Brewers right-hander Shaun Marcum allowed just one hit with one walk and eight strikeouts over seven shutout innings on Sunday afternoon to earn his 12th victory of the season and lift Milwaukee to a three-game sweep over the Houston Astros with a 4-0 win.
The Astros fell to 3-12 on the season against the NL Central-leading Brewers and picked up their 93rd loss in 2011 -- just four losses away from tying the franchise record of 97 set in 1965, which was later tied in 1975 and again in 1991 by Art Howe's squad.
With 22 games left in 2011, it's likely the Astros will reach and surpass the 100-loss mark en route to setting a new franchise record.
It's been an interesting season for the Astros filled with a few highlights and several disappointments, as the organization said goodbye to standouts Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn, jumped started the youth movement by calling up Jordan Lyles, Jose Altuve, J.D. Martinez, Jimmy Paredes, J.B. Shuck and Henry Sosa.
Furthermore, owner Drayton McLane reached a $680 million purchase agreement in May with Jim Crane's group to sell the team.
Although manager Brad Mills will preside over the record-setting season, he takes a glass half-full approach to the situation
"We don't focus on what the good people are saying about this ballclub," Mills said. "When looking at our team, most people just look at the record. If you've followed this ballcub all year, we've been in a lot of games. In fact, we've been in most of them. This second half of the season, it has even stepped up. Look at Friday night. We lost 8-2, but were in a situation where we were leading 2-0 going into the seventh inning.
"We have been able to put ourselves in a situation to get that hit, make that play and make that pitch or whatever. It puts us in a position to win the game. That's exactly where we are, as far as the development and age of our team, and being able to learn how to make those plays and do all those particular things."
The Astros will kick off a six-game road trip Monday afternoon with Sosa getting the starting nod against Pittsburgh at PNC Park.
First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. CT.
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