Astros  2    Brewers  6

Houston Astros (56-60) at Milwaukee Brewers (57-58), 7:05 p.m.

Sports Network | August 15, 2009

(Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers will try to keep the runs coming this evening, when they resume a three-game series versus the NL Central-rival Houston Astros at Miller Park.

Milwaukee ended a three-game losing streak with a 12-9 victory over San Diego in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday, then handed the Astros an 11-2 pounding last night in the opener of this set. Ryan Braun led the charge with two home runs and three RBI and Felipe Lopez ended with three hits, including a homer, and three runs batted in for the Brewers. Braun owns nine home runs, 26 RBI and 19 runs scored in 23 games since July 20.

Yovani Gallardo got the win with six innings of two-run ball and struck out seven batters to pull Milwaukee within 6 1/2 games of the top spot in the National League Wild Card standings. Todd Coffey, Claudio Vargas and Jesus Colome combined to throw three shutout innings of relief.

"Yo (Gallardo) threw the ball very well," Brewers manager Ken Macha said. "All his stuff was good, velocity was good. He ran into a little trouble in the sixth inning and got out of it with minimal damage."

Getting the call for the Brewers tonight will be Mike Burns, who is 0-2 in his last four starts and 2-4 with a 5.89 ERA in nine games (6 starts) this season.

Burns last appeared on August 8 at Houston and pitched a scoreless inning of relief in a 12-5 victory. In his most recent start on August 1 against San Diego, Burns allowed three runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 frames of a 4-2 loss.

The right-hander will face the Astros for the second time in his career.

Houston is eight games behind in the wild card standings and has dropped two straight and four of its last five games. In Friday's nine-run setback to the Brewers, Carlos Lee and Geoff Blum were credited with an RBI apiece, while starter Wandy Rodriguez was bashed for 10 runs and 10 hits in four innings.

"I don't know what happened," said Rodriguez, who entered the contest 6-0 in his previous nine starts. "I never felt comfortable. I had everything bad today, my location and breaking ball."

Brian Moehler will make his 21st start of the season for Houston tonight and is 7-8 with a 5.32 earned run average in 20 trips to the mound. He is 0-3 over the past four starts with back-to-back defeats. In an 8-6 setback at Florida on August 10 the last time out, he yielded four runs in five frames.

The righty is 4-8 with a 4.71 earned run average in 20 career games (11) starts against the Brewers.

Milwaukee has won six of the 10 meetings with Houston this season.