NL: HOUSTON (61-76) at MILWAUKEE (69-67) <h3>Aces square off as Sheets faces Oswalt</h3> <div class="pre">Houston (61-76) at Milwaukee (69-67) 2:05 pm EDT</div> MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers sorely missed BenSheets in August. But Sheets' return has brought hope for a farbetter final month of the season. The Brewers' ace takes the mound as they opens a three-game setwith the Houston Astros on Monday. Sheets (11-4, 3.30 ERA) missed the end of July and all of Augustrecovering from a sprained middle finger and blister problems.Without Sheets, the Brewers (69-67) suffered through a 9-18August, and subsequently fell out of first place in the NationalLeague Central. However, the righthander returned to the rotation on Wednesdayand allowed just one run and six hits in six innings of a 6-1win over the first-place Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee swept Pittsburgh over the weekend and now trailsChicago (70-65) by 1 1/2 games. The St. Louis Cardinals (67-66)are closing in as well, trailing by just two games. Sheets is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts against Houston thisseason. On June 25, he allowed one run and five hits in sixinnings of a 6-1 win. Houston counters with its ace, Roy Oswalt. Oswalt (14-6, 3.21)has been outstanding, going 6-0 with a 1.01 ERA in his lastseven starts. On Wednesday, the hard-throwing righthander allowed just fourhits in seven scoreless innings of a 7-0 win over St. Louis.
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON AT MILWAUKEE -- LINEUPS HOUSTON MILWAUKEE AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Hunter Pence CF .322 14 53 Gabe Gross RF .244 7 18 Chris Burke 2B .221 4 21 J.J. Hardy SS .279 23 73 Lance Berkman 1B .278 27 88 Ryan Braun 3B .330 26 71 Carlos Lee LF .301 27 104 Prince Fielder 1B .284 40 99 Mark Loretta SS .274 2 32 Corey Hart CF .285 19 63 Luke Scott RF .255 16 60 Geoff Jenkins LF .261 19 56 Ty Wigginton 3B .280 3 10 Johnny Estrada C .280 8 42 Brad Ausmus C .229 3 22 Craig Counsell 2B .219 3 20 Roy Oswalt RHP .145 0 2 Ben Sheets RHP .075 0 0 (14-6, 3.21) (11-4, 3.30)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE WARMUPS: HOU - ROY OSWALT (14-6, 3.21) MIL - BEN SHEETS (11-4, 3.30) UMPIRES: HP - PAUL SCHRIEBER 1B - FIELDIN CULBRETH 2B - TIM MCCLELLAND 3B - MARTY FOSTER WEATHER: 83 Degrees, sunny WIND: 5 mph, in from left</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE STARTING BATS: HOU - ROY OSWALT AND BRAD AUSMUS MIL - BEN SHEETS AND JOHNNY ESTRADA DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.322, 14 HR, 53 RBI) C BURKE (.221, 4 HR, 21 RBI) L BERKMAN (.278, 27 HR, 88 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT MIL - BEN SHEETS DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: G GROSS (.244, 7 HR, 18 RBI) J HARDY (.279, 23 HR, 73 RBI) R BRAUN (.330, 26 HR, 71 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS MILWAUKEE (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 C Burke 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .221 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229 R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .145 Totals 3 0 0 0 2 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2. MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Gross rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279 R Braun 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .330 P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 C Hart cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 G Jenkins lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 J Estrada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 C Counsell 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 B Sheets p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .075 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 MILWAUKEE - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.20 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era B Sheets 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.28 Pitches-strikes: B Sheets 25-14. Ground balls-fly balls: B Sheets 0-2. Batters faced: B Sheets 5. UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty Foster. Weather: 83 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE CONFIRMED STARTERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT MIL - BEN SHEETS</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT MIL - BEN SHEETS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L SCOTT (.255, 16 HR, 60 RBI) T WIGGINTON (.280, 3 HR, 10 RBI) B AUSMUS (.229, 3 HR, 22 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS MILWAUKEE (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 C Burke 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .221 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229 R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .145 Totals 3 0 0 0 2 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2. MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Gross rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 J Hardy ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 R Braun 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .330 P Fielder 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283 C Hart cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 G Jenkins lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 J Estrada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 C Counsell 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 B Sheets p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .075 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 MILWAUKEE - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.19 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era B Sheets 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.28 Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 19-10; B Sheets 25-14. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 2-1; B Sheets 0-2. Batters faced: R Oswalt 4; B Sheets 5. UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty Foster. Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT MIL - BEN SHEETS DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: C HART (.285, 19 HR, 63 RBI) G JENKINS (.261, 19 HR, 56 RBI) J ESTRADA (.280, 8 HR, 42 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS MILWAUKEE (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 C Burke 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .221 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229 R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .145 Totals 6 0 0 0 2 3 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2. MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Gross rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 J Hardy ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 R Braun 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .330 P Fielder 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283 C Hart cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 G Jenkins lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 J Estrada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 C Counsell 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 B Sheets p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .075 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 MILWAUKEE - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.19 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era B Sheets 2 0 0 0 2 3 0 3.25 Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 19-10; B Sheets 39-22. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 2-1; B Sheets 0-3. Batters faced: R Oswalt 4; B Sheets 8. UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty Foster. Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT MIL - BEN SHEETS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: R OSWALT (.145, 0 HR, 2 RBI) H PENCE (.321, 0-FOR-1) C BURKE (.221, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS MILWAUKEE (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 C Burke 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .221 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229 R Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .145 Totals 6 0 0 0 2 3 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2. MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Gross rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 J Hardy ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 R Braun 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .330 P Fielder 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283 C Hart cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 G Jenkins lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 J Estrada c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282 C Counsell 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .218 B Sheets p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .075 Totals 7 0 1 0 1 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 MILWAUKEE - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.17 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era B Sheets 2 0 0 0 2 3 0 3.25 Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 25-16; B Sheets 39-22. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 2-4; B Sheets 0-3. Batters faced: R Oswalt 8; B Sheets 8. UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty Foster. Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT MIL - BEN SHEETS DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: B SHEETS (.075, 0 HR, 0 RBI) G GROSS (.242, 0-FOR-1) J HARDY (.278, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS MILWAUKEE (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323 C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .220 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229 R Oswalt p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 Totals 9 0 1 0 2 3 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: Picked Off - H Pence (1st base, B Sheets). MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Gross rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 J Hardy ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 R Braun 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .330 P Fielder 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283 C Hart cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 G Jenkins lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 J Estrada c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282 C Counsell 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .218 B Sheets p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .075 Totals 7 0 1 0 1 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 000 -- 0 MILWAUKEE - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.17 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era B Sheets 3 1 0 0 2 3 0 3.23 Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 25-16; B Sheets 47-29. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 2-4; B Sheets 0-5. Batters faced: R Oswalt 8; B Sheets 11. UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty Foster. Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 0 MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0 2 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT MIL - BEN SHEETS DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.277, 0-FOR-1) C LEE (.301, 0-FOR-0, BB) M LORETTA (.274, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS MILWAUKEE (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323 C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .220 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .301 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .274 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229 R Oswalt p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 Totals 9 0 1 0 2 3 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: Picked Off - H Pence (1st base, B Sheets). FIELDING: DP: 1 (C Burke-M Loretta-L Berkman). MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Gross rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .248 J Hardy ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278 R Braun 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .330 P Fielder 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283 C Hart cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 G Jenkins lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 J Estrada c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282 C Counsell 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .218 B Sheets p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .073 Totals 10 0 2 0 1 1 3 BATTING: GIDP - J Hardy. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 000 -- 0 MILWAUKEE - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era R Oswalt 3 2 0 0 1 1 0 3.15 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era B Sheets 3 1 0 0 2 3 0 3.23 Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 39-26; B Sheets 47-29. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 4-4; B Sheets 0-5. Batters faced: R Oswalt 11; B Sheets 11. UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty Foster. Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MARK LORETTA SCORED CARLOS LEE. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M LORETTA ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1 MILWAUKEE 0 TOP, 4TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L SCOTT (.254, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE TRIPLE BY BRAD AUSMUS SCORED MARK LORETTA AND LUKE SCOTT. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, B AUSMUS ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3 MILWAUKEE 0 TOP, 4TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: R OSWALT (.143, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - HOUSTON 0 0 0 3 3 4 0 MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0 2 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - ROY OSWALT MIL - BEN SHEETS DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: R BRAUN (.330, 0-FOR-0, BB) P FIELDER (.283, 0-FOR-1) C HART (.284, 0-FOR-1)</div>
