Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Lance Berkman finished with three hits and batted in five runs, while Roy Oswalt threw seven strong innings, as the Houston Astros pulled away to beat Milwaukee, 6-1, in the opener of a three- game series.

Oswalt (5-6) allowed one run on five hits, with 10 strikeouts and no walks to pick up the win for Houston, which snapped a two-game losing streak and has won just two of its past six.

Berkman tripled and clubbed his 19th home run of the season, while Darin Erstad contributed a pinch-hit RBI single.

Seth McClung (3-3) turned in a good start for the Brewers, as he surrendered just two runs on three hits in six innings of work. Julian Tavarez allowed four runs in a pivotal seventh inning, though avoided a decision as the Milwaukee offense never sprung to life.

Ryan Braun hit his 17th homer to account for the sole run, while Corey Hart doubled for the Brewers, who have lost three of four.

Tavarez came on for Milwaukee in the seventh with the Brewers down a run, and Michael Bourn greeted him with a leadoff bunt single. Brad Ausmus followed with another bunt intended to get Bourn to second, but a Tavarez throwing error left runners on the corners.

Pinch-hitter Erstad lined a single to center that pushed Bourn home, and later, Kaz Matsui singled to load the bases with one out. Tavarez got Miguel Tejada to pop out and provide a chance to get out of the inning.

But Berkman, a .379 hitter, blew the game open by hitting a sharp liner to center. Milwaukee center fielder Mike Cameron misjudged the hit and didn't catch the ball, which went over his head and rolled to the grassy slope in center field.

The bases cleared, Berkman ended up on third, and the Astros had taken the 6-1 lead.

From there the Houston bullpen closed out the game, as Doug Brocail and Wesley Wright each threw a perfect inning of relief.

Houston took a lead in the first inning. After Tejada reached base by getting hit with a pitch, Berkman lofted an opposite field homer to the seating deck in left field for the 2-0 Astros edge.

Braun got the Brewers within a run in the third, when his fly ball to right just cleared the fence.