Recap: Milwaukee vs. Houston

By Sports Network

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Geoff Blum hit two home runs, driving in four, as the Houston Astros topped the Milwaukee Brewers, 11-6, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Miller Park.

Brad Ausmus was 4-for-4 with two RBI singles and two runs scored while Miguel Tejada knocked in three with a pair of hits. Hunter Pence and Darin Erstad had a pair of hits and a pair of runs scored each for Houston.

Ryan Braun was 3-for-5 with a home run while J.J. Hardy knocked in a pair of runs for Milwaukee.

The Brewers fell one game back of the Chicago Cubs atop the NL Central thanks to a 9-6 Cubs win over the Marlins on Sunday. The two teams begin a four-game series starting Monday in Milwaukee, with the red-hot CC Sabathia scheduled to start opposite the Cubs' Ted Lilly.

Chris Sampson (5-3) got the win, allowing one run on two hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Astros starter Randy Wolf gave up four runs - three earned - on seven hits and three walks in 4 1/3 frames in making his Houston debut. The lefty was acquired from the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Wolf was denied the win for failing to reach the fifth inning and has dropped six of his last eight starts.

Jeff Suppan (5-7) was shelled for eight runs on 11 hits and a walk in six innings to take the loss. Suppan was coming off back-to-back no-decisions.

Down by three runs, Houston exploded for seven runs in the fifth. Pence worked a leadoff walk, moved to third on an Erstad single, and scored on a single from Ausmus. Wolf then reached base on a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. Erstad crossed home on a ground out by Kaz Matsui while Ausmus and Wolf scored when second baseman Rickie Weeks misplayed a ball off the bat of Tejada.

Lance Berkman stroked a single to right and Blum connected for his second home run of the game, a three-run shot over the right field wall that gave the Astros an 8-4 lead.

The Brewers chipped a run off the lead in the sixth. Pinch-hitter Russell Branyan looped a single to left, advanced on a Weeks grounder and scored when Hardy lined an RBI single to center.

The Astros put the game away with a three-run eighth off Seth McClung. Pence doubled to left leading off, moved to third on a bunt single from Erstad and scored on an Ausmus single through the left side. Pinch-hitter David Newhan walked to load the bases before Matsui plated a run with a force out at second. Tejada followed with a sacrifice fly to center for an 11-5 lead.

Hardy's RBI ground out in the bottom of the ninth got the Brewers within five, but Chad Paronto was able to finish the game from there.

Milwaukee opened the game by manufacturing a run in the first. Weeks started things off with a walk, then hustled to third on a Braun single. Prince Fielder came through with a sacrifice fly for the game's first run.

Blum erased the lead with a solo home run to right in the second, but Mike Rivera put the Brewers back in front with an RBI double in the bottom half -- the hit plated Bill Hall, who walked to start the frame.

Braun hit an opposite-field two-run homer to right field in the third, giving Milwaukee a 4-1 advantage. Hardy reached on an error prior to Braun's at-bat.