Brewers hold off Astros

MILWAUKEE -- Rookie Ryan Braun homered, and Francisco Cordero set a franchise record with his 40th save as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Houston Astros 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Carlos Villanueva pitched 6 solid innings in his first start as a member of the Brewers' rotation. His outing ruined the comeback of Houston's Brandon Backe, making his first start in more than a year after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery.

Cordero pitched the ninth to earn his 40th save in 46 chances, topping the franchise record of 39 set by Dan Kolb (2004) and Derrick Turnbow (2005).

Villanueva (7-3) pitched in relief most of the season, making 1 spot start in June to go with 52 relief appearances. With injuries to starters Claudio Vargas and Manny Parra, he was inserted into the rotation after starting two games at Triple-A Nashville, where he was limited to about 60 pitches.

It took the right-hander 95 pitches to get through 6 innings, giving up 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out a career-high six batters.

Scott Linebrink allowed 2 unearned runs in the seventh, and Brian Shouse pitched the eighth as Milwaukee managed to hold on after leading 4-1, one day after blowing a 3-run lead in a 9-7 loss to Houston. It was the major-league-leading 15th time the Brewers blew a lead of at least 3 runs.

Backe (0-1) underwent surgery on Sept. 7, 2006, and made his first appearance in a major-league game since Aug. 18, 2006. He pitched 5¿ innings, giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 8 hits and 3 walks.