MILWAUKEE (AP)—The Houston Astros hitting woes on the road returned.

After getting a road-best 14 hits in each of the first two games against the Milwaukee Brewers, Houston managed just five against Randy Wolf(notes) and John Axford(notes) in a 4-1 loss on Sunday.

Coming into the series, Houston had hit .233 on the road in its first nine games and it looked to be turning a corner against Milwaukee before managing an J.R. Towles(notes) solo homer and three singles against Randy Wolf.

Two of the hits off Wolf (3-2) came from pitcher Wandy Rodriguez(notes) (1-3) and the Astros were scoreless until Towles went deep with two outs in the eighth.

“We never got any momentum. He got the early lead. He made sure he kept it,” Astros second baseman Bill Hall(notes) said. “You can’t feed on fastballs when the guy has a 60 mph curveball. He was on his game. He didn’t make any mistakes, except the one pitch to Towlesie.”

Axford converted his fourth save as Milwaukee won its third straight home series. He worked around a one-out single on his bobblehead day as Milwaukee improved to 7-3 at home this season.

The roof at Miller Park was closed, but that didn’t stop a small hawk from grabbing everyone’s attention. The hawk attacked another bird in center field in the top of the third, then landed in shallow right field to watch the bottom of the half with Astros right fielder Hunter Pence(notes) giving it plenty of distance.

“He was on the outfield grass, hanging out,” Hall said. “Wasn’t a lot of action during the time he was out there. I don’t know when he got up and flew away. Obviously, he was having a good time out there just relaxing.”

The bird certainly had the best perch for the Brewers’ three-run third.

Rickie Weeks(notes) homered in his return after missing one game with a sprained left pinkie finger to make it 2-0 and Carlos Gomez(notes) singled and stole second.

After Ryan Braun(notes) struck out, Prince Fielder(notes) tripled for the ninth time in his career when left fielder Jason Michaels(notes) made an ill-advised diving attempt at a catch. Casey McGehee(notes) followed with a run-scoring single that gave Milwaukee a 4-0 lead.

The whole time the hawk remained stationary in right field, finally flying away when first base umpire Angel Hernandez began to approach it after the third.

Rodriguez went seven innings, allowing 10 hits and striking out nine. He got out of a bases-loaded jam with one out in the fifth, but was gone before the Astros finally broke through against Wolf.

“There’s no doubt that was big for him to work so deep into the game,” Astros manager Brad Mills(notes) said. “The one thing about Wandy so far this season, he struggled the first couple of innings. Then he’s been able to settle down and throw the ball pretty well. That was exactly how he was able to do today.”

Wolf followed up on strong starts at Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, where he outpitched NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay(notes), by using a mix of fastballs in the high 80s mph and a slow breaking ball against the Astros.

His only hint of trouble came with two outs in the third when Rodriguez and Jason Bourgeois(notes) hit consecutive singles. Wolf got Angel Sanchez(notes) to pop out to center to end the threat.

“Any time you got a guy that’s hitting his spots like that, he’s going to be tough to beat,” Hall said. “You try to put on good at bats, but he stayed away from the barrel. He stayed away from the big inning.”

NOTES: Rodriguez threw a career-high 126 pitches. … Astros CF Michael Bourn(notes) had his eight-game hitting streak snapped after striking out as a pinch hitter in the ninth. … Houston didn’t hit a double for the first time in 19 games. … Astros INF Clint Barmes(notes) (broken left hand) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday, playing two games there before joining Double-A Corpus Christi on Wednesday.

MILWAUKEE — Humberto Quintero hit a two-out, two-run double in the 10th inning to lift the Houston Astros over the Milwaukee Brewers 9-6 on Saturday night.

Quintero’s big hit off Sean Green (0-1) came the inning after he couldn’t tag Ryan Braun quickly enough in a play at the plate that completed Milwaukee’s rally from a three-run deficit.

Houston snapped a four-game losing streak at Miller Park and won its first game when allowing four runs or more this season.

Brandon Lyon (1-1) and the Astros bullpen blew another lead, but Quintero picked the group back up.

Braun hit a two-run homer in the seventh to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 20 games and Prince Fielder added two RBI to give him an NL-best 21, but it wasn’t enough.

Green allowed a double to Brett Wallace with one out in the 10th and intentionally walked Bill Hall. With two outs, Quintero hit a drive over drawn-in center fielder Carlos Gomez that bounced over the wall to score two. Lyon hit for himself and drove in another run with his first major league hit, a double that dribbled down the third-base line to make it 9-6.

Lyon worked a 1-2-3 10th inning to seal it.

Milwaukee rallied in the ninth when Braun singled with one out off Lyon, then scored on Fielder’s double in the right-field corner. Braun slid hard into Quintero at the plate.

Quintero popped up angrily, arguing to plate umpire Mike Muchinski to no avail. After an out, Lyon went on to load the bases, but got Jonathan Lucroy to ground out weakly to send the game to extra innings.

Astros starter Brett Myers has left every appearance this year with either the lead or the game tied and the bullpen has blown three chances for him to get a victory, just like against the Brewers.

For a while, it looked as if the Astros would give Myers his second win this season.

Leading 6-5, Houston got out of a major jam in the eighth when Wallace, the first baseman, collided with reliever Mark Melancon on a bunt that put runners on the corners with no outs. Instead, Milwaukee nearly hit into a triple play because of a pair of baserunning gaffes.

Pinch-hitter Erick Almonte’s chopper to third caused Yuniesky Betancourt to stop halfway home.

As he was in the process of being run down and tagged out, Lucroy was leaning too far off second and got caught in a run down himself for a 5-2-6-4-2 double play. After Quintero tagged Lucroy, he fired to Wallace at first, who would’ve tagged Almonte out if he’d held on to the ball.

The wacky play was just a prelude to Lyon’s bad ninth.

Down 6-3 in the seventh, Braun hit a two-run, opposite field homer that chased Myers. Braun would come up big again, setting the stage for Milwaukee’s frantic ninth-inning rally.

Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer and Hunter Pence added a solo shot in the third off Brewers starter Shaun Marcum for a 4-1 lead. Milwaukee cut it to 4-3 on Braun’s RBI groundout and Fielder’s run-scoring single, but the Astros scored twice off reliever Brandon Kintzler in the seventh to go take a 6-3 before Braun took charge.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Sean Green and the Milwaukee Brewers had all the momentum on their side headed into extra innings despite a big baserunning gaffe.

Green gave it all back to the Astros.

The reliever allowed a two-out, two-run double in the 10th inning to Humberto Quintero and the Brewers lost 9-6 to Houston after rallying from a three-run deficit Saturday night.

“I made bad pitches and paid for it,” Green said. “We kept fighting back, got back into it. It’s tough to lose that way. Momentum was definitely going our way.”

Houston snapped a four-game losing streak at Miller Park and won its first game when allowing four runs or more this season. It certainly wasn’t easy, though.

Brandon Lyon (1-1) and the Astros bullpen blew another lead, but Quintero picked the group back up.

Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer in the seventh to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 20 games and tied the game with a hard slide into Quintero in the ninth.

Prince Fielder added two RBIs to give him an NL-best 21, but it wasn’t enough.

“We battled back, we did a great job of battling back. We were a base hit away from winning the ballgame,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “I was happy with the way we came back. It’s a tough game to lose.”

It’ll also be tough to review the mistakes late.

Green allowed a double to Brett Wallace with one out in the 10th and intentionally walked Bill Hall.

With two outs, Quintero hit a soaring drive over drawn-in center fielder Carlos Gomez that bounced over the wall to score two. Lyon hit for himself, and drove in another run with his first major league hit, a double that dribbled down the third-base line to make it 9-6.

Lyon worked a 1-2-3 10th inning to seal it.

Milwaukee rallied in the ninth when Braun singled with one out off Lyon, then scored on Fielder’s double in the right-field corner. Braun slid hard into Quintero at the plate, beating the tag.

Down 6-5 in the eighth, Milwaukee let Houston get out of a major jam when Wallace, the first baseman, collided with reliever Mark Melancon on a bunt that put runners on the corners with no outs.

“That eighth inning, it almost looked like a bomb went off someplace in the infield,” Astros manager Brad Mills said. “There were bodies laying everywhere, but the guys did a good job of working through those things.”

Instead, Milwaukee nearly hit into a triple play because of a pair of baserunning gaffes.

Pinch-hitter Erick Almonte’s chopper to third caused Yuniesky Betancourt to stop halfway home.

As he was in the process of being run down and tagged out, Lucroy was leaning too far off second and got caught in a run down himself for a 5-2-6-4-2 double play. After Quintero tagged Lucroy, he fired to Wallace at first, who would’ve tagged Almonte out if he’d held on to the ball.

“I was just trying to be aggressive and go to third. But in hindsight it was stupid, I should have stayed at second. I would have been in scoring position anyway,” Lucroy said. “I was just trying to be aggressive and I got caught in the middle. It was just a mistake.”

Betancourt was also partly at fault, waving for Lucroy to get to third but not being able to keep from being tagged.

“He’s taught when he’s going to be out at home he’s got to stay in a rundown because you end up first and third and you’re no worse off,” Roenicke said.

Notes: Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks (sprained left pinkie) wasn’t in the starting lineup. He expects to return Sunday. … Brewers RHP Yovani Gallardo hit his ninth homer in 177th career at-bat on Friday night. He’s the fastest pitcher to reach nine career home runs since Don Drysdale did it in 144 at-bats in 1958, according to Elias. … The Brewers signed INF Luis Figueroa to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Nashville. … Mills said RHP Nelson Figueroa (0-3, 8.55 ERA) remains part of the starting rotation despite his slow start.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Sean Green and the Milwaukee Brewers had all the momentum on their side headed into extra innings despite a big baserunning gaffe.

Green gave it all back to the Astros.

The reliever allowed a two-out, two-run double in the 10th inning to Humberto Quintero and the Brewers lost 9-6 to Houston after rallying from a three-run deficit Saturday night.

“I made bad pitches and paid for it,” Green said. “We kept fighting back, got back into it. It’s tough to lose that way. Momentum was definitely going our way.”

Houston snapped a four-game losing streak at Miller Park and won its first game when allowing four runs or more this season. It certainly wasn’t easy, though.

Brandon Lyon (1-1) and the Astros bullpen blew another lead, but Quintero picked the group back up.

Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer in the seventh to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 20 games and tied the game with a hard slide into Quintero in the ninth.

Prince Fielder added two RBIs to give him an NL-best 21, but it wasn’t enough.

“We battled back, we did a great job of battling back. We were a base hit away from winning the ballgame,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “I was happy with the way we came back. It’s a tough game to lose.”

It’ll also be tough to review the mistakes late.

Green allowed a double to Brett Wallace with one out in the 10th and intentionally walked Bill Hall.

With two outs, Quintero hit a soaring drive over drawn-in center fielder Carlos Gomez that bounced over the wall to score two. Lyon hit for himself, and drove in another run with his first major league hit, a double that dribbled down the third-base line to make it 9-6.

Lyon worked a 1-2-3 10th inning to seal it.

Milwaukee rallied in the ninth when Braun singled with one out off Lyon, then scored on Fielder’s double in the right-field corner. Braun slid hard into Quintero at the plate, beating the tag.

Down 6-5 in the eighth, Milwaukee let Houston get out of a major jam when Wallace, the first baseman, collided with reliever Mark Melancon on a bunt that put runners on the corners with no outs.

“That eighth inning, it almost looked like a bomb went off someplace in the infield,” Astros manager Brad Mills said. “There were bodies laying everywhere, but the guys did a good job of working through those things.”

Instead, Milwaukee nearly hit into a triple play because of a pair of baserunning gaffes.

Pinch-hitter Erick Almonte’s chopper to third caused Yuniesky Betancourt to stop halfway home.

As he was in the process of being run down and tagged out, Lucroy was leaning too far off second and got caught in a run down himself for a 5-2-6-4-2 double play. After Quintero tagged Lucroy, he fired to Wallace at first, who would’ve tagged Almonte out if he’d held on to the ball.

“I was just trying to be aggressive and go to third. But in hindsight it was stupid, I should have stayed at second. I would have been in scoring position anyway,” Lucroy said. “I was just trying to be aggressive and I got caught in the middle. It was just a mistake.”

Betancourt was also partly at fault, waving for Lucroy to get to third but not being able to keep from being tagged.

“He’s taught when he’s going to be out at home he’s got to stay in a rundown because you end up first and third and you’re no worse off,” Roenicke said.

Notes: Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks (sprained left pinkie) wasn’t in the starting lineup. He expects to return Sunday. … Brewers RHP Yovani Gallardo hit his ninth homer in 177th career at-bat on Friday night. He’s the fastest pitcher to reach nine career home runs since Don Drysdale did it in 144 at-bats in 1958, according to Elias. … The Brewers signed INF Luis Figueroa to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Nashville. … Mills said RHP Nelson Figueroa (0-3, 8.55 ERA) remains part of the starting rotation despite his slow start.

By: AP Photo/Morry Gash

Houston Astros’ Carlos Lee (45) is congratulated by third base coach Dave Clark (35) after Lee hit a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 23, 2011, in Milwaukee.

Humberto Quintero hit a two-out, two-run double in the 10th inning to lift the Houston Astros over the Milwaukee Brewers 9-6 on Saturday night.
Quintero’s big hit off Sean Green (0-1) came the inning after he couldn’t tag Ryan Braun quickly enough in a play at the plate that completed Milwaukee’s rally from a three-run deficit.
Houston snapped a four-game losing streak at Miller Park and won its first game when allowing four runs or more this season. It certainly wasn’t easy, though.
Brandon Lyon (1-1) and the Astros bullpen blew another lead, but Quintero picked the group back up.
Braun hit a two-run homer in the seventh to extend his streak of reaching base safely to 20 games and Prince Fielder added two RBIs to give him an NL-best 21, but it wasn’t enough.
Green allowed a double to Brett Wallace with one out in the 10th and intentionally walked Bill Hall.
With two outs, Quintero hit a soaring drive over drawn-in center fielder Carlos Gomez that bounced over the wall to score two. Lyon hit for himself, and drove in another run with his first major league hit, a double that dribbled down the third-base line to make it 9-6.
Lyon worked a 1-2-3 10th inning to seal it.
Milwaukee rallied in the ninth when Braun singled with one out off Lyon, then scored on Fielder’s double in the right-field corner. Braun slid hard into Quintero at the plate, beating the tag.
Quintero popped up angrily, arguing to plate umpire Mike Muchinski to no avail. After an out, Lyon went on to load the bases, but got Jonathan Lucroy to ground out weakly to send the game to extra innings.
Astros starter Brett Myers has left every appearance this year with either the lead or the game tied and the bullpen has blown three chances for him to get a victory, just like against the Brewers.
For a while, it looked as if the Astros would give Myers his second win this season.
Leading 6-5, Houston got out of a major jam in the eighth when Wallace, the first baseman, collided with reliever Mark Melancon on a bunt that put runners on the corners with no outs. Instead, Milwaukee nearly hit into a triple play because of a pair of baserunning gaffes.
Pinch-hitter Erick Almonte’s chopper to third caused Yuniesky Betancourt to stop halfway home.
As he was in the process of being run down and tagged out, Lucroy was leaning too far off second and got caught in a run down himself for a 5-2-6-4-2 double play. After Quintero tagged Lucroy, he fired to Wallace at first, who would’ve tagged Almonte out if he’d held on to the ball.
The wacky play was just a prelude to Lyon’s bad ninth.
Down 6-3 in the seventh, Braun hit a two-run, opposite field homer that chased Myers. Braun would come up big again, setting the stage for Milwaukee’s frantic ninth-inning rally.
Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer and Hunter Pence added a solo shot in the third off Brewers starter Shaun Marcum for a 4-1 lead. Milwaukee cut it to 4-3 on Braun’s RBI groundout and Fielder’s run-scoring single, but the Astros scored twice off reliever Brandon Kintzler in the seventh to go take a 6-3 before Braun took charge.
Notes: Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks (sprained left pinkie) wasn’t in the starting lineup. He expects to return Sunday. … Brewers RHP Yovani Gallardo hit his ninth homer in 177th career at-bat on Friday night. He’s the fastest pitcher to reach nine career home runs since Don Drysdale did it in 144 at-bats in 1958, according to Elias. … The Brewers signed INF Luis Figueroa to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Nashville. … Astros manager Brad Mills said RHP Nelson Figueroa (0-3, 8.55 ERA) remains part of the starting rotation despite his slow start.

By: AP Photo/Morry Gash

Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun hits a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, April 22, 2011, in Milwaukee.

Astros manager Brad Mills liked that his players continued to battle despite falling behind big. He was much more muted on why he didn’t get to stick around to watch it.
Mills was ejected in the second inning along with pitching coach Brad Arnsberg for arguing balls and strikes, and the Houston Astros lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 14-7 on Friday night.
“It was unfortunate,” Mills said. “That’s where I want to go with it.”
Nelson Figueroa (0-3) allowed a three-run homer to Ryan Braun in Braun’s first game since signing a $105 million, five-year contract extension and a solo shot to Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo.
Home plate umpire Paul Schrieber ejected Arnsberg and crew chief Joe West booted Mills from the game following a mound visit after Figueroa walked the first two batters in the second inning.
“They were having a discussion and all of a sudden he got thrown out of the game,” Figueroa said. “It is good to see them standing up for us. I don’t know what was said to warrant having them both thrown out.”
It got a lot worse from there. Milwaukee scored in every inning but the first and eighth, even though Mills praised the team’s effort.
“It was good to see the guys keep battling. Even though they got down, they kept fighting to stay in the game,” the manager said. “That’s what make those guys out there special. They really did a good job.”
The Astros fell to 0-13 when allowing four or more runs.
Braun’s shot in the third inning landed in the Brewers’ bullpen in left field to put Milwaukee up for good 4-2 and sparked a curtain call. Braun’s extension will keep him in Milwaukee through 2020, and he got a standing ovation in his first at-bat before he did his damage in his second plate appearance.
“I missed my spot terribly,” Figueroa said. “He made me pay for it. In my previous at-bats against him in my career, he has gone the other way. I felt like he was trying to cover the outer part of the plate, so I get inside on him, but I didn’t get inside enough. That’s why he’s worth what he worth. I made a mistake and he made me pay for it.”
Gallardo’s homer made it 5-3 in the fourth.
“It was just stupid judgment on my part,” Figueroa said. “I threw a fastball wanting him to hit a fly ball, but he didn’t miss it. You tip your cap and don’t make the same mistake twice.”
Yuniesky Betancourt drove in two runs to give Milwaukee a 7-4 lead in the fifth with a hard single underneath the glove of Astros third baseman Matt Downs that was first called an error.
“Anytime you give a big league club more than three outs, it is tough,” Mills said. “It kind of let things get away.”
Casey McGehee’s double with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth off reliever Jose Valdez scored two and Mark Kotsay followed with a two-run single that made it 11-4. Gomez’s three-run shot off Enerio Del Rosario made it 14-6.
The Astros went ahead 2-1 on Michael Bourn’s run-scoring single and Angel Sanchez’s sacrifice fly in the third before Braun erased it.
Houston cut it to 4-3 on Humberto Quintero’s single in the fourth and 5-4 on Hunter Pence’s fielder’s choice in the fifth, but couldn’t match Milwaukee’s potent offense despite scoring twice more in the seventh and once in the eighth.
“It was frustrating,” Bourn said. “We kept trying to battle back against them, but couldn’t get over the hump. Finally they just broke away from us.”
NOTES: Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks (left pinkie sprain) left in the sixth inning. He slid headfirst on a stolen base earlier in the inning. … Brewers OF Brandon Boggs was called up Friday to replace OF Nyjer Morgan (thigh bruise). Morgan went on the 15-day DL on Thursday, retroactive to April 18. … Astros 2B Clint Barmes (broken left hand) will take infield practice on Saturday, then leave for a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City. … Astros 2B Bill Hall, who played for the Brewers from 2002-09, made his first appearance back at Miller Park.

By: AP Photo/Morry Gash

Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun hits a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, April 22, 2011, in Milwaukee.

Ryan Braun hit a go-ahead three-run homer in his first game since signing a $105 million, five-year contract extension to lift the Milwaukee Brewers over the Houston Astros 14-7 on Friday night.
Milwaukee scored in every inning but the first and eighth. Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo hit a solo home run off starter Nelson Figueroa (0-3) and Carlos Gomez added a three-run shot in the seventh.
Gallardo (2-1) labored for a third straight start despite getting plenty of run support over his six innings. After allowing two runs in his first two starts, he’s given up 15 in his past 16 1-3 innings.
Both manager Brad Mills and pitching coach Brad Arnsberg were ejected in the second inning as the Astros fell to 0-13 when allowing four or more runs.
Braun’s shot in the third inning landed in the Brewers’ bullpen in left field to put Milwaukee up for good 4-2 and sparked a curtain call. Braun’s extension will keep him in Milwaukee through 2020, and he got a standing ovation in his first at-bat before he did his damage in his second plate appearance.
The deal guarantees Braun at least $145.5 million, and the investment seems as if it’s a wise one right now.
Braun is off to the best start of his career and has reached base safely in all 19 games, the longest streak by a Brewer to start a season since Paul Molitor equaled that mark in 1991. After his 3-for-4 performance against the Astros, Braun is hitting .382 so far this year.
Fans held up lots of signs in support of Braun’s big decision.
One read, “Go treat yourself to something nice” and another had a picture of a beer and a bratwurst with a greater than sign opposite a beach scene.
Gallardo’s homer made it 5-3 in the fourth and Yuniesky Betancourt drove in two runs to give Milwaukee a 7-4 lead in the fifth with a hard single underneath the glove of Astros third baseman Matt Downs that was first called an error.
Casey McGehee’s double with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth off reliever Jose Valdez scored two and Mark Kotsay followed with a two-run single that made it 11-4. Gomez’s three-run shot off Enerio Del Rosario made it 14-6.
Jonathan Lucroy’s run-scoring fielder’s choice gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead in the second just after home plate umpire Paul Schrieber ejected Arnsberg and crew chief Joe West booted Mills from the game following a mound visit.
The Astros went ahead 2-1 on Michael Bourn’s run-scoring single and Angel Sanchez’s sacrifice fly in the third before Braun erased it.
Houston cut it to 4-3 on Humberto Quintero’s single in the fourth and 5-4 on Hunter Pence’s fielder’s choice in the fifth, but couldn’t match Milwaukee’s potent offense despite scoring twice more in the seventh and once in the eighth.
NOTES: Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks (left pinkie sprain) left in the sixth inning. He slid headfirst on a stolen base earlier in the inning. … Brewers OF Brandon Boggs was called up Friday to replace OF Nyjer Morgan (thigh bruise). Morgan went on the 15-day DL on Thursday, retroactive to April 18. … Astros 2B Clint Barmes (broken left hand) will take infield practice on Saturday, then leave for a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City. … Astros 2B Bill Hall, who played for the Brewers from 2002-09, made his first appearance back at Miller Park.

By Rivers McCown – Managing Editor

Follow , and Like SB Nation Houston on Facebook.

Apr 22, 2011 - (Sports Network) – Ryan Braun’s spending habits may change with his new contract extension, but the Milwaukee Brewers hope the big bucks won’t alter the way he plays on the field.

Braun and the Brewers will begin a six-game homestand Friday with the first of three straight games versus the Houston Astros at Miller Park. Braun had his contract extended on Thursday and will remain with the only club he’s ever played with until 2020. The terms were not disclosed by the club, but a report from MLB.com say that the extension pays $105 million from 2016-20 on top of a $10 million signing bonus.

“I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent in Milwaukee and look forward to spending the next 10 years here,” the All-Star left fielder said. “I believe in the direction of this organization and its commitment to winning moving forward. I consider it an honor and privilege to be a part of this organization for the next 10 years.”

Braun is a franchise-best .308 career hitter with 133 home runs and 432 runs batted in during five seasons with Milwaukee. This season, he is hitting .359 with five homers and 12 RBI. Braun went just 1-for-5 with a run scored in Wednesday’s 4-3 loss at Philadelphia and Prince Fielder added three hits and two RBI for the Brewers, who were aiming for a sweep of the Phillies and lost for the fourth time in six tries.

Jonathan Lucroy homered in defeat and Brewers starter Chris Narveson did not record a decision after he allowed three runs in six innings. Brandon Kintzler was dealt the loss in relief for giving up the go-ahead home run to Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino in the eighth inning.

“To bounce back against a great team and win the first two and really play a good game, I’m really happy the way we played,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said.

Milwaukee, which will also host Cincinnati for three games in Brew City, gives the ball to Yovani Gallardo tonight in hopes he can bounce back from his last outing. In an 8-4 setback at Washington on Sunday, Gallardo was pounded for seven runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings, falling to 1-1 with a 4.62 earned run average in four starts.

Gallardo has enjoyed success in his career against the Astros as evidenced by his 7-2 mark and 3.05 ERA in nine starts.

Houston will resume a six-game road trip this evening and is coming off Thursday’s 9-1 drubbing at the hands of the New York Mets in Flushing. Astros starter J.A. Happ fell to 1-3 on the season after he yielded six runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Aneury Rodriguez gave up three unearned runs in relief.

“For some reason, the first few innings, I felt great,” Happ told the team’s website. “My stuff seemed sharp, and then I stopped finishing my breaking ball. That kind of hurt me. I wasn’t finishing that pitch … and the guys on base, more than anything, [wasn't] good execution. Right now, I might seem like I’m far away, but I’m this close to figuring it out. It’s just a matter of finishing the pitch.”

Happ led the offense with a pair of hits and Matt Downs put the Astros on the board with an RBI single in the seventh inning. Houston entered the series finale with New York having won two straight and three of four games.

Astros winless starter Nelson Figueroa aims for a win tonight when he takes the ball against Milwaukee. Figueroa is 0-2 with a 7.31 earned run average in three starts and did not factor in the outcome of a 5-3 win over San Diego on April 16. He gave up three runs — two earned — in 6 2/3 innings.

Figueroa, a right-hander, is 3-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 career games (4 starts) against the Brewers.

Houston and Milwaukee are meeting for the first time since the Astros won eight of 15 matchups with their NL Central rivals a season ago. The Brewers are 4-2 in the previous six matchups between the two ballclubs and swept a three-game series at Miller Park from Aug. 6-8.

Read More: Yovani Gallardo (P – MIL), Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers

Now in his fifth season, Yovani Gallardo(notes) has never lost to the Houston Astros in Milwaukee. He will, however, likely need to recapture the command he’s lacked in his last two starts if he hopes to continue that success.

Gallardo takes the mound looking to regroup from an ugly stretch as the Brewers return to Miller Park to open a three-game set with Houston on Friday night.

After allowing two runs over 15 innings during his first two starts, Gallardo (1-1, 4.62 ERA) has posted an ERA of 9.58 over his most recent two. He gave up season-worsts of seven runs and 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings of Sunday’s 8-4 loss at Washington.

“I don’t have any answers for it,” first-year manager Ron Roenicke said. “He started off good, and then lost the plan. I don’t know what it is when Yo loses the plan. He had it all spring, and he had it the first two games. I thought when he came out, I thought he had it to begin with and lost it.”

Since the right-hander struggled in the opener of the doubleheader, Milwaukee’s starters have recorded a 1.50 ERA over 24 innings, a trend Gallardo will look to continue.

The Mexican native has won all five of his starts versus the Astros (7-12) at home with a 3.00 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 30 innings. He is 3-0 with a 2.34 ERA in his last five home starts overall dating to last season.

Despite outscoring opponents 36-25, the Brewers (9-9) completed a 4-4 road trip after falling 4-3 to Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Slugging first baseman Prince Fielder(notes) went 3 for 3 with two RBIs to increase his average to .368 while Ryan Braun(notes), who signed a $105 million, five-year contract extension Thursday, went 1 for 5 to extend his hitting streak to a season-high six games.

“I truly believe I can get much better as a player,” said Braun, whose 18 home runs against Houston are his most versus any opponent. “These first 18 games are probably the best baseball I’ve played in my career and I really believe that’s a sign of things to come.”

The Brewers are 5-2 at home, where they have taken three straight and 24 of 32 from Houston.

The Astros, who had surrendered a total of four runs en route to back-to-back road wins over the New York Mets, fell 9-1 in Thursday’s series finale and dropped to 0-12 when allowing at least four runs.

“We’ll look back and look at some things and move on but we’re very happy with the series victory,” said manager Brad Mills(notes), whose team is batting .233 on the road – among the worst in the NL.

Nelson Figueroa(notes) (0-2, 7.31), Houston’s scheduled starter, gave up three runs – two earned – and six hits in 6 2-3 innings, but didn’t get a decision in a 5-3 win over San Diego on Saturday.

Figueroa has gone 2-2 with a 4.70 ERA over four lifetime starts against the Brewers. Braun and Fielder are a combined 2 for 14 against the right-hander.

Read More: Jason Bay (LF – NYM), New York Mets, Houston Astros

(Sports Network) – The New York Mets are off to their worst home start in team history. Tonight they hope the return of Jason Bay can reverse their recent fortunes, as the Mets try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros.

Bay signed a four-year, $66 million deal with the Mets prior to the start of last season, but only appeared in 95 games and hit a mere .259 with six home runs and 47 RBI before shutting it down with a concussion in July. He was then forced to start this year on the disabled list after straining a rib cage muscle late in spring.

“Obviously he’s a big piece of the puzzle here — that’s why he’s here,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “He’s a very, very good baseball player. He’s a fine offensive player. He’s a good defender. He runs the bases well. We need him in our lineup. But I don’t want to have to think Jason Bay, when he comes back, he’s the guy. This is a team of 25.”

Bay’s return could not come at a better time for a Mets team that has lost seven straight games at home and at 1-8 they have eclipsed the 1-7 start from their inaugural campaign in 1962 when they team played at the Polo Grounds and set at a modern era-low for futility with 40 total victories.

It was more of the same for Collins’ crew on Wednesday, as Hunter Pence clubbed a solo home run in the eighth inning to help Houston to a 4-3 win. Brett Wallace and Chris Johnson both doubled and scored a run for the Astros, who have won consecutive games for the first time this season and with another victory this evening they will have their first sweep over the Mets in Flushing since 1993.

Daniel Murphy belted a two-run homer and Carlos Beltran added an RBI double for New York, which has lost nine of its last 10 games. R.A. Dickey (1-3) surrendered four runs and eight hits over eight full frame in defeat.

“He handled Pence about as good as you can be handled,” Collins said. “I felt very good about him going back out there in the eighth inning.”

Overall, the Mets are off to their worst start since a 3-15 clip in the 1964 campaign.

Mets third baseman David Wright continued to struggle, as he went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts. He is 0-for-18 in his last five games with nine strikeouts and has seen his season average dip to .229.

Hoping to keep Wright in check tonight will be left-hander J.A. Happ, who has lost two of his three starts this season and has pitched to a 5.79 ERA in those contests. Happ lost to the San Diego Padres his last time out, surrendering four runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Happ has faced the Mets six times (four starts) and is 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA.

New York, meanwhile, will counter with Chris Capuano, who is 1-1 with an 8.53 ERA. Capuano actually pitched a third of an inning of relief in the Mets’ 3-2 win on Sunday in Atlanta, but that followed up an absolute dreadful outing in his last start last Thursday when he was battered by the Colorado Rockies for seven runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Capuano is no stranger to the Astros and has gone 4-4 against them with a 3.58 ERA in 12 games, nine of which have been starts.

New York won four of its seven matchups with the Astros last season and has won six of the last nine meetings in Flushing.

Just 18 games into the season, Mets fans are sporting paper bags over their heads at Citi Field.

With the team off to its worst start at home in franchise history, it’s easy to see why they feel that way.

On Thursday night, the Mets had two runners thrown out on the basepaths in the last two innings and New York lost 4-3 to the Houston Astros.

The Mets fell to 1-8 at Citi Field. They began 1-7 at the Polo Grounds during their 1962 expansion season before winning their next home game. They were 2-7 in 1981, too.

The Mets’ seventh straight home loss dropped them to 5-13 overall, their poorest start since going 3-15 in 1964, according to STATS LLC.

“I think we have to find some kind of way to be honest about what kind of team we are,” Mets starter R.A. Dickey said. “We can’t just keep telling ourselves, ‘We’re a better team than this.’ We may not be. We got to be honest about that and identify what we’re doing wrong and do it better.”

The Mets should get some help for an offense that is batting just .238. Jason Bay is set to be activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday.

Hunter Pence hit a blistering go-ahead home run in the eighth inning. Then Astros reliever Jose Valdez made a sweeping tag at home to end the Mets’ eighth-inning comeback.

In the ninth, after Jose Reyes got his fourth hit, Josh Thole popped up a bunt and closer Brandon Lyon threw to first for the double play.

“When you play as poorly as we’ve played, those big plays are going to go against you,” said Mets star David Wright, who went 0 for 3 and is in a 0-for-19 slump.

Daniel Murphy hit a tying, two-run homer in the sixth to spoil a fine outing by Houston starter Bud Norris.

Dickey flustered the Astros after a three-run second inning. But Pence lined a tiebreaking shot deep into the first section beyond the left-field wall.

“It’s hard to fight the mentality — ‘What’s next mentality. How many ways can we lose a ballgame?’” Dickey said.

Norris was pitching with a 3-1 lead in the sixth. He gave up a one-out double to Willie Harris before Murphy hit a fly just inside the right-field pole for his first homer of the season and second of three hits on the night.

Murphy should see significantly more playing time at second base because the Mets cut December draft pick Brad Emaus on Monday. Learning a new position this season, Murphy turned two double plays to back Dickey (1-3).

Mark Melancon (2-1) walked the leadoff hitter in the seventh and Fernando Abad did the same in the eighth, walking Angel Pagan on a 10-pitch at-bat. Then after a strikeout, Murphy had a perfect hit-and-run single that sent Pagan to third.

Valdez relieved and struck out pinch-hitter Justin Turner with a pitch in the dirt. The ball got away from J.R. Towles and Pagan broke for home. Towles chased the ball up the first base line and tossed it to Valdez, who swept around to tag Pagan.

“I thought I had a fair chance to make it,” Pagan said, “thought it was far enough to make something happen for our team.”

Lyon pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Norris worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the first — the Mets were 4 for 17 with the bases loaded coming in. And to form, Ike Davis struck out and Pagan hit a long fly to right to end the threat.

“R.A. pitched very good,” manager Terry Collins said. “I think if we would have gotten something in the first that would’ve helped.”

Norris then drove in a run in the second with a single. A run had already scored on Dickey’s wild pitch and Michael Bourn followed Norris with an RBI single to put Houston up 3-0.

But Dickey figured out how his knuckleball was reacting to Wednesday’s light breeze and shut down the Astros, allowing only three hits from the third inning through the seventh. He was aided by three double plays.

Astros second baseman Bill Hall left in the fourth because of a sprained right ankle. He was injured when he slammed into the wall behind first base making a running catch of Harris’ foul pop in the second inning. Matt Downs took over at second in the fourth.

NOTES: Mets reliever Bobby Parnell has a circulatory problem in the middle finger of his pitching hand and will have further tests to determine if a blood clot is causing the numbness. He will likely go on the 15-day DL. … The Mets have lost their last five series.

The Reds are 5-0 for the first time since 1990, when they won their last World Series championship. They’re brushing away every challenge by scoring at a pace unmatched since the days of Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench and Tony Perez.

The Reds have scored 43 runs through five games, their second-highest total in modern history. The Big Red Machine scored 44 runs in the first five games of its 1976 World Series title season, sweeping Houston in its opening series.

“Everybody knows what our ballclub can do,” said Edinson Volquez (1-0), who got bailed out by another double-digit scoring game. “We scored a lot of runs in the first four games, and we did it again tonight.”

Thirty-five years later, Houston is taking another early beating in Cincinnati.

“They seem to take advantage of every little thing, every little mistake the pitcher makes, every ball that falls in,” said Nelson Figueroa (0-1), who couldn’t hold a four-run lead. “They’re very aggressive. It’s a testament to the way they played all last year, and they continue to this year.

“You’ve got to raise the level of your game to compete with that.”

Instead, the Astros imploded, committing a season-high five errors while falling to 0-5. They’re the only winless team in the NL, three losses away from matching their 0-8 start of last season.

In other games:

 * At Miami, John Buck hit a bases-loaded triple and the Florida Marlins came from behind to win for the second night in a row, this time erasing a four-run deficit to beat the Washington Nationals, 7-4.

* At St. Louis, Kevin Correia and two relievers combined to slow the Cardinals, Neil Walker hit his second home run and the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates notched a 3-1 victory.

* At Chicago, Chris Young drove in two runs, scored twice and made a pair of nice catches in centerfield as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cubs, 6-4.

* At Denver, Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki homered in leading the Colorado Rockies past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-5, for a two-game sweep.

* At San Diego, Tim Lincecum struck out 13 and held the Padres to one run and three hits in seven innings to lead the San Francisco Giants to an 8-4 win.

Lincecum left with an 8-1 lead after seven. Closer Brian Wilson, activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, pitched the ninth in a non-save situation, allowing three runs on two infield singles and a walk.

* At Milwaukee, Prince Fielder drove in his first three runs this season and scored two more to lead the Brewers over the Atlanta Braves, 5-4. Marco Estrada earned his first major league victory. He’s filling in with Zack Greinke on the disabled list.

 

The Daily News

Published April 7, 2011

The Houston Astros are really, really bad right now, and don’t be surprised if things get worse.

The local club is still winless (0-5), and there’s nothing promising about their methods of defeat.

After the opening day collapse against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Astros have lost four games by an average of nearly five runs — nothing to write home about.

The pitching has been horrendous.

The Astros have allowed at least seven runs in their past four games, eight in three of four and nine in two of those.

Their team ERA of 8.21 is worst in the majors, they’ve allowed more home runs than any other team, and opponents have a batting average that even Ted Williams would envy at .412.

But that’s not all.

The batting has been pretty bad as well, but not astronomically bad.

The Astros are hitting .215, which was ahead of five other professional teams entering Wednesday’s loss in Cincinnati. And while they can’t get hits, they can’t get on base either. They’ve walked just 11 times, worst in the league.

Their two home runs also is, you guessed it, dead last in baseball.

Sorry if this news puts a damper on your day, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise. They Astros were projected to win as few as 60 games (and lose 102), and at this point, that seems like wishful thinking.

But there are a few things to be optimistic about.

Your ace pitcher, Brett Myers, has an ERA of 1.29 and the best batting average on the team at 1.000. Hunter Pence and Angel Sanchez are hitting better than .300, and the boys will make their home debut Friday at Minute Maid Park against the Florida Marlins.

Maybe second baseman Bill Hall, a “big-name free agent signing,” and outfielder Carlos Lee will get something going. They’re hitting a combined .143 and are striking out once in every three at bats.

But things only can get better.

Surely, the Astros will accidentally win one pretty soon — sometime around May.

Copyright 2011 The Galveston County Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

CINCINNATI (Reuters) – The Cincinnati Reds stretched their unbeaten start to the season to five games with a 12-4 blowout over the Houston Astros Wednesday.

It is the first time the Reds have started a season 5-0 since 1990, when they last won the World Series.

Houston roughed up Cincinnati starter Edinson Volquez in the first inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring four runs.

Cincinnati responded with a run in the second inning and grabbed the lead in the third, capitalizing on two Houston errors to score five runs.

“Everybody knows what this ball club can do,” Volquez said. “We’ve been scoring a lot of runs in the first five games. We did it again tonight.”

The Reds added four more runs in the sixth inning and two in the eighth as the Astros made three more errors.

Volquez survived the rough start to pick up his first win pitching five innings, striking out eight, walking five and allowing four runs on five hits.

“I just have to be more careful in the first inning,” said Volquez. “After that, everything worked. I threw more strikes. I kept the ball down and the breaking pitch was there.”

Nelson Figueroa allowed 10 runs, six earned, while striking out two and walking one in 5-1/3 innings for the loss.

“It’s tough against a team like that,” said Figueroa.

“Once they get the momentum going, it’s hard to stop.

“They were stringing hits together and making the most of the mistakes we made.

“They seem to take advantage of every mistake you make. It’s a testament to the way they played last year and so far this year.”

(Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario. Editing by Alastair Himmer/Greg Stutchbury)

CINCINNATI – As much as they hate the label of slow starters, the Houston Astros are earning it every time out.

Brandon Phillips and Paul Janish had three hits apiece Wednesday night, and the Cincinnati Reds overcame a four-run deficit and remained the NL’s only unbeaten team with a 12-4 victory over the winless Astros.

The Reds are off to one of their best starts, the NL’s only unbeaten team at 5-0. They’ve scored 43 runs through five games, their second-highest total in modern history.

The Big Red Machine scored 44 runs in the first five games of its 1976 World Series title season, sweeping Houston 11-5, 13-7 and 9-3 in its opening series while beating J.R. Richard, Larry Dierker and Joe Niekro.

Thirty-five years later, Houston is taking another April beating in Cincinnati.

“They seem to take advantage of every little thing, every little mistake the pitcher makes, every ball that falls in,” said Nelson Figueroa (0-1), who couldn’t hold a four-run lead. “They’re very aggressive. It’s a testament to the way they played all last year, and they continue to this year.

“You’ve got to raise the level of your game to compete with that,” he said.

Instead, the Astros imploded, committing a season-high five errors while falling to 0-5. They’re the only winless team in the NL, three losses away from matching their 0-8 start of last season.

Houston went only 17-34 in the season’s first two months last year, then finished strong. The Astros were determined not to fall flat again.

“We haven’t won a game — that’s the most frustrating,” said center fielder Michael Bourn, who left in the seventh with stiff muscles in his groin. “I know our team’s good enough to win.

“We’re tired of being known for getting off to slow starts. It’s only the fifth game. It’s early.”

After scoring four runs in the top of the first inning, they had a feeling this could be the breakthrough win.

Reds starter Edinson Volquez (1-0) was coming off a rough time on opening day, throwing 30 pitches and giving up three runs in the first inning against the Brewers. The Reds rallied for a 7-6 win on Ramon Hernandez’s two-out, three-run homer in the ninth.

The first inning again was a big problem for Volquez, who was on the mound for 23 minutes and 44 pitches this time. The Astros came in batting only .215 with five walks and one stolen base in their first four games.

Houston sent 10 batters to the plate for four runs — the most it has scored in any of its first five games. Volquez walked three and gave up four singles, including Chris Johnson’s two-run hit. The Astros even pulled off a double steal.

“We came out like gangbusters and got four runs in the first,” Figueroa said. “That’s huge for us.”

Just like opening day, Volquez settled down and the Reds pulled off a big comeback. This one came with one bizarre twist or two.

The Reds sent nine batters to the plate in the third for five runs and a 6-4 lead. Scott Rolen doubled home a pair of runs to get it going.

Then, things got wacky. Figueroa fumbled a comeback grounder for an error that let a run score. Then, the Reds pulled off a double steal and catcher J.R. Towles hit Hernandez’s bat as he tried to throw to third to get the runner. The ball skipped out of his hand and bounced into the stands for another run-producing error.

That’s how the season has gone for the young Astros.

The Reds batted around again in the sixth for four more runs, aided by another error — this one by Johnson at third base. Joey Votto had an RBI double, and Phillips bowled over Towles to score from third on a ground ball.

Manager Brad Mills talked to his players on the bench as the beating wound down.

“I didn’t need to address them as a whole,” he said. “We talked about some things on the bench, different situations that came up.”

NOTES: Mills said reliever Alberto Arias felt fine a day after he threw 60 pitches in a bullpen session. Arias missed last season after shoulder surgery and had tendinitis during spring training. There’s no timetable for his return. … Houston 2B Bill Hall struck out three times. He’s 2 for 19 with nine strikeouts this season. … Reds LH Aroldis Chapman threw 23 pitches in the seventh, topping out at 104 mph — one mph shy of his best from last year. … The teams failed to hit a homer for the second straight game. It’s only the second time that’s happened in Great American Ball Park’s nine-year history.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Brandon Phillips and Paul Janish had three hits apiece Wednesday night, and the Cincinnati Reds overcame a four-run deficit and remained the NL’s only unbeaten team with a 12-4 victory over the winless Houston Astros.

The Reds are 5-0 for the first time since 1990, when they won their last World Series championship.

Edinson Volquez (1-0) overcame another lousy beginning. Houston scored four times in the first, its biggest inning of the season. The Astros then fell apart, committing a season-high five errors that helped the Reds catch up and pull away.

The Reds have scored 43 runs through five games, their second-highest total in modern history. The Big Red Machine scored 44 runs in the first five games of its 1976 World Series title season.

The Astros fell to 0-5, three losses shy of matching their 0-8 start of last season. Houston is the lone NL team without a victory.

Nelson Figueroa (0-1) had one of the five errors that undercut the fast start. The Reds scored five runs in the third, aided by back-to-back errors, and four more in the sixth.

Volquez had a rough time on opening day, throwing 30 pitches and giving up three runs in the first inning against the Brewers. The Reds rallied for a 7-6 win on Ramon Hernandez’s two-out, three-run homer in the ninth.

The first inning again was a big problem for Volquez, who was on the mound for 23 minutes and 44 pitches this time. The Astros came in batting only .215 with five walks and one stolen base in their first four games.

Houston sent 10 batters to the plate for four runs — the most it has scored in any of its first five games. Volquez walked three and gave up four singles, including Chris Johnson’s two-run hit. The Astros even pulled off a double steal.

Just like opening day, Volquez settled down and the Reds pulled off a big comeback. This one came with one bizarre twist or two.

The Reds sent nine batters to the plate in the third for five runs and a 6-4 lead. Scott Rolen doubled home a pair of runs to get it going.

Then, things got wacky. Figueroa fumbled a comeback grounder for an error that let a run score. Then, the Reds pulled off a double steal and catcher J.R. Towles hit Hernandez’s bat as he tried to throw to third to get the runner. The ball skipped out of his hand and bounced into the stands for another run-producing error.

That’s how the season has gone for the young Astros.

The Reds batted around again in the sixth for four more runs, aided by another error — this one by Johnson at third base. Joey Votto had an RBI double, and Phillips bowled over Towles to score from third on a ground ball.

NOTES: Astros manager Brad Mills said reliever Alberto Arias felt fine a day after he threw 60 pitches in a bullpen session. Arias missed last season after shoulder surgery and had tendinitis during spring training. There’s no timetable for his return. … Houston 2B Bill Hall struck out three times. He’s 2 for 19 with nine strikeouts this season. … Reds LH Aroldis Chapman threw 23 pitches in the seventh, topping out at 104 mph — one mph shy of his best from last year. … The teams failed to hit a homer for the second straight game. It’s only the second time that’s happened in Great American Ball Park’s nine-year history.

Astros 1st

Edinson Volquez pitching.

Bourn walked.
Sanchez singled to right.
Pence struck out swinging.
Bourn stole third and Sanchez stole second.
Lee walked.
Reds Killer Bill Hall struck out swinging.
Wallace walked, scoring Bourn.
Johnson singled to left, scoring Sanchez and Lee.
Towles singled to center, scoring Wallace.
Figueroa reached on an infield single.
Bourn struck out swinging.

Astros lead 4-0. (44 pitches by Volquez in first inning)

Reds 1st

Stubbs lined out to right.
(Great catch by Hunter Pence to rob Stubbs)
Phillips doubled to right.
Votto grounded out to shortstop, Phillips to third.
Rolen lined out to right.

Astros lead 4-0.

Astros 2nd

Sanchez walked.
Pence struck out looking.
Lee struck out swinging.
Hall struck out swinging.

Astros lead 4-0.

Reds 2nd

Bruce singled to right.
Heisey popped out to second base.
Hernandez singled to right, Bruce to third.
Janish singled to left, scoring Bruce.
Volquez grounded into double play.

Astros lead 4-1.

Astros 3rd

Wallace grounded out to first.
Johnson grounded out to shortstop.
Towles grounded out to third.

Astros lead 4-1.

Reds 3rd

Stubbs grounded out to third.
Phillips walked.
Votto singled to center, Phillips to third.
Rolen doubled to left center, scoring Phillips and Votto.
Bruce reached on infield single, Rolen to third.
Heisey reached on error, scoring Rolen, Bruce to second.
Bruce stole third, scoring on error by catcher, Heisey advanced to third.
Hernandez popped out to second.
Janish singled up the middle, scoring Heisey.
Volquez struck out.

Reds lead 6-4.

Astros 4th

Figueroa grounded out to shortstop.
Bourn doubled down left-field line.
Sanchez walked.
Pence grounded into double play, second baseman Phillips to first baseman Votto to shortstop Janish. Sanchez out at 2nd.

Reds lead 6-4.

Reds 4th

Stubbs struck out.
Phillips grounded out to third.
Votto flied out to deep center.

Reds lead 6-4.

Astros 5th

Lee flied out to right.
Hall struck out swinging.
Wallace struck out swinging.

Reds lead 6-4.

Reds 5th

Rolen grounded out to shortstop.
Bruce filed out to center field.
Heisey fouled out.

Reds lead 6-4.

Astros 6th

Logan Ondrusek pitching.

Johnson filed out to right in foul territory.
Towles struck out swinging.
Figueroa singled to center.
Bourn struck out swinging.

Reds lead 6-4.

Reds 6th

Ramon Hernandez flied out to center field.
Janish singled to center field.
Janish stole second.
Cairo reached on fielding error by Johnson.
Stubbs singled to left, scoring Janish, Cairo to third.
Phillips singled to center, scoring Cairo, Stubbs to third.

Fernando Abad pitching.

Votto hit ground-rule double to left, scoring Stubbs, Phillips to third.
Rolen reached on fielder’s choice to shortstop, Phillips safe at home.
Bruce struck out swinging.

Mark Melancon pitching.

Heisey called out on strikes.

Astros 7th

Aroldis Chapman pitching.

Sanchez flied out to right.
Pence walked on four pitches.
Lee flied out to center.
Hall singled to right, Pence to third.
Wallace grounded out to shortstop.

Reds lead 10-4.

Reds 7th

Hernandez grounded out to catcher.
Janish reached on error.
Pinch-hitter Francisco grounded into force out, Janish out at second, Francisco safe at first.
Stubbs struck out swinging.

Reds lead 10-4.

Astros 8th

Bill Bray pitching.

Johnson lined out to second.
(Outstanding leaping catch by Phillips)
Towles grounded out to second.
Pinch-hitter Downs struck out swinging.

Reds lead 10-4.

Reds 8th

Enerio Del Rosario pitching.

Phillips hit an infield single.
Votto walked.
Renteria singled to right, scoring Phillips.
Bruce reached on fielding error by shortstop, Votto scored, Renteria to second.
Heisey walked, Renteria to third, Bruce to second.
Janish grounded into double play.

Reds lead 12-4.

Astros 9th

Francisco Cordero pitching.

Bourgeois flied out to right.
Sanchez struck out looking.
Pence grounded out to second.

Reds win 12-4.

• John Fay’s Reds blog
• Follow John Fay on Twitter
• More news from Redleg Nation

Press Release Source: AT&T Inc. On Wednesday April 6, 2011, 12:00 pm EDT

HOUSTON, April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — AT&T* and the Houston Astros today announced they have expanded broadband connectivity at Minute Maid Park with a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and Wi-Fi. This is part of AT&T and the Astros’ ongoing efforts to support growing demand for advanced wireless devices and services and is designed to enrich baseball fans’ wireless experience whether they are checking scores, updating social networking sites, or uploading photos to friends while cheering in the stands.

AT&T Wi-Fi is now available at Houston Astros games at Minute Maid Park as part of a new agreement with AT&T, an industry pioneer in Wi-Fi with the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network.** Inside the venue, there are 225 access points to cover 40,950 seats, concession stands and concourse areas. Minute Maid Park visitors with a Wi-Fi-enabled AT&T smartphone can easily connect to the  AT&T Wi-Fi network without any setup or log in required, through an auto-authentication process.

A DAS installation consists of hundreds of strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T’s wireless network coverage throughout Minute Maid Park, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas. DAS has the ability to provide enhanced wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations – terrain, building construction, etc. – or crowd density might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience. The additional capacity is expected to help improve call reliability and enable more consistent network access to help Houston Astros fans at Minute Maid Park make the most of their AT&T devices.

“We want our customers to have a great network experience anywhere they go, and our alliance with the Astros has allowed us to build a robust combination of both the AT&T Wi-Fi and DAS systems to do just that,” said Chris Penrose, South Texas vice president and general manager, AT&T. “We’re committed to our investment in the local wireless network, and the new DAS at Minute Maid Park is just one way that we’re investing in Houston.”

“When we’d look in the stands, we were seeing a greater number of fans using their smartphone or tablet while watching the game. Our fans can not only make phone calls but also get real-time game and player stats right on their device, which combines the experience of being at the game with the additional information you’d get if you were watching on TV at home,” said John Sorrentino, vice president, Business Development for the Houston Astros Baseball Club. “It’s the best possible way to enjoy the game.”

AT&T’s focus is on delivering the benefits of mobile broadband networks, devices and applications. With the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities for an amazing wireless voice and data experience.

AT&T’s mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the broadest international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, providing access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in more than 200 countries. AT&T also offers voice and data roaming coverage on more than 135 major cruise ships, as well as mobile broadband services in more than 130 countries.

AT&T also operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network** with more than 24,000 hotspots in the U.S., and also provides access to more than 135,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. AT&T customers with a qualifying smartphone, 3G LaptopConnect, and high speed Internet plans get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly data plans.

For more information about  AT&T’s mobile broadband coverage in Houston or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer. The online tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit www.att.com/networknews and for more information on AT&T Wi-Fi and how to connect, visit AT&T Wi-Fi Access.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T – News) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

(Sports Network) – The Cincinnati Reds hope to build on an already impressive start tonight when they play the middle test of a three-game series with the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds followed up a weekend sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers and improved to 4-0 on Tuesday with an 8-2 win in the opener of this set. The last time Cincinnati began a season with four straight wins was in 1990 – the year of the team’s last World Series appearance.

On Tuesday, Mike Leake threw six solid innings and Chris Heisey drove in three for the Reds. Leake (1-0) began his second major league season by limiting Houston to two runs on three hits and two walks. He also struck out four.

The hosts took advantage of ineffective Houston starter J.A. Happ (0-1), who lasted only four innings, giving up seven hits and seven runs. He threw only 52 of his 91 pitches for strikes while walking five and hitting a batter.

Angel Sanchez hit a two-run double for Houston, which was swept by Philadelphia in its season-opening series.

Getting the call for the Reds tonight will be Opening Day starter Edinson Volquez, who was touched for seven hits and five runs in six innings against Milwaukee, in a game Cincinnati came back to win on a Ramon Hernandez home run in the ninth inning.

Volquez is still recovering from ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow, which, after he won 17 games in 2008, has limited him to just eight wins in 23 big-league appearances since.

He was 4-3 in 12 starts last season with a 4.31 earned run average in 62 2/3 innings.

In five career starts against the Astros, Volquez is 4-0 with a 1.34 ERA in 33 2/3 innings, striking out 35 batters and allowing just 24 hits.

Houston counters with journeyman righty Nelson Figueroa, who broke training came in a major-league starting rotation for the first time since initially reaching the big leagues in 2000.

He made three starts with Arizona that year and has since played for Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, the New York Mets and the Astros, making 60 starts in 137 appearances and chalking up 20 wins and a save along with 32 losses.

Figueroa split 2010 between the Phillies and Astros and was 4-3 with a 3.23 ERA down the stretch, earning a shot at full-time starting while prospect Jordan Lyles hones his craft at Triple-A.

He’s 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 13 career appearances against the Reds, including a Sept. 29 win at Cincinnati in which he allowing six hits and struck out five in six scoreless innings.

Cincinnati was 10-5 last season against the Astros.

The Sports Network

CINCINNATI (AP) — The last time the Reds got off to such a good start, they ended up winning the World Series.

Chris Heisey drove in three runs, and the Reds used a patient approach at the plate to beat the Houston Astros 8-2 on Tuesday night for their best start in 21 years.

At 4-0, they’re the only unbeaten team left in the National League. They hadn’t won their first four since 1990, when they opened 9-0 and went on to sweep Oakland for their last World Series championship.

“You get off to a good start and try to keep the momentum going and keep winning,” Heisey said. “I’ll say we’re probably going to lose a game before long, but if we go 162-0, we’ll be making some serious headlines.”

The defending NL Central champs showed a lot of confidence in their first four, playing up to a title that’s had a carry-over effect.

“Remember I said that whatever we sold last year was going to be an easier sell this year because of the results,” manager Dusty Baker said.

By contrast, the Astros fell to 0-4, the second year in a row they’ve floundered. They dropped the first eight games last season, burying themselves in the Central with a 17-34 start in April and May. Houston finished the season strong and wanted to avoid another discouraging beginning this time around.

Instead, they’ve been overwhelmed by two of the league’s top teams, dropping three in Philadelphia before heading to Cincinnati to face a team that’s been even better than last year in one way.

The Reds’ offense led the NL in most categories last season, including homers and slugging, but ranked 10th in walks. They’ve added patience to their approach this year, walking 18 times in their four wins.

Against J.A. Happ (0-1), they did the most damage by not even swinging.

Heisey walked with the bases loaded, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and singled home a run off Happ, who helped the league’s top offense immensely with his early control problems.

“I don’t know if it was just a lack of aggressiveness at the outset,” said Happ, who lasted only four innings. “I felt I was around the (strike) zone. They definitely took some quality pitches.”

The left-hander repeatedly missed low with his pitches. He walked three in the first inning, including Heisey to force in a run. The Reds sent eight batters to the plate for three runs — Scott Rolen had an RBI single, and Heisey broke up a potential double play with a hard slide into second base, bringing home another.

Eight more Reds batted in the second. Jonny Gomes walked to force in a run — he hesitated and waited for umpire Andy Fletcher’s call on a 3-1 pitch close by the outside corner — and Heisey was hit on the left hand with the bases loaded for a 5-0 lead.

A sign of the Reds’ new patience: Gomes walked only 39 times all last season, but has seven base on balls already.

“They’re showing a lot of patience and tolerance, especially Jonny,” Baker said. “It’s a situation where guys are learning how to hit.”

Joey Votto’s run-scoring double and Heisey’s RBI single made it 7-0 in the fourth, Happ’s last inning. The left-hander gave up seven hits and walked five, one shy of his career high.

Happ strained a muscle in his right side during his last spring training appearance, prompting manager Brad Mills to push his start back two days. Happ threw 52 strikes out of 91 pitches.

After the game, Mills said Happ “was mixing his pitches well, but just didnt’ have any command.”

Mike Leake (1-0) allowed three hits and a pair of runs in six innings. Houston managed only five hits overall.

The Astros will face the Reds for two more games Wednesday and Thursday at Great American Ballpark before the season home opening game Friday at Minute Maid Park.

NOTES: Astros reliever Alberto Arias threw approximately 60 pitches in the bullpen. Arias missed all last season recovering from shoulder surgery. He had mild tendinitis in the shoulder during spring training, prompting the Astros to put him on the DL. “He’ll get (back) real quick if he progresses like he is,” Mills said. … Heisey started in RF in place of Jay Bruce, in part because the Astros started a left-hander. … Former Reds 1B Sean Casey threw a ceremonial pitch. Casey was part of the television broadcast crew. … Attendance was 11,821 on a 52-degree night. … 2B Brandon Phillips knocked the wind out of himself on a hard slide into home in the fourth inning and left an inning later because he had trouble breathing. He expects to start on Wednesday.