Chris Johnson’s 3-run homer powers Houston Astros past Milwaukee Brewers 3-2

Johnson’s shot leads Astros over Brewers 3-2

HOUSTON — Rookie Chris Johnson hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Houston Astros held on for a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

Houston has won three in a row and 11 of its last 15 games.

Astros starter Bud Norris (8-8) allowed one run and three hits in a 7 1-3 innings. He struck out seven and won for the sixth time in seven decisions.

Closer Brandon Lyon gave up a solo homer to Casey McGehee in the ninth inning to make it 3-2 before retiring the next three batters for his 16th save.

Johnson’s two-out shot off Chris Capuano (3-4) bounced off the train that sits atop the wall in left-center field, scoring Michael Bourn and Jeff Keppinger to erase a 1-0 deficit. Bourn walked and Keppinger singled before Johnson’s ninth home run of the season.

Johnson, who leads the Astros with a .320 average, added a double in the eighth inning.

Norris got hit on the shin by Joe Inglett’s line drive leading off the first inning. Houston’s trainers examined him for a couple of minutes after he was hit before he threw a couple of warmup pitches and faced the next batter.

Alcides Escobar grounded out before Ryan Braun homered to left field to put Milwaukee up 1-0 in the first.

After Braun’s homer, Norris didn’t allow another hit until he singled with one out in the fourth. Norris walked one batter in each inning from the fifth to the eighth, but didn’t allow another hit until Escobar’s single that chased him with one out in the eighth inning.

Jeff Fulchino replaced him and struck out Braun before lefty Tim Byrdak came in to strike out Prince Fielder to end the inning.

Keppinger doubled with no outs in the fifth before Capuano retired the next six batters. Norris singled in the seventh inning before Capuano struck out Bourn. He was replaced by Kameron Loe who allowed one hit in 2-3 innings.

Capuano allowed five hits and three runs with three strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings.

NOTES: Milwaukee manager Ken Macha gave Rickie Weeks the day off on Tuesday. … Hunter Pence’s 44 RBIs since the all-star break are most in the National League.