(Sports Network) - Right-hander Brandon Backe will attempt to snap a three- start winless skid tonight when the Houston Astros meet the Milwaukee Brewers in the middle game of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Backe, a 30-year-old native of Galveston, Texas, earned his lone win of 2008 when he allowed five hits over five scoreless innings in a 5-0 defeat of Florida on April 12.

Since, he's 0-2 with a no-decision in three outings, including a 5-1 loss at St. Louis on April 27, in which he surrendered five hits and four runs in five innings.

He's 2-1 in six lifetime appearances against the Brewers - three starts - with a 3.09 earned run average in 23 1/3 innings.

Lefty Manny Parra has won just once in five starts for Milwaukee.

The 25-year-old Californian downed San Francisco, 5-4, on April 5, but is 0-1 with three no-decisions since and has not pitched more than 5 1/3 innings in any start.

He allowed six hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings on April 27, getting a no- decision in Milwaukee's 3-2 loss to the Marlins.

He has never faced the Astros.

On Friday, consecutive home runs by Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee highlighted a four-run sixth inning, as the Astros rallied to down the Brewers, 7-4.

Roy Oswalt (3-3) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and four walks, while striking out six over six innings to pick up the win.

Hunter Pence finished with three runs batted in, blasting a two-run homer in the fifth and solo shot in the eighth for Houston, which has won two of its last three contests. Brad Ausmus, Tejada and Lee each had two hits for the Astros.

Carlos Villanueva (1-3) was sharp early on, but was victimized for six runs on nine hits in five-plus frames to absorb the loss.

Prince Fielder went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Ryan Braun clubbed a two- run homer for the Brewers, who have dropped three of their last five outings. Mike Cameron added a solo homer in defeat.

Milwaukee was 13-5 against the Astros last season.