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W: John Axford (3-3)
L: Hector Ambriz (1-4)
S: Francisco Rodriguez (5, 299 career)
HR: Rickie Weeks (6), Aramis Ramirez (4)
MVP: Weeks (+.419 WPA)
LVP: Yuniesky Betancourt (-.077 WPA)
It looked like I was going to write a one or two line recap in disgust before leadoff hitter Rickie Weeks put a two-run homer in the Crawford Boxes in the eighth inning.
And then it looked like I'd erase that all in disgust when the "get K-Rod 300 saves" Express attempted to derail.
But the Brewers won 3-1 and for tonight, all is right in the world.
It looked as though Weeks had struck out, but Astros Catcher Jason Castro couldn't hold on to the foul tip and Rickie didn't waste the second chance.
Aramis Ramirez added an insurance run in the ninth with his fourth HR of the season. It was his first since he hit two home runs on May 17 shortly after returning from the DL. (It was A-Ram's 23rd career HR at Minute Maid, second only to Albert Pujols' 24)
For the Brewers, the difference in this game was getting to the Astros bullpen. They managed just four hits against Erik Bedard, who was cruising. He left after 7.1 and the Brewers struck quickly.
Per Joe Block, it was the first time Bedard pitched into the 8th since May 20, 2011.
John Axford pitched the seventh and Jim Henderson had the eighth - both gave up a hit, but otherwise pitched clean innings.
K-Rod struck out Chris Carter to begin the ninth, but back-to-back singles left us all worrying about losing the series to Houston in two games. He struck out Ronny Cedeno to end the threat.