J.A. Happ wins in Houston debut, a 6-0 victory over the Brewers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}J.A. Happ allowed two hits over six innings in his Houston debut and the Astros beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0 on Friday night.
Happ and two minor leaguers came to the Astros on Thursday in a trade that send Roy Oswalt to Philadelphia. Oswalt allowed four earned runs and seven hits in six innings in the Phillies' 8-1 loss at Washington on Friday night.
The Brewers have lost three straight after winning their previous five games. The Astros won their third straight.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Happ, 12-5 as a rookie last season, made only his fourth major league start this year. He was sidelined with a left forearm strain. He had four walks and six strikeouts as the Astros combined on a four-hitter and their fifth shutout this season.
All the Astros runs came on homers. Jason Michaels hit solo shot in the second, and Chris Johnson added a three-run homer in the fourth. Johnson extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games. Jeff Keppinger hit his fifth of the season in the eighth off David Riske.
Happ started his Astros career by yielding a double to Rickie Weeks and then he walked Corey Hart. He then retired the side and didnt allow another hit until Casey McGehees one-out single to left in the sixth inning.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Manny Parra (3-8) went 5 1-3 innings for Milwaukee. He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out six.
Johnson went 2 for 3 and is hitting .417 in his streak.
Happ left two runners stranded in the fourth. Casey McGehee reached on Carlos Lees fielding error and after Jonathan Lucroy flied out, Carlos Gomez walked. Happ then got Alcides Escobar on a fly ball and Parra grounded out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Notes: Astros SS Tommy Manzella, on the DL since June 24 with a fractured left index finger, has been taking ground balls. Prince Fielder of the Brewers needs one RBI to reach 500 for his career. Johnsons 13-game hitting streak is the longest by an Astro since Julio Lugo hit in 14 straight games in 2000. RHP LaTroy Hawkins has been reinstated from the 60-day DL. He had right shoulder weakness. Weeks is attempting to become the second player in major league history to drive in at least 100 runs batting leadoff. He has 67 RBIs and is on pace for 105 this season.