MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Manny Parra won for the first time since July 20, J.J. Hardy hit a two-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Houston Astros 5-2 on Wednesday.

Hardy's two-run shot in the seventh put the game out of reach, helping Parra to his first win in six starts.

Parra (10-6) won 7-4 at San Francisco a month ago, but then lost four straight decisions over his next five starts.

He allowed two runs on six hits, walked four and struck out two over five innings. Carlos Villanueva and Eric Gagne combined for three hitless innings of relief and Salomon Torres closed it out with his 24th save in 29 chances.

Hardy homered off reliever Doug Brocail, who had just come into the game after reliever Wesley Wright walked Rickie Weeks with two outs in the seventh inning.

The Brewers gave Parra a 2-0 lead with Gabe Kapler's run-scoring double and Prince Fielder' sacrifice fly in the first. Fielder added another sacrifice fly in the third to make it 3-0.

The Astros sent eight batters to the plate in the fourth inning and Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman scored.

Parra got in trouble again in the fifth, but escaped thanks to a perfect throw by Kapler from left field that nailed Mark Loretta at the plate to end the inning.

Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (7-6) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on three hits in 5 1/3 innings and has now lost four of his last five. He struck out six and walked five.

Game notes
Ryan Braun missed his second consecutive game and ninth of the last 11 with tightness in his lower back. The Brewers All-Star outfielder left Monday's game after the sixth inning when the injury flared up during an at-bat. He could pinch hit, but probably won't start until Friday against Pittsburgh. The Brewers are off Thursday.