Houston’s Craig Biggio moved closer to 3,000 hits with a single, leaving him three short of becoming the 27th player to reach that milestone.
The National League Central-leading Brewers have won 11 of their last 13 games since they were no-hit by the Detroit Tigers’ Justin Verlander on June 12. The Astros, with one game left of a nine-game road trip, have lost six of eight.
Biggio, 41, played Tuesday night after being held out of the lineup Monday. He won’t play today, setting the stage for reaching the historic plateau at home when the Astros begin a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.
Biggio, who was 1-for-13 against Milwaukee starter Claudio Vargas, lined the first pitch down the third-base line for a hit in the third inning. Biggio took a called third strike in the first, flied out in the fifth and grounded out in the seventh.
Trailing 4-2, the Brewers chased Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (4-7) with three runs and tacked on six against reliever Rick White in the sixth. It was the most runs in an inning this season by the Brewers, surpassing the seven they scored in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 1.
Bill Hall and Estrada reached on walks and Kevin Mench blooped a hit into left. Rickie Weeks followed with a sinking line drive that skipped under the glove of right fielder Luke Scott for an error. Hall, Estrada and Mench scored on the play that ended Rodriguez’s night. White relieved and Tony Graffanino hit the first pitch for his fourth career pinch-hit home run.
The Brewers loaded the bases on a walk, a double by Ryan Braun and an intentional walk to Prince Fielder. Estrada followed with his first career grand slam to close out the scoring.
Rodriguez went five innings, allowing six runs and seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Before the disastrous sixth, Rodriguez’s only mistake was an 0-2 pitch that Braun hit for a two-run homer in the Brewers’ first inning.
Carlos Lee’s two-run shot in the sixth broke a 2-2 tie.
Lance Berkman walked and Lee followed with his 14th homer. After Mark Loretta singled and Mike Lamb reached on a throwing error, Vargas was pulled.
Matt Wise (2-1) picked up the victory after he stopped the Astros from doing any further damage in the sixth when Scott hit into a double play and Rodriguez hit into a fielder’s choice.
Vargas went five-plus innings, allowing four runs and five hits. He struck out six and walked three in a bid to win his fourth straight decision.
Scott and Brad Ausmus hit back-to-back homers with two out in the Astros’ second to tie the game 2-2. Scott added a solo homer in the ninth.
