reached for a run in the ninth, but still managed to record his 16th save of the season.
Taking the ball for Houston tonight will be J.A. Happ, who's 5-2 with a 3.08 earned run average in nine starts since coming over in the trade that sent one-time staff ace Roy Oswalt to the Phillies. Happ had won three straight starts before not factoring in the decision of last Friday's 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he delivered five innings of one-run ball.
Happ, a left-hander, beat Milwaukee on July 30 this season with six shutout innings and is 2-0 in three career meetings (2 starts) with the Brewers.
The Brewers have lost two straight and four of six games, and received solo home runs from Ryan Braun and Casey McGehee in Tuesday's loss.
Chris Capuano handled pitching duties last night and was touched for three runs in 6 1/3 innings for the loss. He struck out three and issued three walks.
"The problem with the pitching was the other guy was pretty good," Brewers manager Ken Macha said in reference to Norris.
Macha hopes Dave Bush can bounce back from a loss when he toes the rubber in Wednesday's series finale. Bush allowed three runs -- one earned -- and five hits over 5 2/3 innings of a 4-0 loss versus the Cubs last Friday. Bush fell to 7-12 in 29 games (28 starts) this season to go along with a 4.59 ERA.
The right-hander is 6-3 in 17 career matchups, 15 of which have been starts, against the Astros.
Houston leads the 2010 season series with Milwaukee by an 8-6 count.