(Sports Network) - Long-time ace Roy Oswalt can make it four starts without a loss tonight when the Houston Astros host the Milwaukee Brewers in the first test of a three-game weekend series at Minute Maid Park.

The 30-year-old native of Mississippi opened 2008 with three straight losses, but has since won twice, defeating Philadelphia and San Diego, and picked up three no-decision.

In those three outings, Oswalt has allowed 16 hits and seven runs in 20 innings. Overall, he's given up 46 hits and 23 earned runs in 36 innings.

He is 11-8 in 23 career starts against the Brewers with a 3.66 earned run average in 152 1/3 innings.

Carlos Villanueva gets the call for Milwaukee in search of his first win since April 4. The 24-year-old Mexican import defeated San Francisco, 13-4, in his initial outing of the season, but is 0-2 with two no-decisions since.

He allowed six hits and two runs in six innings of his last start, a no- decision against Florida which the Brewers won, 4-3.

Villanueva is 1-1 in six lifetime appearances against Houston - one start - allowing 11 hits and five runs in 14 innings.

On Thursday in Chicago, Ryan Braun went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, and his two-run double in the ninth put the Brewers on top as Milwaukee rallied to down the Cubs, 4-3, in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Braun's double capped a three-run ninth for the Brewers off of Kerry Wood (2-1), who let up three runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in the ninth, taking his third blown save as well as his first loss of the season.

Jason Kendall went 2-for-4 with a run batted in and scored for the Brewers, who have won three of five. Brian Shouse (2-0) earned the win for getting the last out of the eighth, and Eric Gagne pitched the scoreless ninth for his ninth save of the season.

Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo gave up three runs on nine hits in six innings, and stayed in the game despite twisting his right knee on a play in the fifth.

On Wednesday in Arizona, Eric Byrnes' run-scoring single in the sixth inning proved to be the difference as the D-Backs roared back to edge Houston, 8-7, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Chase Field.

Carlos Lee belted a three-run homer for the Astros, who finished an eight-game road trip at 4-4. Lance Berkman was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

Shawn Chacon started on the hill and despite being staked an early four-run lead, the soft-throwing right-hander couldn't hold on. Chacon allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings. Dave Borkowski (0-2) lost it after imploding in the sixth inning.

Milwaukee was 13-5 against the Astros last season.