Milwaukee, WI (Best E Casino) - Ryan Braun went 4-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in as the Milwaukee Brewers cruised past the Houston Astros, 5-1, in the opener of a three-game set at Miller Park.

Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer and Mike Cameron added a solo shot for the Brewers, winners in four of their last five. Manny Parra (3-2) held the Astros to a run on four hits over six innings to pick up the win, striking out six and walking four.

"Houston has always done well against left-handers, so Parra really did the job for us today, holding them to one run in six innings," said Brewers manager Ned Yost.

J.R. Towles knocked in the lone run for the Astros, who dropped their third straight game. Lance Berkman and Hunter Pence each doubled, while Brandon Backe (4-6) dropped the decision after allowing all five runs on six hits in five frames.

The Brewers picked up an early 2-0 lead courtesy of back-to-back first inning homers and never looked back. With one out, Cameron drilled a Backe fastball over the wall in left, and Braun followed by golfing a 1-1 slider just over the wall in right.

"Backe has always given us fits in the past," Yost said. "He seems to pitch better against us than he does against anybody, so those two first inning home runs really took the pressure off."

Houston pulled back a run in the top of the second, as Pence drilled a one-out double and moved to third when Parra was called for a balk. After Ty Wigginton walked, Towles lined a single to right to drive in Pence and cut the lead to 2-1. Parra settled down, allowing just one more hit through the sixth.

"It was good to get those runs early on, and it helped me to relax," Parra said. "Houston has some powerful hitters, which makes my performance even more satisfying."

Milwaukee picked up another run in the third, as Rickie Weeks was hit by a pitch to start the inning, stole second when Cameron struck out and scored when Braun singled to center.

Braun started a two-out rally in the fifth with a single to left, then Fielder hammered a 1-2 curveball for a line drive homer and a 5-1 Milwaukee lead.

With Carlos Villanueva in his second inning in relief of Parra, the Astros put together a threat in the eighth. Berkman reached on a bunt-single with one out, then moved to second when Carlos Lee's grounder deflected off Villanueva for an infield single. But, Villanueva fanned Pence, then got Wigginton on a weak grounder to preserve the four-run edge.

Guillermo Mota finished off the win with a scoreless ninth.

Game Notes

It was Braun's third career four-hit game...Berkman's double was his league- leading 20th of the season...J.J. hardy added a pair of doubles for the Brewers...The Astros left 10 men on base...The roof remained open for the entire game at Miller Park for the first time this season...Ben Sheets (5-1) gets the call for Milwaukee on Saturday, opposed by veteran Brian Moehler (2-1).