NL: HOUSTON (62-76) at MILWAUKEE (69-68) <h3>Brewers look to keep pace in NL Central against Astros</h3> Houston (62-76) at Milwaukee (69-68) 8:05 pm EDT MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers will look to getback on track when they take on the Houston Astros in thesecond game of the three-game set on Tuesday. The Astros scored four runs in the eighth inning to hand theBrewers a 9-7 defeat on Monday. Milwaukee remains 1 1/2 gamesbehind the Chicago Cubs (70-66) in the National League CentralDivision. The Brewers have played a little better of late, winning four oftheir last six games. But that mini surge has come on the heelsof a terrible stretch in which they went 11-25 to lose the leadin the division. Carlos Villanueva (6-3, 4.68) will make just his second start ofthe season when he toes the rubber Tuesday for the Brewers. Villanueva, who has 54 relief appearances for Milwaukee thisseason, made his only start this season against the DetroitTigers on June 13. The 23-year-old righthander allowed one runand five hits over five innings but did not factor in thedecision. The Astros counter with Brandon Backe (NR), who was 3-2 with a3.77 ERA in 2006 before undergoing "Tommy John" surgery lastSeptember. The 29-year-old Backe went 3-2 with a 4.32 ERA infive starts for Class AAA Round Rock this season. For his career, Backe is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in five games - twostarts - against the Brewers. Rookie Hunter Pence had three hits, two RBI and two runs scoredon Monday. Pence, who has 28 doubles on the season, has tiedthe Astros' franchise record for doubles by a rookie set byLance Berkman in 2000 and Luis Gonzalez in 1991. This season, the 24-year-old Pence is hitting .322 with 14 homeruns and 55 RBI.
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON AT MILWAUKEE -- LINEUPS HOUSTON MILWAUKEE AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Hunter Pence CF .327 14 55 Rickie Weeks 2B .231 7 22 Chris Burke 2B .222 4 21 Gabe Gross RF .254 7 18 Lance Berkman 1B .278 28 89 Ryan Braun 3B .332 26 72 Carlos Lee LF .301 27 104 Prince Fielder 1B .283 40 99 Mark Loretta SS .273 2 33 Corey Hart CF .286 19 64 Luke Scott RF .252 16 60 Geoff Jenkins LF .262 19 57 Ty Wigginton 3B .281 3 10 Johnny Estrada C .283 8 42 Eric Munson C .248 4 15 J.J. Hardy SS .277 23 73 Brandon Backe RHP .000 0 0 Carlos Villanueva RHP .167 0 0 (NO RECORD) (6-3, 4.68)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE WARMUPS: HOU - BRANDON BACKE (0-0, 0.00) MIL - CARLOS VILLANUEVA (6-3, 4.68) UMPIRES: HP - FIELDIN CULBRETH 1B - TIM MCCLELLAND 2B - MARTY FOSTER 3B - PAUL SCHRIEBER WEATHER: 86 Degrees, clear WIND: 7 mph, right to left</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE STARTING BATS: HOU - BRANDON BACKE AND ERIC MUNSON MIL - CARLOS VILLANUEVA AND JOHNNY ESTRADA DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.327, 14 HR, 55 RBI) C BURKE (.222, 4 HR, 21 RBI) L BERKMAN (.278, 28 HR, 89 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 - BRANDON BACKE MIL - CARLOS VILLANUEVA DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: R WEEKS (.231, 7 HR, 22 RBI) G GROSS (.254, 7 HR, 18 RBI) R BRAUN (.332, 26 HR, 72 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 .326 C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248 B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Weeks 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 G Gross rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 R Braun 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .332 P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 C Hart cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 G Jenkins lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 J Estrada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 C Villanueva p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 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 B Backe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ### MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era C Villanueva 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.63 Pitches-strikes: C Villanueva 13-8. Ground balls-fly balls: C Villanueva 0-2. Batters faced: C Villanueva 3. UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Marty Foster. 3B--Paul Schrieber. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE CONFIRMED STARTERS: HOU - BRANDON BACKE MIL - CARLOS VILLANUEVA</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY RYAN BRAUN (27) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF BRANDON BACKE. CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 0, MILWAUKEE 1 DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: P FIELDER (.283, 40 HR, 99 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 1 1 3 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - BRANDON BACKE MIL - CARLOS VILLANUEVA DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.301, 27 HR, 104 RBI) M LORETTA (.273, 2 HR, 33 RBI) L SCOTT (.252, 16 HR, 60 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS MILWAUKEE (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277 C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248 B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230 G Gross rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 R Braun 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .334 P Fielder 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .285 C Hart cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288 G Jenkins lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .261 J Estrada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 C Villanueva p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Totals 6 1 3 1 0 0 2 BATTING: 2B - C Hart (25, B Backe). HR - R Braun (27, 1st inning off B Backe 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Braun (73). 2-out RBI - R Braun. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Jenkins 2. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 0 -- 0 MILWAUKEE - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era B Backe 1 3 1 1 0 0 1 9.00 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era C Villanueva 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.63 Pitches-strikes: B Backe 16-10; C Villanueva 13-8. Ground balls-fly balls: B Backe 1-2; C Villanueva 0-2. Batters faced: B Backe 6; C Villanueva 3. UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Marty Foster. 3B--Paul Schrieber. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, right to 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 1 0 MILWAUKEE 1 1 3 1 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - BRANDON BACKE MIL - CARLOS VILLANUEVA DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: J ESTRADA (.283, 8 HR, 42 RBI) J HARDY (.277, 23 HR, 73 RBI) C VILLANUEVA (.167, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS MILWAUKEE (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246 B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 8 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Munson 1. Team LOB - 2. MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230 G Gross rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 R Braun 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .334 P Fielder 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .285 C Hart cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288 G Jenkins lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .261 J Estrada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 C Villanueva p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Totals 6 1 3 1 0 0 2 BATTING: 2B - C Hart (25, B Backe). HR - R Braun (27, 1st inning off B Backe 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Braun (73). 2-out RBI - R Braun. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Jenkins 2. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: E - R Weeks (9, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 MILWAUKEE - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era B Backe 1 3 1 1 0 0 1 9.00 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era C Villanueva 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.57 Pitches-strikes: B Backe 16-10; C Villanueva 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: B Backe 1-2; C Villanueva 0-5. Batters faced: B Backe 6; C Villanueva 8. UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Marty Foster. 3B--Paul Schrieber. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE ERROR BY LANCE BERKMAN ALLOWED CARLOS VILLANUEVA TO SCORE. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G GROSS ON SECOND, R WEEKS ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 0 MILWAUKEE 2 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: R BRAUN (.334, 1-FOR-1, HR, 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 1 1 MILWAUKEE 1 1 2 4 1 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - BRANDON BACKE MIL - CARLOS VILLANUEVA DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B BACKE (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) H PENCE (.326, 0-FOR-1) C BURKE (.221, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (0) VS MILWAUKEE (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326 C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221 L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277 C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246 B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 8 0 1 0 0 1 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - E Munson 1. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: E - L Berkman (10, throw). MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .230 G Gross rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257 R Braun 3b 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .333 P Fielder 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .285 C Hart cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288 G Jenkins lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .261 J Estrada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277 C Villanueva p 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .143 Totals 10 2 4 1 2 0 5 BATTING: 2B - C Hart (25, B Backe). HR - R Braun (27, 1st inning off B Backe 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Braun (73). 2-out RBI - R Braun. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Jenkins 2, R Braun 2. Team LOB - 4. FIELDING: E - R Weeks (9, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 00 -- 0 MILWAUKEE - 11 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era B Backe 2 4 2 1 2 0 1 4.50 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era C Villanueva 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.57 Pitches-strikes: B Backe 36-20; C Villanueva 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: B Backe 3-3; C Villanueva 0-5. Batters faced: B Backe 12; C Villanueva 8. UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Marty Foster. 3B--Paul Schrieber. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY CHRIS BURKE (5) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF CARLOS VILLANUEVA. CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1, MILWAUKEE 2 DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.277, 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 1 1 3 1 MILWAUKEE 1 1 2 4 1 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - BRANDON BACKE MIL - CARLOS VILLANUEVA DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: P FIELDER (.285, 1-FOR-1) C HART (.288, 1-FOR-1) G JENKINS (.261, 0-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS MILWAUKEE (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325 C Burke 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .224 L Berkman 1b 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .279 C Lee lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246 B Backe p 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 Totals 12 1 3 1 1 1 5 BATTING: 2B - L Berkman (20, C Villanueva). HR - C Burke (5, 3rd inning off C Villanueva 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Burke (22). 2-out RBI - C Burke. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Lee 1, E Munson 1. GIDP - H Pence. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: E - L Berkman (10, throw). MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .230 G Gross rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257 R Braun 3b 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .333 P Fielder 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .285 C Hart cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288 G Jenkins lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .261 J Estrada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277 C Villanueva p 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .143 Totals 10 2 4 1 2 0 5 BATTING: 2B - C Hart (25, B Backe). HR - R Braun (27, 1st inning off B Backe 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Braun (73). 2-out RBI - R Braun. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Jenkins 2, R Braun 2. Team LOB - 4. FIELDING: E - R Weeks (9, throw). DP: 1 (R Weeks-P Fielder). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 001 -- 1 MILWAUKEE - 11 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era B Backe 2 4 2 1 2 0 1 4.50 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era C Villanueva 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 4.62 Pitches-strikes: B Backe 36-20; C Villanueva 38-24. Ground balls-fly balls: B Backe 3-3; C Villanueva 2-6. Batters faced: B Backe 12; C Villanueva 13. UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Marty Foster. 3B--Paul Schrieber. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, right to 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 1 1 3 1 MILWAUKEE 1 1 0 2 5 1 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - BRANDON BACKE MIL - CARLOS VILLANUEVA DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.273, 0-FOR-1) L SCOTT (.252, 0-FOR-1) T WIGGINTON (.289, 1-FOR-1)</div>
NL: HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE <div class="pre">HOUSTON (1) VS MILWAUKEE (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg H Pence cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325 C Burke 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 .224 L Berkman 1b 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .279 C Lee lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300 M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 L Scott rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 T Wigginton 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 E Munson c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .246 B Backe p 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 Totals 12 1 3 1 1 1 5 BATTING: 2B - L Berkman (20, C Villanueva). HR - C Burke (5, 3rd inning off C Villanueva 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - C Burke (22). 2-out RBI - C Burke. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Lee 1, E Munson 1. GIDP - H Pence. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: E - L Berkman (10, throw). MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .230 G Gross rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257 R Braun 3b 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .333 P Fielder 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 C Hart cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287 G Jenkins lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .263 J Estrada c 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281 J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277 C Villanueva p 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .143 Totals 14 2 5 1 2 0 6 BATTING: 2B - C Hart (25, B Backe); G Jenkins (23, B Backe). HR - R Braun (27, 1st inning off B Backe 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Braun (73). 2-out RBI - R Braun. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Estrada 1, G Jenkins 2, R Braun 2. Team LOB - 5. FIELDING: E - R Weeks (9, throw). DP: 1 (R Weeks-P Fielder). ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON - 001 -- 1 MILWAUKEE - 110 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era B Backe 3 5 2 1 2 0 1 3.00 MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era C Villanueva 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 4.62 Pitches-strikes: B Backe 51-28; C Villanueva 38-24. Ground balls-fly balls: B Backe 5-4; C Villanueva 2-6. Batters faced: B Backe 16; C Villanueva 13. UMPIRES: HP--Fieldin Culbreth. 1B--Tim Mcclelland. 2B--Marty Foster. 3B--Paul Schrieber. Weather: 83 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, right to left.</div>
