NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - PITCHING CHANGE MIL: MATT WISE (3-1, 4.05) STARTING THE 10TH CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 4, HOUSTON 4 DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B LIDGE (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: M Wise relieved M Stetter. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 4 HOUSTON 4 BOTTOM, 10TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B Lidge (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: O Palmeiro hit for B Lidge. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 4 HOUSTON 4 BOTTOM, 10TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: O Palmeiro (.235, 0 HR, 6 RBI)</div>
NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: B Backe ran for O Palmeiro. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, B BACKE ON FIRST, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: MILWAUKEE 4 HOUSTON 4 BOTTOM, 10TH DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L Berkman (.276, 0-FOR-3)</div>
NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY HUNTER PENCE SCORED BRANDON BACKE. FINAL SCORE: HOUSTON 5, MILWAUKEE 4</div>
NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL FINAL 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 - - - - - - - - - MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 10 R H E -- - - - MILWAUKEE 0 4 9 0 HOUSTON 1 5 12 1 (FINAL 10) BATTERIES: MIL - DAVE BUSH, SCOTT LINEBRINK (7TH), BRIAN SHOUSE (7TH), DERRICK TURNBOW (8TH), CHRIS SPURLING (9TH), MITCH STETTER (9TH), MATT WISE (10TH) AND JOHNNY ESTRADA HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ, STEPHEN RANDOLPH (7TH), DAVE BORKOWSKI (7TH), CHAD QUALLS (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND J.R. TOWLES, BRAD AUSMUS (8TH) HOME RUNS: MIL - PRINCE FIELDER (47) OFF JUAN GUTIERREZ IN THE 4TH, 0 ON RICKIE WEEKS (11) OFF BRAD LIDGE IN THE 9TH, 1 ON HOU - CARLOS LEE (30) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 4TH, 0 ON</div>
NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">NL FINAL 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 - - - - - - - - - MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 HOUSTON 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 10 R H E -- - - - MILWAUKEE 0 4 9 0 HOUSTON 1 5 12 1 (FINAL 10) BATTERIES: MIL - DAVE BUSH, SCOTT LINEBRINK (7TH), BRIAN SHOUSE (7TH), DERRICK TURNBOW (8TH), CHRIS SPURLING (9TH), MITCH STETTER (9TH), MATT WISE (10TH) AND JOHNNY ESTRADA HOU - JUAN GUTIERREZ, STEPHEN RANDOLPH (7TH), DAVE BORKOWSKI (7TH), CHAD QUALLS (8TH), BRAD LIDGE (9TH) AND J.R. TOWLES, BRAD AUSMUS (8TH) WP - BRAD LIDGE (5-2) LP - MATT WISE (3-2) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: MIL - PRINCE FIELDER (47) OFF JUAN GUTIERREZ IN THE 4TH, 0 ON RICKIE WEEKS (11) OFF BRAD LIDGE IN THE 9TH, 1 ON HOU - CARLOS LEE (30) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 4TH, 0 ON TIME: 3:30 ATT: 36,981 PROBABLES: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (8-13, 4.83) STL - BRADEN LOOPER (12-10, 4.55) PROBABLES: MIL - JEFF SUPPAN (10-11, 4.72) ATL - JEFF BENNETT (NR)</div>
NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">MILWAUKEE (4) VS HOUSTON (5) - FINAL IN 10 INNINGS MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Weeks 2b 5 1 2 2 0 2 2 .232 J Dillon lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .355 G Jenkins lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 R Braun 3b 3 0 0 0 1 2 4 .321 S Linebrink p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Shouse p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 D Turnbow p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-T Gwynn Jr ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 C Spurling p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 M Stetter p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 B Hall cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 P Fielder 1b 3 1 1 1 2 0 2 .291 C Hart cf-rf 4 1 2 0 0 1 3 .299 G Gross rf 5 0 0 0 0 3 4 .240 M Wise p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 J Estrada c 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 .276 C Counsell ss-3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .223 D Bush p 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 .140 J Hardy ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .277 Totals 37 4 9 4 3 10 17 a-flied out to right for D Turnbow in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - C Hart (31, J Gutierrez); J Dillon (7, S Randolph); J Hardy (28, B Lidge). HR - P Fielder (47, 4th inning off J Gutierrez 0 on, 0 Out), R Weeks (11, 9th inning off B Lidge 1 on, 1 Out). S - C Hart. SF - J Estrada. RBI - P Fielder (112), J Estrada (54), R Weeks 2 (28). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Estrada 1, G Gross 2, P Fielder 1, R Braun 2. Team LOB - 8. BASERUNNING: SB - R Weeks (22, 2nd base off J Gutierrez/J Towles). CS - C Hart (7, 2nd base by J Gutierrez/J Towles). FIELDING: DP: 2 (R Weeks-C Counsell-P Fielder, R Weeks-P Fielder). HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Anderson cf 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 .433 C Biggio 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .248 B Lidge p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 d-O Palmeiro ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .235 B Backe pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .400 L Berkman 1b 4 1 1 0 1 0 1 .277 C Lee lf 5 1 3 2 0 0 1 .297 H Pence rf 4 0 2 2 0 1 3 .323 T Wigginton 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .301 C Ransom ss 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 .211 J Towles c 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .231 a-L Scott ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 b-M Loretta ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .286 B Ausmus c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 J Gutierrez p 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000 S Randolph p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 c-J Lane ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .178 C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 C Burke 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .233 Totals 36 5 12 5 3 4 13 a-hit for J Towles in the 7th; b-singled to right for L Scott in the 7th; c-flied out to center for D Borkowski in the 7th; d-walked for B Lidge in the 10th. BATTING: 2B - C Burke (16, C Spurling). HR - C Lee (30, 4th inning off D Bush 0 on, 2 Out). S - C Biggio. SF - H Pence. RBI - C Lee 2 (113), M Loretta (39), H Pence 2 (60). 2-out RBI - C Lee, M Loretta. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Wigginton 1, C Ransom 1, J Lane 1, J Anderson 1. GIDP - L Berkman. Team LOB - 8. BASERUNNING: SB - H Pence (11, 2nd base off D Bush/J Estrada), L Berkman (7, 3rd base off D Turnbow/J Estrada), C Lee (9, 2nd base off D Turnbow/J Estrada). FIELDING: E - C Ransom (1, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- MILWAUKEE - 000 200 002 0 -- 4 HOUSTON - 000 100 120 1 -- 5 One out when winning run scored. ---------------------------------------------------- MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era D Bush 6 4 1 1 0 3 1 5.20 S Linebrink (H, 22) 2/3 2 1 1 1 0 0 3.66 B Shouse (B, 3) 2/3 2 2 2 1 0 0 3.02 D Turnbow 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.32 C Spurling 2/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.63 M Stetter 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86 M Wise (L, 3-2) 1/3 2 1 1 1 0 0 4.19 HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era J Gutierrez 6 5 2 2 2 5 1 4.96 S Randolph 2/3 2 0 0 0 1 0 10.50 D Borkowski 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.45 C Qualls 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.24 B Lidge (W, 5-2; B, 7) 2 2 2 2 0 3 1 2.97 WP - J Gutierrez, D Bush, S Linebrink, M Stetter. IBB - P Fielder (by J Gutierrez), L Berkman (by B Shouse). Pitches-strikes: D Bush 78-52; S Linebrink 19-11; B Shouse 18-10; D Turnbow 10-4; C Spurling 9-7; M Stetter 4-3; M Wise 19-11; J Gutierrez 93-63; S Randolph 17-10; D Borkowski 3-1; C Qualls 18-11; B Lidge 35-22. Ground balls-fly balls: D Bush 8-7; S Linebrink 0-1; B Shouse 1-1; D Turnbow 1-1; C Spurling 0-1; M Stetter 0-1; M Wise 0-1; J Gutierrez 3-9; S Randolph 1-0; D Borkowski 0-1; C Qualls 2-0; B Lidge 0-3. Batters faced: D Bush 21; S Linebrink 4; B Shouse 5; D Turnbow 3; C Spurling 3; M Stetter 1; M Wise 4; J Gutierrez 25; S Randolph 4; D Borkowski 1; C Qualls 4; B Lidge 8. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Tschida. 1B--Jim Joyce. 2B--Jim Wolf. 3B--Laz Diaz. T--3:30. Att--36,981. Weather: INDOORS</div>
NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MILWAUKEE (4) AT HOUSTON (5) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MILWAUKEE 4TH: P Fielder homered to left center. C Hart doubled to deep left center. G Gross flied out to center, C Hart to third. J Estrada hit sacrifice fly to center, C Hart scored. C Counsell flied out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 4TH: C Biggio flied out to center. L Berkman flied out to center. C Lee homered to left. H Pence struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 1. HOUSTON 7TH: G Jenkins in left field. S Linebrink relieved D Bush. C Counsell at third base. J Hardy at shortstop. C Lee singled to center. H Pence lined into double play, second to first, C Lee doubled off first. T Wigginton reached on infield single to third. T Wigginton to second on wild pitch by S Linebrink. C Ransom walked. L Scott hit for J Towles. B Shouse relieved S Linebrink. M Loretta hit for L Scott. M Loretta singled to right, T Wigginton scored, C Ransom to third. J Lane hit for D Borkowski. J Lane flied out to center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 2. HOUSTON 8TH: J Anderson singled to right center. C Biggio sacrificed to first, J Anderson to second. L Berkman intentionally walked. D Turnbow relieved B Shouse. C Lee singled to left, J Anderson scored, L Berkman to second. L Berkman stole third, C Lee stole second. H Pence hit sacrifice fly to left, L Berkman scored. T Wigginton grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 4. MILWAUKEE 9TH: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. C Burke at second base. C Counsell struck out looking. J Hardy doubled to deep right center. R Weeks homered to right, J Hardy scored. G Jenkins fouled out to first. T Gwynn Jr hit for D Turnbow. T Gwynn Jr flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 4, HOUSTON 4. HOUSTON 10TH: B Hall in center field. C Hart in right field. M Wise relieved M Stetter. O Palmeiro hit for B Lidge. O Palmeiro walked. B Backe ran for O Palmeiro. L Berkman singled to left, B Backe to second. C Lee flied out to center, B Backe to third. H Pence singled to left, B Backe scored, L Berkman to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 4, HOUSTON 5.</div>
NL: MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MILWAUKEE (4) AT HOUSTON (5) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Milwaukee Starting Lineups -- R Weeks 2B, J Dillon LF, R Braun 3B, P Fielder 1B, C Hart CF, G Gross RF, J Estrada C, C Counsell SS, D Bush RHP. Houston Starting Lineups -- J Anderson CF, C Biggio 2B, L Berkman 1B, C Lee LF, H Pence RF, T Wigginton 3B, C Ransom SS, J Towles C, J Gutierrez RHP. Umpires -- Tim Tschida (HP), Jim Joyce (1B), Jim Wolf (2B), Laz Diaz (3B). Gametime Weather: INDOORS. MILWAUKEE 1ST: R Weeks singled to left. J Dillon safe at first on error by shortstop C Ransom, R Weeks to second. R Braun struck out swinging, R Weeks to third, J Dillon to second on wild pitch by J Gutierrez. P Fielder intentionally walked. C Hart fouled out to first. G Gross struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) MILWAUKEE 0, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 1ST: J Anderson grounded out to shortstop. C Biggio singled to right. L Berkman grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, C Biggio out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 0, HOUSTON 0. MILWAUKEE 2ND: J Estrada flied out to center. C Counsell grounded out to second. D Bush struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 0, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 2ND: C Lee flied out to right. H Pence singled to center. H Pence stole second. T Wigginton grounded out to third. H Pence to third on wild pitch by D Bush. C Ransom struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 0, HOUSTON 0. MILWAUKEE 3RD: R Weeks struck out swinging. J Dillon fouled out to first. R Braun struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 0, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 3RD: J Towles grounded out to shortstop. J Gutierrez flied out to right. J Anderson flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 0, HOUSTON 0. MILWAUKEE 4TH: P Fielder homered to left center. C Hart doubled to deep left center. G Gross flied out to center, C Hart to third. J Estrada hit sacrifice fly to center, C Hart scored. C Counsell flied out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 0. HOUSTON 4TH: C Biggio flied out to center. L Berkman flied out to center. C Lee homered to left. H Pence struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 1. MILWAUKEE 5TH: D Bush singled to right. R Weeks grounded into fielder's choice to second, D Bush out at second. J Dillon flied out to right. R Weeks stole second. R Braun walked. P Fielder flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 1. HOUSTON 5TH: T Wigginton grounded out to shortstop. C Ransom singled to center. J Towles flied out to left. J Gutierrez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 1. MILWAUKEE 6TH: C Hart singled to right. C Hart caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. G Gross grounded out to first. J Estrada flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 1. HOUSTON 6TH: J Anderson bunt grounded out to third. C Biggio grounded out to third. L Berkman flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 1. MILWAUKEE 7TH: S Randolph relieved J Gutierrez. C Counsell grounded out to second. D Bush singled to right. R Weeks struck out swinging. J Dillon doubled to deep left center, D Bush to third. D Borkowski relieved S Randolph. R Braun fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 1. HOUSTON 7TH: G Jenkins in left field. S Linebrink relieved D Bush. C Counsell at third base. J Hardy at shortstop. C Lee singled to center. H Pence lined into double play, second to first, C Lee doubled off first. T Wigginton reached on infield single to third. T Wigginton to second on wild pitch by S Linebrink. C Ransom walked. L Scott hit for J Towles. B Shouse relieved S Linebrink. M Loretta hit for L Scott. M Loretta singled to right, T Wigginton scored, C Ransom to third. J Lane hit for D Borkowski. J Lane flied out to center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 2. MILWAUKEE 8TH: B Ausmus catching. C Qualls relieved D Borkowski. P Fielder walked. C Hart sacrificed to pitcher, P Fielder to second. G Gross struck out swinging. J Estrada grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 2. HOUSTON 8TH: J Anderson singled to right center. C Biggio sacrificed to first, J Anderson to second. L Berkman intentionally walked. D Turnbow relieved B Shouse. C Lee singled to left, J Anderson scored, L Berkman to second. L Berkman stole third, C Lee stole second. H Pence hit sacrifice fly to left, L Berkman scored. T Wigginton grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 2, HOUSTON 4. MILWAUKEE 9TH: B Lidge relieved C Qualls. C Burke at second base. C Counsell struck out looking. J Hardy doubled to deep right center. R Weeks homered to right, J Hardy scored. G Jenkins fouled out to first. T Gwynn Jr hit for D Turnbow. T Gwynn Jr flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 4, HOUSTON 4. HOUSTON 9TH: C Spurling relieved D Turnbow. C Ransom popped out to shortstop. B Ausmus struck out looking. C Burke doubled to left. M Stetter relieved C Spurling. C Burke to third on wild pitch by M Stetter. J Anderson lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 4, HOUSTON 4. MILWAUKEE 10TH: P Fielder flied out to right. C Hart struck out swinging. G Gross struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 4, HOUSTON 4. HOUSTON 10TH: B Hall in center field. C Hart in right field. M Wise relieved M Stetter. O Palmeiro hit for B Lidge. O Palmeiro walked. B Backe ran for O Palmeiro. L Berkman singled to left, B Backe to second. C Lee flied out to center, B Backe to third. H Pence singled to left, B Backe scored, L Berkman to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) MILWAUKEE 4, HOUSTON 5.</div>
Pence drives in game-winner as Astros down Brewers <h3>HOUSTON 5, MILWAUKEE 4 (10 INNINGS)</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros may be out of the racein the National League Central Division, but they certainly willhave a say in who wins. Hunter Pence singled in the winning run an inning after slamminginto the right field wall, giving the Astros a 5-4 victory overthe Milwaukee Brewers in 10 innings on Wednesday. Carlos Lee homered and drove in two for Houston, which avoided asweep of the three-game series. The loss dropped the Brewers (78-73) one game behind the ChicagoCubs (80-73) in the NL Central with just 11 days remaining inthe regular season. The Cubs slipped past the Cincinnati Reds,3-2, on Wednesday. Milwaukee entered the ninth trailing, 4-2, but tied the contestagainst embattled Houston closer Brad Lidge. J.J. Hardy belteda one-out double to right-center field to get the rally startedbefore Rickie Weeks lined a 3-2 pitch over the right field wallto tie the game at 4-4. It was the seventh blown save this season for Lidge. Pence, playing right field, seemed to forget where the wall wasand ran into it at full speed in pursuit of Weeks' homer,slamming to the ground and staying down for several secondsbefore being attended to by team trainers. The rookie sensationelected to stay in the game and delivered the game-winning hitan inning later off righthander Matt Wise (3-2). Prince Fielder hit his NL-leading 47th home run to lead off thefourth inning and give Milwaukee an early 1-0 lead. The blastalso extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games. Corey Hart followed with a double to left-center field andeventually scored on Johnny Estrada's sacrifice fly to center toopen up a 2-0 advantage. That was all Milwaukee would manage against Astros starter JuanGutierrez, who surrendered five hits and two runs in six inningswhile walking two and striking out five. Lee belted his 30th home run with two outs in the fourth offBrewers starter Dave Bush to pull Houston within 2-1. Bush lasted six frames, allowing four hits and one run whilestriking out three without a walk. Bush also helped his causeby singling twice. The 27-year-old righthander entered the game with a 4-1 careerrecord and 3.75 ERA against the Astros. All of his wins vs.Houston had come in Milwaukee. The Astros tied the game in the seventh, when Ty Wiggintonmanaged a two-out single and moved to second on a wild pitchbefore coming home on a single by pinch hitter Mark Loretta offBrewers reliever Brian Shouse. Houston took the lead in the eighth as Lee plated Josh Andersonwith a single and Pence drove in Lance Berkman with a sacrificefly.
Pence drives in game-winner as Astros down Brewers <h3>HOUSTON 5, MILWAUKEE 4 (10 INNINGS)</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros may be out of the racein the National League Central Division, but they certainly willhave a say in who wins. Hunter Pence singled in the winning run an inning after slamminginto the right field wall, giving the Astros a 5-4 victory overthe Milwaukee Brewers in 10 innings on Wednesday. Carlos Lee homered and drove in two for Houston, which avoided asweep of the three-game series. Pence said he was just trying to stay focused during hisgame-winning at-bat against Brewers righthander Matt Wise (3-2). "He's got a good changeup and some tough pitches," Pence said."I just tried to get over the plate and make sure anything hethrew there, I was going to hit. "I just wanted to make sure I didn't chase anything in the dirt.I got a ball over the plate, and when he threw it there, Ijust tried to get it out to the outfield." The loss dropped the Brewers (78-73) one game behind the ChicagoCubs (80-73) in the NL Central with just 11 days remaining inthe regular season. The Cubs slipped past the Cincinnati Reds,3-2, on Wednesday. Milwaukee entered the ninth trailing, 4-2, but tied the contestagainst embattled Houston closer Brad Lidge. J.J. Hardy belteda one-out double to right-center field to get the rally startedbefore Rickie Weeks lined a 3-2 pitch over the right field wallto tie the game at 4-4. It was the seventh blown save this season for Lidge. "That was exactly where I wanted it - I wouldn't change a thingabout it," Lidge said of the home-run pitch. "I went back andwatched the replay and it was exactly what (catcher Brad) Ausmussaid - a 98 mile-per-hour fastball and he hit a home run on it. "I tell you what, for whatever reason, against the Brewers thisyear, it's been tough. For whatever reason, I've been snake-bitagainst them." Weeks took a simple approach to his at-bat. "I hit the ball pretty hard, and I felt it was going out when Ihit it," Weeks said. "I figured he'd try to start me with aslider. You just try to get ahead in the count and hope hecomes with a fastball. I got a fastball, and I just tried tohit it hard. "Every game is important to us, period. We pitched welltonight, the bullpen did a good job. The Astros just put somegood swings on the ball." Pence, playing right field, seemed to forget where the wall wasand ran into it at full speed in pursuit of Weeks' homer,slamming to the ground and staying down for several secondsbefore being attended to by team trainers. The rookie sensation elected to stay in the game and deliveredthe game-winning hit an inning later. "It just kind of knocked the wind out of me, a little whiplash,kind of a car wreck," Pence said of the collison. "I couldn'tmove there for a second. Once I caught my breath, I was fine. "I feel it mainly in my neck and my spine. I was kind ofshocked at first. I needed to catch my breath and I had to getback up." Pence, no doubt, felt better after the game than Wise. "Walking (Orlando Palmeiro to lead off the 10th) makes me wantto throw up," Wise said. "That's inexcusable. That's not aneffective way to lead off an inning. My second half has beensomething to forget. "Mentally, every day is a battle. The results are killing me,and it's just frustrating. I haven't been able to stringtogether some zeros. I've just got in some bad habits,mechanically." Prince Fielder hit his NL-leading 47th home run to lead off thefourth inning and give Milwaukee an early 1-0 lead. The blastalso extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games. Corey Hart followed with a double to left-center field andeventually scored on Johnny Estrada's sacrifice fly to center toopen up a 2-0 advantage. That was all Milwaukee would manage against Astros starter JuanGutierrez, who surrendered five hits and two runs in six inningswhile walking two and striking out five. Lee belted his 30th home run with two outs in the fourth offBrewers starter Dave Bush to pull Houston within 2-1. Bush lasted six frames, allowing four hits and one run whilestriking out three without a walk. Bush also helped his causeby singling twice. The 27-year-old righthander entered the game with a 4-1 careerrecord and 3.75 ERA against the Astros. All of his wins vs.Houston had come in Milwaukee. "Anytime you lose a game, it's tough to watch," Bush said."There's a lot more at stake now, so it's even tougher." The Brewers have a chance to pick up one-half game Thursday whenthey play at Atlanta. The Cubs are idle. "We've played two less games (than the Cubs), so we've got towin a significant number of games down the stretch," Bush said."Every game's important. Obviously, we'd like to win themall." The Astros tied the game in the seventh, when Ty Wiggintonmanaged a two-out single and moved to second on a wild pitchbefore coming home on a single by pinch hitter Mark Loretta offBrewers reliever Brian Shouse. Houston took the lead in the eighth as Lee plated Josh Andersonwith a single and Pence drove in Lance Berkman with a sacrificefly.
