Brewers: Jumping for joy
(c) Associated Press
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The Astros were poised to tie Milwaukee in the loss column with a win at Miller Park on Friday but the Brewers saved their best for last, blitzing Matt Lindstrom with four runs in the bottom of the ninth to take an improbable 6-5 comeback. Corey Hart slid under the tag of Jason Castro with the winning run as the weekend series got off to a frustrating start.
Houston had pecked away for five runs on 12 hits with all the starters chiming in at least once. Hunter Pence had a two-run double in the third and the Astros tallied for a single run every other inning after that.
With one out in the ninth, George Kottaras drew a walk before pinch-hitter Joe Inglett hooked a home run around the foul pole in right to turn a 5-2 lead to a 5-4 nailbiter. Rickie Weeks singled and Hart walked before Prince Fielder hit a bank shot down the right field line that caromed off the stands and into right-center. Weeks scored and Hart arrived at the plate just as Pence's throw got to Castro.
It was an uncharacteristic meltdown for Lindstrom who has been a relatively undramatic closer this year. The rally took a 10th win away from Wandy Rodriguez, who allowed just one earned run over 6-1/3rd innings.
Brett Myers (8-6) will take the hill Saturday in a 6:10 Central contest against Randy Wolf (7-9). Wolf was beaten in Houston last week when a liner off his wrist forced him out of the game.
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