After getting off to rocky starts, Manny Parra and Dave Bush are settling down and appear to have turned a corner.

Parra's latest effort, a one-run, six-inning performance Friday against Houston, is further proof that the left-hander is gaining more and more confidence in his abilities and is starting to feel more comfortable on the mound.

He allowed just four hits with a walk and four strikeouts to pick up his third victory of the season. More impressive is the fact that the heart of Houston's potent lineup -- Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee -- managed to go just 3-for-12 against him.

It was a far cry from Parra's previous meeting with Houston, in which he lasted just four innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits in four innings.

"We faced him in Houston, and he wasn't the same guy," Houston manager Cecil Cooper said after Parra, led the Brewers to a 5-1 victory Friday night. "He had command (tonight). When you have command and throw 94, it's pretty tough to beat that."

That outing boosted his ERA to a season-high 5.86. Since then, save for a disastrous outing at Washington on May 25, Parra has settled down and lowered that number to 4.72.

A lot of Parra's improvement is a result of more confidence in his abilities.

"Sometimes I just felt like I didn't belong," Parra said. "I didn't really understand it because last year I felt like I had a lot of success."

Bush has turned in two straight seven-inning efforts, during which he's allowed just three runs on 10 hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

He has given up three home runs in the same span, but all of them were solo shots.

"He's turned it around," Yost said. "He's on a pretty good roll right now."

Not to be left out is Carlos Villanueva, who has taken a slightly different road. Yost moved the right-hander to the bullpen a little more than two weeks ago after he went 2-5 as a starter.

As a reliever, Villanueva is pitching more consistently and is 1-0. In three appearances (5.0 IP), the right-hander has allowed three hits with eight strikeouts while not allowing a walk or a run.

Moving Villanueva to the bullpen provides an opportunity to capitalize on his abilities, while helping him work through the kinks that have given him trouble on the third and fourth times he faces batters.

"Getting back in that role, it gives you an opportunity to work on some things," Yost said. "You get in, you get out and you don't get overexposed as much, and go through the lineup three and four times."

Despite his previous and current success working in relief, Yost still considers Villanueva to be a starter, but he isn't ready to determine whether or not he'll return to the rotation in the near future.

"I haven't even thought about it," Yost said. "Let's let him keep having success with what he's doing now, and if necessity requires it, we'll go ahead and do it."

Stress reliever: Further helping the starters' cause is an improving offense. Early leads -- like the two runs Milwaukee batters put up in the first for Parra on Friday and the 4-1 lead given to Bush on Sunday -- have helped the starters relax.

An early lead also allows the pitcher some more leeway to go on the attack early on.

"Anytime the offense scores 10 runs, it makes it real easy for me," Bush said.

Cubs keep rolling: Above .500 for the first time since May 13, the Brewers are still seven games behind the front-running Chicago Cubs in the National League Central Division.

The Cubs own the best record in baseball (36-21) and have won seven straight. One thing to keep in mind is that Chicago has played 34 games in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field while the Brewers have been home just 26 times this year.

The muscle: Russell Branyan's 465-ft. home run Saturday night was the third-longest in Miller Park history. The third-baseman has hit three of the four longest home runs since the stadium opening in 2001, including a 480-ft. shot that tops the list.

Branyan's belted three homers since being called up from Class AAA Nashville on May 24. He's batting .292 (7-for-24) with a .750 slugging percentage and a .433 on-base percentage.

Plan B: With Eric Gagne on the disabled list, Solomon Torres has been very effective as interim closer. The veteran right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 28 appearances and has converted five of seven save opportunities.

Gagne with wife: Speaking of Gagne, he is currently in Arizona where his wife, Valerie, is six months pregnant and hospitalized for unspecified complications.

Gagne is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list on Thursday. Yost said that he will return to the team by Tuesday.

Cracking down on theft: Jason Kendall caught three of four Houston base runners attempting to steal Saturday night and has thrown out 16 of 37 runners this season.

A slight adjustment in his throwing motion has been a big help to Kendall, who threw out just 10.5 percent of runners last season.

Yost and the coaching staff studied tape on Kendall after he signed with the team in an effort to identify ways to help him improve. The tape showed that runners were just narrowly beating the throw.

Kendall is now moving into the ball as it comes from the pitcher, allowing him to get a throw off quicker.

"He's got momentum heading to the bag by the time he catches the ball," Yost said. "It's quickened his release and gotten to the point where instead of bang-bang safe, now they're out.

"It's made a huge difference."

Turnbow makes starts: In an effort to try anything to shake Derrick Turnbow out of his rut, the Nashville Sounds sent the right-hander to the mound as a starter Wednesday night, but the results were no better as he allowed two runs on a hit and six walks in a 1 2/3 innings of work against Albuquerque.

The right-hander made another start on Sunday and actually showed some signs of progress. He went two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and two walks with three strikeouts.

Since being demoted to Class AAA Nashville on May 9, Turnbow is 1-0 in eight apperances (8.0 IP). He's allowed nine runs on sven hits and 23 walks with 10 strikeouts. His ERA is 10.13. All-star voting continues: Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Bill Hall are among the leading vote-getters in balloting for the 2008 All Star Game. Braun ranked ninth among all outfielders while Fielder was fourth at first base and Hall was fifth at third in balloting results released Wednesday. Fans can cast ballots online at MLB.com.

Quick hits: The 1-0 victory over Atlanta Wednesday night was the 400th of Yost's career. Only Phil Garner (563) and Tom Trebelhorn have won more games managing the Brewers. ... Second baseman Rickie Weeks has been hit by a pitch 10 times, the most in the majors. ... Since being swept by Boston, the Brewers have won or split their last three series. ... The Brewers have batted around in an inning six times this year, including twice on Sunday. ... The bullpen has a 1.29 ERA in the last 10 games. ... Brewers starters have recorded quality starts in six of the last seven games and are 4-1 with two no-decisions during that stretch.

Injury report: RHP David Riske is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list, but isn't fully recovered from his elbow and shoulder injuries. An MRI revealed that there is no structural damage to Riske's elbow or shoulder, but he is still experiencing discomfort. ... Gagne is eligible to return from the DL Thursday, but it is not known if he will be ready. ... RHP Yovani Gallardo is doing weight training and exercises to regain full motion in his right knee after having ACL surgery on May 8.

On the farm: RHP Omar Aguilar was promoted to Class AA Huntsville this week. ... Four members of the Brevard County Manatees will play in the Class A Florida State League All-Star Game. ... C Vinny Rottino hit safely in 11 straight games with Class AAA Nashville.

This week: The Diamondbacks come to Miller Park tonight for a three-game set to wrap up the home stand. The Brewers hit the road on Friday, where they'll open a six-game road trip with three at Colorado.

He said it: "I can give up homers with the roof open or closed." -- Dave Bush, on whether the position of the Miller Park roof has any effect on a pitcher.

Attendance (Through three home games): Total -- 889,832; Average -- 34,224; On pace for -- 2,772,144. Sellouts -- 10.

Sausage Standings: Polish 7, Chorizo 7, Brat 5, Italian 5, Hot Dog 3.

Under the roof: Games played with roof / panels open -- 4 (3-1); roof closed / panels open -- 1 (1-0); roof open / panels closed -- 0; roof / panels closed -- 21 (12-9). Total home games -- 26 (16-10).

N.L. Central Division standings (through games Sunday): 1, Chicago, 36-21; 2, St. Louis, 34-24 (-2.5); 3, Houston, 30-28 (-6.5); 4, Milwaukee, 29-28 (-7.0); 5, Cincinnati, 28-29 (-8.0); 6, Pittsburgh, 26-30 (-9.5).