Brewers Score Early, Don't Blow It, Beat Astros 7-1

W: Yovani Gallardo (7-6)
L: J.A. Happ (6-9)

HR: Norichika Aoki (5), Ryan Braun (24), Rickie Weeks (7), Scott Moore (2)

MVP: Yovani Gallardo (+.265)
LVP: Cody Ransom (-.063)

Win Expectancy Graph

It's been a while since a Brewer win has felt so...comfortable, I guess.

The Brewers jumped ahead early in this one, as Norichika Aoki and Ryan Braun went back-to-back in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Aoki's homer extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the second longest streak for a Brewer this season. He, Aramis Ramirez and Corey Hart each had two hits tonight.

Yovani Gallardo had a very Yovani Gallardo night tonight, allowing just one run on four hits but being lifted after six innings because he'd already thrown 108 pitches. Kameron Loe (1-2-3 seventh) and Livan Hernandez (two innings) followed him to the mound and finished the game without incident.

Actually, "without incident" isn't completely accurate. Ryan Braun was hit with a first pitch fastball in the ninth inning, and Hernandez responded by hitting catcher Jason Castro in the bottom of the inning. Both benches were warned and nothing else came of it.

Tonight's win improved the Brewers to 6-3 in their last nine games, while the Astros have now lost nine straight. They'll continue this series continues tomorrow when Wandy Rodriguez takes on Zack Greinke at 3.