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Brewers-Diamondbacks Preview

May 7, 2010 - 7:01 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Milwaukee (12-16) at Arizona (14-15), 9:40 p.m. EDT

With the Milwaukee Brewers enjoying plenty of success against the Arizona Diamondbacks the last three years, it's no surprise that Yovani Gallardo has been a part of it.

Gallardo looks to win his fourth straight start Friday night when the visiting Brewers and Diamondbacks begin a series pitting the two best offenses in the NL.

Milwaukee (12-16) has won five of seven against Arizona (14-15) each of the last three seasons, sweeping three games at Chase Field in its last visit Sept. 11-13. Brewers starters are 10-3 with a 3.06 ERA in that span.

Gallardo (3-2, 3.00) has not faced the Diamondbacks since his rookie season in 2007 when he excelled in winning two starts with strong six-inning stints. He didn't allow a run and gave up five singles and one double.

The right-hander has been tough to hit lately, going 3-0 with a 0.50 ERA with 25 strikeouts in his last three outings. Gallardo struck out 11 and yielded one run over seven innings in a 2-1 win at San Diego on Saturday.

"I just felt pretty good," Gallardo told the Brewers' official website.

Gallardo went 0-2 with a 5.50 ERA in his first three starts.

Milwaukee fell to 3-4 on its 10-game trip with a 7-3 loss against Los Angeles on Thursday. The Brewers scored twice in the top of the ninth to tie the game before LaTroy Hawkins allowed a grand slam to Andre Ethier in the bottom half.

Prince Fielder went 5 for 12 with four RBIs in the three-game series and Ryan Braun was 6 for 15 with six runs and four RBIs.

The Diamondbacks lead the league with 162 runs while the Brewers are second with 153.

Milwaukee scored 22 runs and amassed 28 hits in winning the first two games against the Dodgers before managing eight hits Thursday.

Arizona leads the NL with 41 homers, getting 10 by leadoff hitter Kelly Johnson and nine from Mark Reynolds.

The Diamondbacks are back home after completing a 6-5 trip with a 6-3 win over Houston on Thursday to take three of four. Dan Haren pitched a seven-hitter for Arizona's first complete game as its starters posted a 1.63 ERA in the series.

It could be difficult to continue that success Friday when Edwin Jackson (1-3, 8.07) looks to avoid a third straight loss. Jackson allowed a career-high 10 runs over 2 1-3 innings in a 12-1 defeat at Colorado on April 27 before giving up eight runs in a 10-5 road loss to Chicago on Sunday.

"In one way, it's worrisome because it's two starts," manager A.J. Hinch said. "At the same time, it's only two starts."

Jackson has faced the Brewers once, allowing one run in five innings of a 5-2 victory with Tampa Bay in 2004. He's never pitched against Fielder or Braun.

The right-hander has given up a total of seven runs in the first inning of his last two starts. Milwaukee is 10-1 when scoring first.