Astros  2    Brewers  7

Houston Astros (70-77) at Milwaukee Brewers (72-75), 7:05 p.m.

Sports Network | September 19, 2009

(Sports Network) - The Houston Astros will try to put the brakes on a five- game losing streak tonight, when they continue a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

After getting swept in three games by Cincinnati, the losing ways continued for the Astros in Friday's series-opening 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. Lance Berkman homered and Miguel Tejada knocked in a run for Houston, which is 12 1/2 games off the Wild Card lead with 15 left to play.

Astros starter Bud Norris threw five innings of one-run ball and struck out eight batters in the no-decision. Wesley Wright allowed the go-ahead run in the eighth to absorb the loss.

"It seems like we get close, but can't quite get there," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said about the team's tough losses. "It's frustrating. It seems like it's one of those years I guess."

The Astros will send Brian Moehler to the hill for his 27th start of the season and he is 8-10 with a 5.01 earned run average. He is 0-1 in his last four starts and did not factor in the outcome of a 4-2 victory over Pittsburgh on September 12, as he tossed six innings of two-run ball.

Houston is 4-1 in Moehler's last five trips to the hill, while the righty is 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA in 21 career games (12 starts) against Milwaukee.

The Brewers have won three in a row, six of eight and kicked off their last homestand of the season last night. Prince Fielder doubled twice, while Felipe Lopez, Corey Hart and Casey McGehee had an RBI apiece for Milwaukee, which sits 10 1/2 games behind Colorado for the Wild Card lead.

"I'm just trying to stay within myself I guess," McGehee said of his go-ahead RBI in the eighth. "You can't treat any at bat as more important than another in this game. It's tough enough as it is."

Chris Narveson started for the Brewers and allowed one run in five innings for the no-decision. David Weathers threw a scoreless inning of relief for the victory and future Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman posted his 34th save of the season in the ninth.

Brewers All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder is still one RBI short of passing Cecil Cooper for the single-season club record. Cooper, who currently manages the Astros, recorded 126 in 1983.

Jeff Suppan is just 1-6 in his last seven decisions and has dropped two straight starts. He will take the hill tonight for the Brewers and owns a 6-10 record with a 4.87 ERA in 26 outings.

Suppan lost his most recent start on Monday against the Chicago Cubs and was reached for only one run and three hits through seven strong innings of a 2-0 setback. The righty is 0-0 in two starts against Houston this season and 2-7 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 games (15 starts).

The Brewers have won eight of 13 meetings versus the Astros this year and took two of three in the only meeting so far at Miller Park on August 14-16.