Astros' Pence knocks Brewers behind Cubs

Hunter Pence singled home the winning run off Matt Wise in the 10th inning and the Houston Astros beat Milwaukee 5-4 Wednesday night, dropping the Brewers out of first place in the NL Central.

Rickie Weeks hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Astros closer Brad Lidge to force extra innings. But the Brewers, who had won four in a row, wound up falling one game behind Chicago for the division lead _ the Cubs beat Cincinnati 3-2.

Milwaukee opens a four-game series in Atlanta on Thursday night. The Cubs are idle, the host Pittsburgh over the weekend.

Carlos Lee homered and hit an RBI single for the Astros, who won for just the fifth time in 18 games against Milwaukee this year.

Weeks homered with one out, tying it at 4. Lidge (5-2) pitched a perfect 10th, striking out two, and got the victory.

Orlando Palmeiro pinch-hit for Lidge and drew a leadoff walk from Wise (3-2) to start the 10th. Pitcher Brandon Backe pinch-ran for Palmeiro, went to second on Lance Berkman's single and dashed for third on Lee's fly out to center.

Pence batted next, an inning after crashing into the right-field wall chasing Weeks' homer. Pence crumpled to the ground after the collision, but got up after a few minutes and stayed in the game.

Pence fouled off the first 3-2 pitch he saw from Wise, then lined the next one into left field to bring home Backe.

Prince Fielder hit his 47th homer for Milwaukee, stretching his hitting streak to 17 games.