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Brewers pin hopes on Gallardo in middle tilt with Reds

Sep 13, 2014 - 1:02 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Facing an uphill battle in the chase for a playoff spot, the Brewers hope Yovani Gallardo can break out of a personal winless stretch tonight when Milwaukee resumes its three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Brewers enter Saturday with a 1 1/2 game deficit on second-place Pittsburgh in the wild card standings. The Brewers are also four games behind NL Central-leading St. Louis. They have lost Gallardo's last seven starts at Miller Park.

Gallardo, who will make his 30th start of 2014, is 0-3 with a 5.95 ERA over his last four starts. He's given up 13 runs -- 10 earned -- over his last two starts, covering 8 2/3 innings. The righty is 7-7 with a 4.17 ERA in 23 career starts against the Reds.

David Holmberg gets the ball for the Reds in his fifth appearance and third start of 2014. The left-hander hasn't started a game since Aug. 21 against Atlanta when he surrendered five hits and six runs over 2 2/3 innings of an 8-0 loss to the Braves. His last two efforts have come in relief.

Last night, Lyle Overbay's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Brewers to a 3-2 win. Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy both had two hits with a walk and an RBI for Milwaukee, which has won three straight after dropping 16 of 19.

The Brewers remained 1 1/2 games out of the NL's second wild-card spot.

Lucroy doubled to the gap in left-center field to begin the ninth and took third base on a groundout. After Jumbo Diaz (0-1) intentionally walked the next two batters, Overbay jumped on a first-pitch fastball and drove it to left field to score pinch-runner Logan Schafer.

"He's done a really good job pinch-hitting, he's done a really good job hitting with people on base," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said of Overbay. "You feel good with him up there."

Milwaukee closer Francisco Rodriguez (5-5) got the win after striking out pinch-hitter Jack Hannahan looking with runners on second and third for the final out in the top of the ninth. Hannahan was ejected by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna.

The teams have split 14 meetings this season.