(Best E Casino) - Right-hander Brandon Backe can make it three straight victories tonight when the Houston Astros travel to Milwaukee to open a three- game series with the host Brewers at Miller Park.

A 30-year-old Texan, Backe was 2-5 in his initial nine starts of 2008 before stringing together defeats of Texas and Philadelphia in his last two outings.

He allowed five hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings against the Rangers on May 18 in Arlington, then gave up just six hits and a run over 7 1/3 strong innings against the Phillies on May 23.

Backe is 3-1 in seven career appearances - four starts - against the Brewers, including a 6-2 win on May 3 in which he allowed five hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Milwaukee's Manny Parrra took the loss against Backe in that May 3 game, but is unbeaten over four starts since.

The 25-year-old left-hander allowed nine hits and five earned runs in just four innings against the Astros, in his lone career appearance against them.

He is 1-0 with three no-decisions since, including a May 20 win at Pittsburgh in which he allowed four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts.

Parra is unbeaten in five home starts in 2008, posting a 3.62 earned run average in 27 1/3 innings.

On Thursday in Milwaukee, Mark Teixeira went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run, four RBI and two walks for the Atlanta Braves in an 8-1 victory over the Brewers to wrap up a three-game set.

Seth McClung (2-2) took the loss allowing six earned runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of work for the Brewers, who had a three-game winning streak stopped. Russell Branyan's solo homer provided Milwaukee's only run.

In St. Louis, Kyle Lohse tossed six-plus strong innings, and the Cardinals edged the Astros, 3-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set.

The loss spoiled a good start by Roy Oswalt (4-5), who held the Cards to five hits and three runs, with two strikeouts and two walks over seven frames.

Solo homers by Carlos Lee and Berkman provided the offense for the Astros, who have dropped three of four.

Houston swept the Brewers in a three-game set earlier in the season after Milwaukee took 13 of 18 matchups in 2007.