Brewers rout Astros to earn first series sweep since April

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Milwaukee Brewers rested three regulars and still had a big offensive day. Not that Dave Bush needed it.

Ryan Braun and Russell Branyan hit two-run homers, Bush allowed one run in seven innings and Milwaukee beat the Houston Astros 10-1 to finish off a sweep of the weekend series.

Rickie Weeks, Mike Cameron and J.J. Hardy all got a day off, and the Brewers still rolled to their sixth win in seven games and first sweep since they took three from San Francisco on April 4-6.

Gabe Kapler and Craig Counsell each went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Mike Rivera also had two hits.

"Kapler had a big day," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "All those guys did; it was just a good offensive day."

Milwaukee scored four in the first against Shawn Chacon (2-1) and six in the fourth. Chacon lasted just one inning.

Corey Hart narrowly beat a throw to first base for a two-out, RBI single that tied it at 1 in the first. Chacon then walked Branyan and hit Rivera with a pitch to force in a run. Counsell doubled to right-center to make it 4-1.

"If we get out of that inning without that [hit] by Counsell I think we're fine," Chacon said. "By that time, the damage was done."

Chacon allowed just two hits but issued two walks and hit two batters with pitches.

"He just struggled in that inning after that blown call by the umpire," Houston manager Cecil Cooper said. "I thought it was the best thing to take him out right there."

The Brewers batted around for a second time in the fourth.

Kapler drove in Joe Dillon with a triple and Braun followed with a drive to center off Jack Cassel to make it 7-1. Branyan added his third homer of the season and second in as many days after Prince Fielder reached on Cassel's error.

"It was a total team effort today," said Braun, who homered on a day that his bobblehead was given away. "This is what we've expected from the get-go. It's good to see a lot of guys contributing and producing in big situations."

Bush (2-5) surrendered a homer to Loretta in the first before retiring 20 of his final 23 batters. He sent down 11 straight before Michael Bourn singled in the sixth.

"He's on a pretty good roll right now," Yost said. "He's got it turned around."

The right-hander struck out four, walked none and equaled his longest outing of the season. Julian Tavarez and Mark DiFelice each pitched a scoreless inning to finish it up. Bush has allowed just three runs in his last two starts, all on solo home runs.

"I felt like I was pounding my strike zone and mixing my pitches," Bush said. "I was able to get ahead for the most part, but any time the offense scores 10 runs, that makes it real easy."

Aside from Loretta's home run, Lance Berkman was the only player to get into scoring position against Bush.

"We don't have any opportunities," Berkman said. "We don't have anybody on base.

"It's tough to generate anything without putting pressure on the pitcher."

The Astros have lost a season-worst five straight.

Game notes
After the game, the Astros sent Cassel to Triple-A Round Rock. RHP Geoff Geary will be activated from the 15-day disabled list before Houston plays at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. ... The Astros were swept for the first time this season. ... The Brewers are above .500 (29-28) for the first time since May 13.