Milwaukee 4, Houston 2

MILWAUKEE, April 17 (UPI) -- Matt Kinney allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings and Richie Sexson and Geoff Jenkins homered in the top of the first Thursday night as the Milwaukee Brewers posted a 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

Kinney (2-1) notched consecutive victories for the first time in his career against an Astros team that did not start Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio or Jeff Kent. Berkman missed the game with a sprained left elbow while Biggio and Kent were given the night off.

Kinney allowed two hits through the first six frames before Orlando Merced and Richard Hidalgo opened the seventh with base hits. But he retired Jose Vizcaino on a double play, struck out Brad Ausmus and departed with a 3-0 cushion.

The 26-year-old Kinney struck out six and threw 93 pitches. He was relieved by Valerio De Los Santos, who worked a scoreless eighth and notched his first career save despite allowing solo homers to Jeff Bagwell and Hidalgo in the ninth.

Sexson and Jenkins had two hits apiece for the Brewers, who hit back-to-back homers for the third time this season and bounced back from Wednesday's 15-2 loss to St. Louis.

Houston starter Tim Redding (0-2) lasted just 3 1/3 innings and surrendered three runs and eight hits.