Astros Vs. Brewers Series Review: First Half Of Season Ends Rough For Houston

The Astros had the kind of series against the Brewers this past weekend that made it clear we're watching a team that's going to have to go through a lot of frustration and maybe even embarrassment before there's anything to brag about. Houston took an eight-game losing streak into the Brewers series, extended it to nine games before finally picking up a win on Saturday, but they're still losers of 10 of their last 11 games.

As noted at The Crawfish Boxes, the Stros are certainly playing like the worst team in baseball as the All-Star break has approached us. Since going 22-23 in their first 45 games of the season, the Stros have dropped 30 of their last 41 games.

To start the series against Milwaukee, it was a lot of the same struggles from the past couple of weeks: silent bats with pitching that isn't quite good enough to make up for the overwhelming deficiencies elsewhere. The Brewers won easily, 7-1. J.A. Happ gave up all seven of Milwaukee's runs, which meant Houston hardly had a chance in that one.

It's hard not to wonder what would've happened to the Astros if Zack Greinke hadn't been ejected from Saturday's game after throwing only four pitches. Nevertheless, a win is a win is a win and they don't come too often for Houston, as it was pointed out earlier. Jordan Schafer, Scott Moore, Jed Lowrie and Jason Castro all plated runs in that game and the Astros actually resembled a real life Major League ball club.

That was fun while it lasted.

On Sunday, Houston dropped yet another extra inning game, now 0-8 in such outings. The Brewers actually scored in extras on an infield single with the infielders in. We can't make this stuff up.

When they come back after the All-Star break, it'll be time to regroup and forget that horrible first half of the season ever happened. Keep that short term memory and play ball.

Read more on the Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and SB Nation Houston. Check out Baseball Nation for additional news and analysis around Major League Baseball.