Brews Hurt Astros Playoff Chances in Rout

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Wes Obermueller pitched a six-hitter for his first career shutout and the Milwaukee Brewers damaged the Houston Astros&#39; playoff chances with an 8-0 victory over the Astros on Saturday.<br> <br> Houston entered the day 2 1/2 games behind Chicago in the NL wild-card race. The Cubs were playing the New York Mets.<br> <br> Russell Branyan homered, doubled and drove in three runs and Keith Ginter also hit a home run for the Brewers, who snapped a three-game losing streak.<br> <br> Obermueller (6-8) struck out three, walked one and retired the final 13 batters he faced in his first career complete game. He also had two singles and scored a run.<br> <br> Pete Munro (4-7) gave up three runs - two earned - and five hits in four innings.<br> <br> Branyan hit his 11th homer in the second to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead, and Dave Krynzel&#39;s RBI single in the third the Brewers made it 2-0 in the third on .<br> <br> Craig Counsell doubled down the left-field line in the fourth, and the ball got past Craig Biggio for an error, allowing Ginter to score.<br> <br> Milwaukee sent eight batters to the plate in the fifth and scored four runs. With one out, Scott Podsednik singled off reliever Tim Redding and stole second and third, giving him a major-league leading 64 stolen bases.<br> <br> Krynzel walked and Lyle Overbay singled, scoring both runners for a 5-0 lead.<br> <br> Mike Gallo came in and gave up a single to Geoff Jenkins. Chad Harville then relieved and struck out Ginter, but gave up a two-run double to Branyan to give the Brewers a 7-0 lead.<br> <br> Houston had its best chance in the fifth, but failed to score. With two outs and runners at first and second, Obermueller got Lance Berkman to ground out.<br> <br> Ginter hit his 15th homer in the seventh.<br> <br> Notes:@ Obermueller&#39;s best previous start came on Sept. 27, 2003, when he limited the Astros to two runs in eight innings in Milwaukee&#39;s 5-2 victory. ... The Brewers are 7-13 in Obermueller&#39;s 20 starts. ... The Brewers will be involved in a marquee pitching matchup Monday at Arizona. The game between the two worst teams in the NL will feature Milwaukee&#39;s Ben Sheets against Randy Johnson.<br> <br> © 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.