Astros 3, Brewers 2
Bud Norris pitched into the eighth inning and Chris Johnson belted a three-run homer as the Houston Astros recorded a 3-2 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday to remain unbeaten against Milwaukee this season at Minute Maid Park.
Jeff Keppinger collected two hits for the second straight game for Houston, which improved to 5-0 at home against the Brewers this season and won for the 17th time in its last 23 games overall.
Norris (8-8) allowed a run, three hits and five walks – including four leadoff walks – and departed with seven strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings to improve to 6-1 in his last 10 starts. The burly right-hander surrendered Ryan Braun’s 21st homer in the first, a single to Braun in the fourth and a base hit to Alcides Escobar with one out in the eighth that ended his night after 105 pitches.
Houston reliever Tim Byrdak struck out Prince Fielder with two on to end the eighth and Brandon Lyon recorded his 16th save after allowing a ninth-inning blast to Casey McGehee.
Houston provided all the support Norris needed in the first inning. Michael Bourn drew a leadoff walk from Milwaukee starter Chris Capuano and Keppinger followed with a base hit. Johnson drilled a 2-1 fastball over the left-center field fence two batters later for his ninth homer of the season.
Capuano (3-4) lasted 6 1/3 frames, yielding three runs and five hits for Milwaukee, which has scored six runs in its last five games and has lost 10 of 14 overall.