Houston @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2010 ) Houston 9, Milwaukee 5
For some reason, Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo has always had success against the Houston Astros.
Maybe it’s growing up in Fort Worth and living in Texas Rangers country, where the Astros were always viewed as a rival. Or maybe he simply has pitched well against them.
Regardless of the reason, Gallardo faces the Astros for the first time this season, as he takes the hill for the Brewers on Tuesday night. Houston will counter with right-hander Brett Myers.
In seven lifetime starts against Houston, Gallardo is 5-2 with a 2.30 ERA. That’s the lowest ERA among teams he has started at least five games against in his career.
It doesn’t stop at the Astros, either.
In fact, Gallardo has found his way among the top National League starters so far this season. He has a 2.36 ERA through his first 16 outings. In his last start against the Minnesota Twins, Gallardo threw a complete-game shutout, allowing five hits with no walks and a season-high 12 strikeouts.
Gallardo has gone at least six innings in every start since May 12, and has lost only once in his past nine starts.
Offensively, the Brewers jumped out to a four-run lead early before the wheels came off in a 9-5 loss on Monday.
Ryan Braun had an RBI single in the first inning, and then Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart added RBI hits in the second. Braun added a solo home run in the third inning, too.
But Milwaukee couldn’t get anything going against the Houston bullpen, which shut them down the final four innings.
The Astros’ offense, in turn, took advantage of the stellar bullpen performance and rallied for the victory.
Hit by hit, Houston clawed its way back in the game. Michael Bourn had a solo home run in the fourth and Hunter Pence scored on a wild pitch. Bourn and Pence then came through with RBI hits in the sixth inning.
The Astros took the lead in the seventh when Pedro Feliz, who started at first base in place of Lance Berkman, recorded an RBI double. Carlos Lee cushioned the Astros’ lead with a two-run double in the eighth.
On the mound, Myers will try to build off his last start in which he picked up his fifth victory of the season against the San Francisco Giants. Myers went seven innings, allowing three runs - one earned - on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
In all five of his June starts, Myers has pitched at least 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs or less. Myers has pitched at least six innings in his first 15 starts this season, becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to accomplish that feat.
When he faced the Brewers on May 27, Myers settled for a no-decision after allowing two runs over six innings.