Zack Greinke tries to win his fifth straight decision this afternoon and continue his mastery of Houston in the process when the Brewers continue a three-game set with the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Greinke remained unbeaten at home since joining the Brewers on Monday, but it wasn't easy. In fact he didn't get a decision against the Miami Marlins in that one, as he allowed five runs and six hits in six innings of his team's 6-5 win.
"It was a pretty bad outing for me," said Greinke, who is 16-0 with a 3.10 ERA in 24 regular and postseason starts at Miller Park over the last two seasons.
The subject of trade rumors, Greinke is 9-2 on the year with a 3.08 ERA. He's 4-0 with a 2.39 ERA in seven starts overall since losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks back on May 26. He's also 3-0 in his last five road starts.
"The Brewers need to do what's best for the Brewers, and that's just how things go," Greinke said recently. "Hopefully nothing happens and we start playing better. That would be the best-case scenario for everyone."
Greinke stands a good chance of extending his unbeaten run today, as he owns a perfect 4-0 record with a 2.00 ERA in four starts versus the Astros, including a 3-0 ledger with a 1.71 ERA at Minute Maid Park.
The Brewers drew first blood in this set on Friday, as Yovani Gallardo pitched six innings of one-run ball and Rickie Weeks hit a two-run home run to help Milwaukee to a 7-1 win.
Gallardo (7-6) gave up four hits, three walks and struck out six to get the win. Norichika Aoki added a solo homer, two hits, two RBI and two runs scored for the Brewers, who snapped a two-game skid.
Scott Moore's solo homer was the lone run of the game for the Astros, who have dropped nine straight and now have the worst record in the majors. J.A. Happ (6-9) gave up seven runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings to take the loss.
Getting the call for the Astros today is righty Wandy Rodriguez, who is 6-6 with a 3.54 ERA. Rodriguez lost to Chicago on Sunday, but pitched well, as he gave up three runs in seven innings. All three runs he allowed came in a three-pitch span in the sixth inning.
"Wandy pitched well enough to win," Astros manager Brad Mills said afterward. "The sixth inning, obviously, that was everything."
The subject of trade rumors himself, Rodriguez is 7-8 in 21 games (20 starts) against the Brewers with a 3.78 ERA.
The Astros have split the six meetings between the teams in 2012, including a sweep of a two-game set at Houston on May 16-17. The Astros dropped the season series, 12-3, last year and last won it in 2010 when they took eight of 15 games.
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