MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rickie Weeks walked with the bases loaded to force in the winning run in the 10th inning to give the Milwaukee Brewers a comeback 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday.
McGehee poked a leadoff single into right off Houston closer Matt Lindstrom (1-1), who had converted 22 straight save opportunities dating to last season, including his first ten in 2010. After Corey Hart flied out to right and George Kottaras walked, Alcides Escobar hit a liner to left to load the bases for pinch-hitter Randy Wolf, who struck out. Weeks, whose throwing error in the sixth gave the Astros their third unearned run and a 3-2 lead, walked on a 3-2 pitch.
Rookie John Axford (1-0), the fifth reliever used by manager Ken Macha, pitched a scoreless 10th for his first victory.
Trailing 3-2, the Brewers tied the game at 3 off Lindstrom in the ninth.
Alcides Escobar led off with a single to left, advanced on a sacrifice by pinch-hitter Craig Counsell and took third on a wild pitch. After Weeks walked, Carlos Gomez ripped a single down the third base line that scored Escobar and pushed Weeks to third.
The loss spoiled a strong performance from Brett Myers, who allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings. He has now gone at least six innings in each of his 10 starts this season.
The throwing errors almost doomed the Brewers to their 13th loss in 16 games, but they recovered to win their first home series since taking two of three from Colorado to open the season.
With runners at first and second and two outs in the sixth, Weeks ranged wide to his left in the hole between first and second to field Michael Bourn's grounder, but the second baseman's off-balance throw sailed over Prince Fielder's head and allowed Cory Sullivan to score.
Escobar's throwing error at shortstop in the first inning forced Milwaukee starter Dave Bush through a tough 40-pitch inning.
Jeff Keppinger doubled with one out before Hunter Pence ground to Escobar, whose high throw pulled Fielder off the bag. Both advanced on Lance Berkman's groundout and scored on Geoff Blum's looping single that tailed toward the baseline in short left. Escobar raced after it, but the ball fell in front of him as he lunged.
The Brewers got a run back in the third. Escobar looped a single to right, advanced on Weeks' one-out single and scored on a single by Carlos Gomez.
Bush had a better game than his career-worst 1-3 inning effort last Friday when Minnesota roughed him up for seven runs and six hits in a 15-3 pounding.
Against the Astros, Bush walked three and struck out three while scattering four hits through five innings.
NOTES: Astros RHP Bud Norris will skip his next scheduled start Saturday in Cincinnati because of biceps tendinitis. Norris (2-5, 6.80 ERA) is expected to return to Houston for an examination by Dr. David Lintner, and it's unclear how long he'll be out. ... Macha acknowledged that while surgery may be an option to repair the torn labrum in C Gregg Zaun's right shoulder, "the rehab route is what we're going with right now." Zaun went on the 15-day disabled list May 21 with a right shoulder strain. ... Milwaukee improved to 6-15, still the majors' worst home record. ... Berkman walked in the fifth for the 1,000th time in his career.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.