SB Nation Houston - Astros Lose Heart-Wrencher To Brewers 6-5https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2010-08-06T23:04:22-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13738642010-08-06T23:04:22-05:002010-08-06T23:04:22-05:00Brewers Gut Punch Astros 6-5
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<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Prince Fielder's two-run single capped a four-run ninth-inning rally, as the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/MIL" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Brewers</a> battled back to stun Houston, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game series at Miller Park.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Houston had taken a 5-2 lead when <span>Carlos Lee</span> scored on a double-play grounder in top of the ninth.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">However, the Brewers mounted a comeback against Houston closer <span>Matt Lindstrom</span> (2-2), who retired leadoff man <span>Alcides Escobar</span>. <span>George Kottaras</span> then walked and pinch-hitter <span>Joe Inglett</span> made it a one-run contest by homering off the right-field foul pole.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span>Rickie Weeks</span> slapped a two-strike pitch to left for a single and <span>Corey Hart</span> walked before Fielder ripped a pitch down the right-field line. The ball caromed off the wall protruding in foul territory and rolled into the outfield. Weeks scored the tying run and Hart narrowly beat the throw home, sliding underneath the tag of catcher <span>Jason Castro</span> with the decisive run.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"They put some good swings on him, but Lindstrom has been so good all year," said Houston manager <span>Brad Mills</span>. "Tonight, was just a little hiccup but he's going to come back and he'll be fine."</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Fielder added an RBI double for the Brewers, who were swept in three games by the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/HOU" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a> last week in Houston.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"In the ninth, we got some good at-bats against one of the hottest teams," said Milwaukee manager Ken Macha.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Milwaukee starter <span>Dave Bush</span> allowed three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and three walks in six full frames. <span>Kameron Loe</span> (2-2) picked up the win despite yielding a run in the top of the ninth.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span>Hunter Pence</span> stroked a two-run double and <span>Geoff Blum</span> had three hits and scored two runs for the Astros, who have dropped two in a row on the heels of a seven-game win streak.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span>Wandy Rodriguez</span> gave up two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits over his 6 1/3-inning start. The lefty totaled seven strikeouts and did not issue a walk.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Brewers grabbed a 1-0 lead on an RBI double in the second by Escobar.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Houston moved ahead in its next turn at the plate. <span>Michael Bourn</span> doubled and <span>Jeff Keppinger</span> walked to begin the third. With Pence batting, Bourn stole third as part of a double steal before both he and Keppinger scored on the right-fielder's double.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">After the clubs traded runs in the fifth, the Astros increased their lead to 4-2 with a two-out rally in the seventh. Milwaukee reliever <span>Todd Coffey</span> quickly retired the first two batters, but Geoff Blum singled, took second on a walk to <span>Brett Wallace</span> and came home on Chris Johnson's single to center.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Lindstrom blew his fifth save of the season...Pence extended his hitting streak to 12 games...Rodriguez had not allowed a run in his previous two outings...The Brewers placed outfielder Carlos Gomez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 3, with a concussion and recalled outfielder <span>Lorenzo Cain</span> from Triple-A Nashville.</p>
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https://houston.sbnation.com/2010/8/6/1610467/brewers-gut-punch-astros-6-5Luke Zimmermann2010-08-06T16:14:25-05:002010-08-06T16:14:25-05:00Preview: Houston Astros (47-60) Visit The Milwaukee Brewers (50-59)
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<p>(Sports Network) - Two teams in the middle of the National League's Central Division square off tonight when the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Brewers</a> host the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Astros</a> to begin a three-game series at Miller Park.</p>
<p>Milwaukee enters the series in third place in the division, 11 games behind the front-running <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Reds</a> and a dozen back of the wild card-leading <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco Giants</a>.</p>
<p>Houston is one spot further back in fourth, trailing the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Reds</a> by 13 games and the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> by 14, in spite of a recently hot stretch that's seen it win eight of 10.</p>
<p>Streaking Dominican lefty <span>Wandy Rodriguez</span> takes the mound for Houston with the chance to reach double-digit victories for the third time in six big-league seasons with the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a>. The 31-year-old was a 10-game winner as a rookie in 2005, then won nine games in three straight years before breaking out with a career-best 14 wins in 33 starts last season.</p>
<p>He was just 3-10 this year after an interleague loss to Texas on June 18, but has since bounced back to win six of seven starts, including a 5-1 win at Milwaukee on June 30 and a 6-0 downing of the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Brewers</a> in Houston on July 31.</p>
<p>The last win raised his lifetime mark against Milwaukee to 7-6.</p>
<p>Rodriguez has not given up a run in his last two outings. He defeated Cincinnati with seven innings of one-hit ball on July 25, then followed up with the eight scoreless innings of five-hit ball against the Brewers.</p>
<p>For the hosts, 30-year-old <span>Dave Bush</span> gets his third straight crack at Rodriguez. Bush was on the short end of both the June 30 and July 31 matchups with the Astros while combining to allow 15 hits and eight runs in 11 innings.</p>
<p>He's 6-3 lifetime against Houston, though, with a 3.65 earned run average in 91 1/3 innings.</p>
<p>One start before his most recent loss to Rodriguez, Bush tossed six innings and allowed three runs in an 8-3 defeat of Washington on July 25.</p>
<p>He is 3-4 in 11 home starts in 2010.</p>
<p>On Wednesday in Chicago, <span>Aramis Ramirez</span>, <span>Geovany Soto</span> and <span>Blake DeWitt</span> each hit three-run homers as the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a> crushed the Brewers, 15-3, to avoid getting swept.</p>
<p>Milwaukee starter <span>Manny Parra</span> (3-9) allowed six runs on six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. He also struck out eight, but lost his fourth consecutive decision.</p>
<p><span>Jim Edmonds</span> went 2-for-3 for the Brewers.</p>
<p>In St. Louis, <span>Chris Carpenter</span> worked 7 1/3 innings and <span>Albert Pujols</span> went 3- for-5 with a three-run home run to help the <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a> to an 8-4 win over the Astros in the finale of a three-game set.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a> had dropped the first two games of the set while giving up 27 runs.</p>
<p><span>J.A. Happ</span> (2-1) lasted just one-plus innings in the start as he was tagged for seven runs on six hits with three walks for the Astros, who had a season-high seven-game winning streak snapped.</p>
<p><span>Chris Johnson</span> belted a two-run homer.</p>
<p>Houston has won six of its nine meetings with the Brewers this season.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2010/8/6/2318962/preview-houston-astros-47-60-visit-the-milwaukee-brewers-50-59Luke Zimmermann