MILWAUKEE (AP) \u2014 Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Pe\u00f1a homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Houston earned just its second victory in seven games to snap Milwaukee\u2019s three-game winning streak and leave both teams with .500 records. The Brewers were attempting to sweep a series from the Astros for the first time since 2012.<\/p>\n
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The Astros led 3-1 before Pe\u00f1a broke the game open by delivering a three-run homer<\/a> to left off reliever Elvin Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning.<\/p>\n Valdez (2-4) struck out seven while allowing three hits, two walks and one run to earn his first win since the Astros\u2019 March 27 season opener.<\/a> He threw a season-high 101 pitches.<\/p>\n Milwaukee\u2019s only run off Valdez came on Eric Haase\u2019s fifth-inning homer, a 425-foot drive to center.<\/p>\n The Astros took a 1-0 lead off Quinn Priester (1-1) in the second inning as Jake Meyers hit a two-out single and scored on Zach Dezenzo\u2019s double.<\/p>\n The Brewers have lost all 13 games this season in which their opponent scored first.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader worked the ninth while pitching in Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him<\/a> in 2022.<\/p>\n Key moment<\/p>\n The Astros led 1-0 and had runners on third and second with one out in the fifth when Pe\u00f1a hit a bouncer to third. The throw home beat Dezenzo to the plate. Home plate umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled Dezenzo out, but the Astros challenged the call and replays showed the runner slid home ahead of Haase\u2019s tag.<\/p>\n Key stat<\/p>\n Valdez has now pitched at least seven innings an MLB-leading 57 times since 2020.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n The Astros host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Scheduled pitchers are right-hander Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67) for the Astros and right-hander Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19) for the Reds.<\/p>\n The Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Ray on Friday. Left-hander Jos\u00e9 Quintana (4-1, 2.83) will pitch for the Brewers.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n