MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Cody Ransom's homer capped a four-run burst in the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers, after firing their bullpen coach, held off the Houston Astros 8-7 Monday night.

The Brewers dismissed Stan Kyles before the game, then watched their shaky relievers barely preserve this victory.

Milwaukee scored four times in the seventh for a 4-3 edge, but the Astros tied it in the eighth against Livan Hernandez (4-1). Ransom's three-run shot gave the Brewers an 8-4 lead in the bottom half before Houston rallied for three runs in the ninth against Kameron Loe and John Axford.

Axford got J.D. Martinez to ground out with runners at the corners for his 17th save in 24 chances.