After just two starts, Randy Wolf found himself in the dog house with Brewers fans.

Wolf allowed 12 runs (eight earned) in 10 innings of work, with three walks and four home runs, taking the loss both times. He gave up 19 hits and saw his earned run average hit 7.20.

Since then, though, the veteran left-hander has been spectacular, holding opponents scoreless for 20 1/3 innings -- including a marvelous outing Sunday against Houston, when he nearly went the distance for his third consecutive victory.

The difference between Wolf's first two and last three outings has been his command – a problem that plagued him during Spring Training when he went 2-0 with an 8.74 ERA.

"All of a sudden it got good," manager Ron Roenicke said. "When we put the glove somewhere, he hits that spot with all his pitches. With his slow curve now, he can flip that up for strikes. He wasn't doing that his first few games."

All along, the hope was Wolf would remain true to the form he displayed late last year, when he recovered from a shaky first half by going 6-2 with a 2.67 ERA over his final 13 starts, finishing with six consecutive quality starts.

"The ironic thing is I feel just as good as I did my first two games, when I gave up 12 runs in those two games," Wolf said. "In both of those games, I felt like I was just a pitch away from getting out of situations, and I was leaving the ball out over the plate and every time it was a home run."

After his performance Sunday (8.0 innings, one run, four strikeouts, home run), Wolf is now 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA.

Getting closer: There was nothing much to report from Zack Greinke's latest rehabilitation start, which came Sunday as Class AAA Nashville faced Omaha. Greinke worked 2 2/3 innings Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits.

The team plans for him to make another start in order to increase his pitch limit. He threw 54 pitches Sunday and will be bumped up to 75 pitches for his next outing, scheduled for Friday against Albuquerque.

Roenicke said that the Brewers have no plans to try to rush his return. There is no guarantee that even after a third start, Greinke will be ready to go.

"If he's not where he needs to be it could be two more," Roenicke said.

Outfielder Corey Hart, still working his way back from a rib cage injury, didn't play Sunday, but will be in the Nashville lineup Monday. Hart is expected to play all nine innings for the Sounds and if all goes well, could be back with the Brewers as early as Tuesday.

"If his at-bats are good and he feels that his timing is there, we may try to do something," Roenicke said.

Braun stays hot: Ryan Braun has been on a tear this season and carries a .377 average into the Cincinnati series this week, the fifth-best mark in the National League.

He made headlines off the field last week, too, signing a historic contract extension which keeps him in Milwaukee for the next 10 years. Braun was greeted with a standing ovation before his first at-bat after signing the deal and earned a curtain call when he belted a three-run home run Friday night.

"That's why we signed him to the contract we signed him to," Roenicke said. "He's a big time player."

Familiar faces: The Astros' visit to Milwaukee marked the return to Miller Park for a number of Houston players. Left fielder Carlos Lee played in Milwaukee in 2005-06 and hit 60 home runs in a Brewers uniform. He went 2 for 9 with a home run, a double and three RBI.

Bill Hall was a fan favorite for his clutch bat but also a lightning rod for criticism due to his big contract and lack of consistency. He went 3 for 4 Saturday, but hitless Sunday and finished his weekend with four strikeouts.

Other former Brewers on the Astros' roster include outfielder Jason Bourgeois, starting pitcher Nelson Figueroa (who took the loss Friday) and utility player Joe Inglett. 

Injury report: LHP Manny Parra continues to work his way back from injury at Nashville, where he is 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA in four appearances ... The Brewers put OF Nyjer Morgan on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to to April 18, while he recovers from a deep thigh bruise. He's eligible to return May 3 ... RHP Takashi Saito will participate in a simulated game Monday as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

On the farm: Brendan Katin hit his fifth home run of the year Sunday in Nashville's 7-3 loss to Omaha ... C Martin Maldonado, sent to Class AA Huntsville to make room for George Kottaras in Nashville, went 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBI in the Stars' 11-6 victory over Birmingham ... The Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers open a three-game series Monday against Quad Cities.

Quick hits: Brandon Boggs' home run Sunday was his first as a Brewer and first since August 27, 2008 ... Carlos Gomez has successfully stolen 24 of 28 bases since joining the Brewers last season ... Casey McGehee has hit safely in 10 straight games ... Brewers hitters have collected 10 or more hits in six straight games an in eight of the last nine ... The team's seven errors are tied for the fewest in the Major Leagues; the Brewers' .991 fielding percentage is the best in baseball ... Starting opposite from Greinke Sunday for Class AAA Omaha was former Brewers pitcher Jeff Suppan. He got the victory, improving his record to 2-2 ... Prince Fielder's 21 RBI are the second-most in franchise history through the first 20 games, trailing Rob Deer's 22 in 1987 ... According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, the deferments in Braun's contract will pay him through 2031.

He said it: "What was that? I see a pigeon fly by and then all of a sudden this hawk's on its tail." 

– Roenicke, when asked by veteran Brewers correspondent Larry Lapidus about the hawk which landed on the field Sunday at Miller Park.

This week: The Brewers get a chance for revenge against who swept the Milwaukee in the season-opening series in Cincinnati. The teams open a three-game series Monday at Miller Park. After a day off Thursday, the Brewers hit the road for their second three-city road trip of the season, returning to action Friday at Houston.

NL Central standings (through games Sunday)