Wandy: Back on track?
(c) Associated Press
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Wandy Rodriguez tossed seven innings of one-run ball and drove in the winning run with a suicide squeeze bunt to topple Milwaukee, 5-1, on WINS-day afternoon. Rookie Chris Johnson had a four-hit game for the second time since being recalled from Round Rock and drove in a pair of insurance runs as Houston won their 10th Wednesday game of their last eleven. The victory also finished a .500 month at 14-14.
After struggling through the early innings, Rodriguez settled in to allow seven hits and one walk while striking out six as he won his second straight start and may finally be rounding into the form he showed last year.
Geoff Blum had two walks and two hits while scoring three times as he and Johnson continued to get on base while the heart of the order did little. Tied 1-1 in the fifth, Blum scored on a squeeze from Rodriguez that was perfectly executed. Houston then scored three in the seventh off reliever Carlos Villanueva to break the game open. Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom mopped up even though it was not a save situation.
The Astros now fly to San Diego to start the month of July with a four-game holiday weekend series on the West Coast. Brian Moehler (1-4) will pitch against veteran Jon Garland (8-5) in a 9:05 Central start.
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