GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: MILWAUKEE (61-55) at HOUSTON (51-64)

NL: MILWAUKEE (61-55) at HOUSTON (51-64)

<h3>Brewers face tough test against LHP Rodriguez</h3>



<div class="pre">Milwaukee (61-55) at Houston (51-64) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Milwaukee Brewers' dominance over theHouston Astros will be put to a severe test in the middle gameof a weekend series on Saturday.


That is because Wandy Rodriguez (7-10, 4.50 ERA) takes the moundfor Houston, and boasts the second-best home ERA in baseball.

Despite coming off a sweep at the Colorado Rockies during theweek, the Brewers posted their fifth straight over the Astros,5-4, on Friday. Corey Hart hit a go-ahead triple in the 11th toseal the win.


Overall, Milwaukee is 8-2 against Houston this season,outscoring it by a 31-14 margin. However, the Brewers will haveto deal with Rodriguez, who is 6-2 at home with a 1.69 ERA,second only to the San Diego Padres' Chris Young, who has a homeERA of 0.73.


In his last outing, the 25-year-old lefthander held the ChicagoCubs to a run and four hits in eight innings, but did not figurein a 2-1 extra-inning win on Monday. Rodriguez also struck outa career-high nine batters and walked just two.


Jeff Suppan (8-9, 4.84) takes the mound for the Brewers (61-55),who maintained a one-half game lead over the Cubs (60-55) inthe National League Central with Friday's win.


Suppan, who is winless in his last eight starts, allowed one runand five hits in 5 1/3 innings but did not factor into thedecision of an 8-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS

MILWAUKEE HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Rickie Weeks 2B .211 5 19 Craig Biggio 2B .246 8 40
Corey Hart RF .280 18 51 Mark Loretta SS .287 2 30
Ryan Braun 3B .345 21 55 Lance Berkman 1B .254 20 71
Prince Fielder 1B .287 35 87 Carlos Lee LF .306 24 93
Bill Hall CF .262 9 45 Ty Wigginton 3B .323 0 3
Kevin Mench LF .264 6 29 Luke Scott RF .254 14 52
Johnny Estrada C .284 8 39 Jason Lane CF .170 7 21
J.J. Hardy SS .268 19 64 Brad Ausmus C .234 3 21
Jeff Suppan RHP .093 0 2 Wandy Rodriguez LHP .147 0 1
(8-9, 4.84) (7-10, 4.50)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN (8-9, 4.84)
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (7-10, 4.50)

UMPIRES: HP - JOHN HIRSCHBECK
1B - WALLY BELL
2B - LAZ DIAZ
3B - BILL WELKE

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN AND JOHNNY ESTRADA
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ AND BRAD AUSMUS

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: R WEEKS (.211, 5 HR, 19 RBI)
C HART (.280, 18 HR, 51 RBI)
R BRAUN (.345, 21 HR, 55 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.246, 8 HR, 40 RBI)
M LORETTA (.287, 2 HR, 30 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.254, 20 HR, 71 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Braun 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
K Mench lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J Estrada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Suppan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
J Lane cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .170
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .147

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Suppan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.84

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.47

Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 0-3.
Batters faced: W Rodriguez 3.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL MILWAUKEE AT HOUSTON
NOTE: HOUSTON LEFT FIELDER CARLOS LEE EXTENDED HIS HITTING
STREAK TO 10 GAMES WITH A DOUBLE IN THE FIRST INNING.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0
HOUSTON 0 0 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: P FIELDER (.287, 35 HR, 87 RBI)
B HALL (.262, 9 HR, 45 RBI)
K MENCH (.264, 6 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Braun 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344
P Fielder 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
K Mench lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J Estrada c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Suppan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .247
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254
C Lee lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .307
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .313
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
J Lane cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .170
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .147

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - C Lee (33, J Suppan). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T
Wigginton 2. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Suppan 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.81

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.47

Pitches-strikes: J Suppan 23-15; W Rodriguez 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Suppan 2-0; W Rodriguez 0-3. Batters faced: J Suppan 5; W Rodriguez 3.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 1 0
HOUSTON 0 0 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L SCOTT (.254, 14 HR, 52 RBI)
J LANE (.170, 7 HR, 21 RBI)
B AUSMUS (.234, 3 HR, 21 RBI)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Braun 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344
P Fielder 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .262
K Mench lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .263
J Estrada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .283
J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Suppan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 1 4

BATTING: GIDP - J Estrada. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .247
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254
C Lee lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .307
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .313
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
J Lane cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .170
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .147

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - C Lee (33, J Suppan). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T
Wigginton 2. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Loretta-C Biggio-L Berkman).


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Suppan 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.81

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.43

Pitches-strikes: J Suppan 23-15; W Rodriguez 27-18. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Suppan 2-0; W Rodriguez 2-3. Batters faced: J Suppan 5; W Rodriguez 7.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND RULE DOUBLE BY CRAIG BIGGIO SCORED LUKE SCOTT.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C BIGGIO ON SECOND, W RODRIGUEZ ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 0
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.286, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 1 0
HOUSTON 0 1 1 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: J HARDY (.268, 19 HR, 64 RBI)
J SUPPAN (.093, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
R WEEKS (.210, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (0) VS HOUSTON (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210
C Hart rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
R Braun 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .344
P Fielder 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .262
K Mench lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .263
J Estrada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .283
J Hardy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
J Suppan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 1 4

BATTING: GIDP - J Estrada. Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .285
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254
C Lee lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .307
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .313
L Scott rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .254
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .169
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .233
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .147

Totals 9 1 3 1 2 2 8

BATTING: 2B - C Lee (33, J Suppan); C Biggio (26, J Suppan). RBI - C Biggio
(41). 2-out RBI - C Biggio. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T
Wigginton 2, M Loretta 2. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Loretta-C Biggio-L Berkman).


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 00 -- 0
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Suppan 2 3 1 1 2 2 0 4.84

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.43

Pitches-strikes: J Suppan 52-32; W Rodriguez 27-18. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Suppan 2-2; W Rodriguez 2-3. Batters faced: J Suppan 11; W Rodriguez 7.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0 2 0
HOUSTON 0 1 1 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.254, 0-FOR-1)
C LEE (.307, 1-FOR-1)
T WIGGINTON (.313, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (0) VS HOUSTON (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .210
C Hart rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .279
R Braun 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .343
P Fielder 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .262
K Mench lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .263
J Estrada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .283
J Hardy ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
J Suppan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 9 0 2 0 2 2 8

BATTING: 2B - J Hardy (21, W Rodriguez). S - J Suppan. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - R Braun 2. GIDP - J Estrada. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Weeks (12, 2nd base off W Rodriguez/B Ausmus).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .285
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .254
C Lee lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .307
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .313
L Scott rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .254
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .169
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .233
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .147

Totals 9 1 3 1 2 2 8

BATTING: 2B - C Lee (33, J Suppan); C Biggio (26, J Suppan). RBI - C Biggio
(41). 2-out RBI - C Biggio. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T
Wigginton 2, M Loretta 2. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Loretta-C Biggio-L Berkman).


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Suppan 2 3 1 1 2 2 0 4.84

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 3 2 0 0 2 2 0 4.40

Pitches-strikes: J Suppan 52-32; W Rodriguez 42-25. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Suppan 2-2; W Rodriguez 4-3. Batters faced: J Suppan 11; W Rodriguez 12.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0 2 0
HOUSTON 0 1 0 1 4 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR MILWAUKEE: P FIELDER (.289, 1-FOR-1)
B HALL (.262, 0-FOR-0, BB)
K MENCH (.263, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (0) VS HOUSTON (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Weeks 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .210
C Hart rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .279
R Braun 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .343
P Fielder 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289
B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .262
K Mench lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .263
J Estrada c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .283
J Hardy ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
J Suppan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .093

Totals 9 0 2 0 2 2 8

BATTING: 2B - J Hardy (21, W Rodriguez). S - J Suppan. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - R Braun 2. GIDP - J Estrada. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Weeks (12, 2nd base off W Rodriguez/B Ausmus).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .249
M Loretta ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .285
L Berkman 1b 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .256
C Lee lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .307
T Wigginton 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .303
L Scott rf 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 .253
J Lane cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .169
B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .233
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .147

Totals 13 1 4 1 2 4 11

BATTING: 2B - C Lee (33, J Suppan); C Biggio (26, J Suppan). RBI - C Biggio
(41). 2-out RBI - C Biggio. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T
Wigginton 2, M Loretta 2. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Loretta-C Biggio-L Berkman).


----------------------------------------------------
MILWAUKEE - 000 -- 0
HOUSTON - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Suppan 3 4 1 1 2 4 0 4.80

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 3 2 0 0 2 2 0 4.40

Pitches-strikes: J Suppan 67-41; W Rodriguez 42-25. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Suppan 2-3; W Rodriguez 4-3. Batters faced: J Suppan 15; W Rodriguez 12.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
HOUSTON 0 1 0 1 4 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J LANE (.169, 0-FOR-1)
B AUSMUS (.233, 0-FOR-1)
W RODRIGUEZ (.147, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>