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Brewers wrap up set with Astros at Minute Maid Park

(Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers moved into a tie for first place in the National League Central in grand fashion yesterday. Now the club will try to move ahead when it concludes a three-game series and goes for a sweep of the Houston Astros tonight at Minute Maid Park.

The Brewers clubbed four home runs in Tuesday's 9-1 win over the Astros, including a grand slam off the bat of Johnny Estrada. His two career grand slams have both come this season against the Astros.

Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer, and Geoff Jenkins and Rickie Weeks each hit solo home runs for the Brewers, who have won four in a row to pull into a tie with the Cubs atop the NL Central. Chicago lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, on Tuesday night and has played two more games than Milwaukee.

Prince Fielder ended 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games, as the Brewers will try to sweep the Astros for the second time this season (June 25-27 in Milwaukee) and for the first time ever in Houston.

Brewers starting pitcher Ben Sheets lasted just one inning in the win, however, having to leave with a tight left hamstring. He was lifted after warming up in the second inning, having already allowed one run on two hits in the first frame. Claudio Vargas (11-4) got the win in relief, tossing four innings of two-hit ball.

Lance Berkman drove in the lone run for the Astros, who have dropped five of seven and 12 of 16 games in September. Houston was held hitless over the final seven innings and had only four in the contest as it fell to 3-5 on its current nine-game homestand that wraps tonight.

Houston starting pitcher Felipe Paulino (0-1) suffered the loss in his first career start. He allowed five runs on five hits in four frames.

With Roy Oswalt gone from the team to be with his pregnant wife, Juan Gutierrez will make his second big league start for Houston tonight. The right-hander made his first start on August 23 after a pair of relief outings, and was pounded for six runs and 11 hits in five innings of a loss to Washington. He has made two relief outings since, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless total innings and getting a win against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Gutierrez, making his first-ever appearance against Milwaukee, is 1-1 with a 6.10 earned run average.

Dave Bush will try once again to match his career high for wins in a season when he starts for the Brewers tonight. Bush is 11-10 with a 5.34 ERA, but has allowed 12 runs over his last two starts. That includes a one-inning appearance against the Reds on September 7 in which he allowed eight runs in what was the shortest start of his career.

Bush last toed the rubber last Wednesday and got a no-decision after yielding four runs and five hits over four innings of work. The right-hander won 12 games with the Brewers last year as well.

In eight career appearances (seven starts) against the Astros, Bush is 4-1 with a 3.75 ERA. He is 2-1 with a 5.91 ERA in four games (three starts) against them this year.

Milwaukee has won four in a row over Houston and is an outstanding 13-4 against the club this season. That includes six wins in eight games at Minute Maid Park.

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