Brett Myers was roughed up by the Milwaukee Brewers last weekend. However, he has a good chance for a better outing against them at Minute Maid Park this time.
The Houston right-hander looks to continue his home dominance when the Astros open a three-game series with the Brewers on Friday night.
8:05 PM ET, April 29, 2011
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Myers (1-0, 3.31 ERA) allowed a season-high five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings but again had a chance to earn the win at Milwaukee on Saturday before his bullpen failed to protect a one-run lead in the ninth. Myers, who has gone at least six innings in 37 of his 38 starts with Houston, has left every appearance this year with either the lead or the game tied, only to see the bullpen blow three chances for him to get a victory.
"I (try) to go out there and give us the best chance to win that I can," Myers told the Astros' official website.
The right-hander has certainly done that at Minute Maid Park, where he is 9-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 16 starts since joining the Astros in 2010. Myers allowed a run and struck out 10 in seven innings of a 4-2 home victory against the Brewers on Sept. 13.
Starting Pitchers
Milwaukee: Marcum (2-1, 2.73 ERA)
Houston: Myers (1-0, 3.31 ERA)
Milwaukee scheduled starter Shaun Marcum (2-1, 2.73) allowed four runs and struck out eight in six innings against Myers in his first career start versus Houston on Saturday.
The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.53 ERA in three road starts this season. He has not allowed an earned run in 13 innings of his last two away from home.
Milwaukee (12-12), however, is 4-7 on the road this season and has lost seven of nine at Houston.
While his team has struggled, Brewers' star Ryan Braun is batting .340 with two homers and eight RBIs his last 11 games at Minute Maid Park. Braun also went 6 for 13 with two home runs when the Brewers took two of three from the Astros at home last week. He's hit .432 with four homers and 12 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak versus Houston.
Prince Fielder is 6 for 16 with three homers against Myers.
Braun and Fielder, however, were a combined 0 for 8 in Wednesday's 7-6, 10-inning loss to Cincinnati to conclude a 3-3 homestand. Braun did set a franchise record for reaching base safely in his 24th consecutive game to start a season when he was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning.
The Brewers have lost nine of 14.
"I'm not happy with it," first-year manager Ron Roenicke told the Brewers' official website. "I think we could have two or three more wins. I don't think we're ever going to be satisfied for being just above .500."
Houston (9-16) has a ways to go to reach .500, but needs to focus on avoiding a third straight defeat after falling 11-7 to St. Louis on Thursday. The Astros led 4-1 before the Cardinals' broke out for a nine-run sixth inning.
The Astros have dropped five of seven, but first baseman Brett Wallace is 18 for 33 the last eight games. That included a 5-for-9 series in Milwaukee last weekend.
Though the Astros have played well at home against the Brewers, they are 5-8 at Minute Maid Park in 2011.
The Houston right-hander looks to continue his home dominance when the Astros open a three-game series with the Brewers on Friday night.
8:05 PM ET, April 29, 2011
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Myers (1-0, 3.31 ERA) allowed a season-high five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings but again had a chance to earn the win at Milwaukee on Saturday before his bullpen failed to protect a one-run lead in the ninth. Myers, who has gone at least six innings in 37 of his 38 starts with Houston, has left every appearance this year with either the lead or the game tied, only to see the bullpen blow three chances for him to get a victory.
"I (try) to go out there and give us the best chance to win that I can," Myers told the Astros' official website.
The right-hander has certainly done that at Minute Maid Park, where he is 9-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 16 starts since joining the Astros in 2010. Myers allowed a run and struck out 10 in seven innings of a 4-2 home victory against the Brewers on Sept. 13.
Starting Pitchers
Milwaukee: Marcum (2-1, 2.73 ERA)
Houston: Myers (1-0, 3.31 ERA)
The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.53 ERA in three road starts this season. He has not allowed an earned run in 13 innings of his last two away from home.
Milwaukee (12-12), however, is 4-7 on the road this season and has lost seven of nine at Houston.
While his team has struggled, Brewers' star Ryan Braun is batting .340 with two homers and eight RBIs his last 11 games at Minute Maid Park. Braun also went 6 for 13 with two home runs when the Brewers took two of three from the Astros at home last week. He's hit .432 with four homers and 12 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak versus Houston.
Prince Fielder is 6 for 16 with three homers against Myers.
Braun and Fielder, however, were a combined 0 for 8 in Wednesday's 7-6, 10-inning loss to Cincinnati to conclude a 3-3 homestand. Braun did set a franchise record for reaching base safely in his 24th consecutive game to start a season when he was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning.
The Brewers have lost nine of 14.
"I'm not happy with it," first-year manager Ron Roenicke told the Brewers' official website. "I think we could have two or three more wins. I don't think we're ever going to be satisfied for being just above .500."
Houston (9-16) has a ways to go to reach .500, but needs to focus on avoiding a third straight defeat after falling 11-7 to St. Louis on Thursday. The Astros led 4-1 before the Cardinals' broke out for a nine-run sixth inning.
The Astros have dropped five of seven, but first baseman Brett Wallace is 18 for 33 the last eight games. That included a 5-for-9 series in Milwaukee last weekend.
Though the Astros have played well at home against the Brewers, they are 5-8 at Minute Maid Park in 2011.
