HOUSTON (AP) – Andy Pettitte won for the eighth time in his last 10 decisions, leading the Houston Astros over the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3 Sunday in the finale of a disappointing homestand.

Pettitte (11-9) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings and struck out six, improving to 8-2 in his last 12 starts.

Chris Burke hit a three-run homer and doubled twice, tying his career high for hits and RBIs. Houston, which went 6-7 on the homestand, remained a half-game behind Philadelphia in the NL wild-card race. The Astros have the most home wins in the major leagues, going 42-22 in Houston.

Victor Santos (4-12) gave up seven runs and nine hits in 3 1-3 innings.

Adam Everett’s two-run homer in the second and Burke’s homer in the third gave Houston a 5-0 lead. Everett has 10 homers, a career high.

Geoff Jenkins hit a two-run double to the top of the hill in straightaway center field in the fourth.

Rick Helling hit Jason Lane with a pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth, and Jose Vizcaino blooped a single to right field for a 7-2 lead. Lane added a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Notes: Craig Biggio scored twice to tie Mickey Mantle for 24th on the runs list with 1,677. … Houston’s Jose Vizcaino started at third base for the first time this season and committed two errors in the first four innings. Vizcaino had started eight games at both first and second and seven games at shortstop. … With 12 road games remaining, the Brewers are one short of matching their 2004 road wins total of 31.

AP-ES-08-21-05 1712EDT

Copy the Story Link