As promised, Hall back at third base

Brewers manager Ken Macha stayed true to his word and is starting Bill Hall tonight against right-hander Roy Oswalt, leaving Mat Gamel’s left bat on the bench. Macha promised Hall regular playing time in the series in Houston to see if Hall could get his own bat going against right-handed hitters.

We’ll ask Macha for some further thoughts in a few hours, but I wonder if Hall might continue to play in Minnesota this weekend against a trio of Twins righty starters. Craig Counsell will presumably play second base, and I imagine Macha will use Gamel as the DH. That leaves two right-handed hitters — Hall and Casey McGehee — for third base. Hall has played tremendous defense, and that might give him the nod.

Anyway, here is tonight’s lineups:

BREWERS
Craig Counsell  2B
J.J. Hardy  SS
Ryan Braun  LF
Prince Fielder  1B
Mike Cameron  CF
Corey Hart  RF
Bill Hall  3B
Jason Kendall  C
Jeff Suppan  RHP

ASTROS
Michael Bourn  CF
Jeff Keppinger  2B
Lance Berkman  1B
Carlos Lee  LF
Hunter Pence  RF
Miguel Tejada  SS
Geoff Blum  3B
Ivan Rodriguez  C
Roy Oswalt  RHP