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Giants-Brewers Preview

Jul 5, 2010 - 3:12 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

San Francisco (41-39) at Milwaukee (37-44), 4:10 p.m. EDT

It was a long Independence Day for the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers.

The struggling Giants look to rebound from a 15-inning loss when they open a four-game series against the Brewers, coming off a tough defeat of their own, on Monday at Miller Park.

San Francisco (41-40) lost for the eighth time in nine games Sunday, falling 4-3 in 15 innings to Colorado, a game that lasted 5-hours, 24-minutes.

The Giants scored three times in the eighth to tie the game, highlighted by Andres Torres's inside-the-park home run, but managed little after that. Aubrey Huff led off the 13th with a triple, but San Francisco couldn't get him home and lost for the third time in the four-game series.

Missed opportunities were the story of the weekend for the Giants, who hit .222 with six strikeouts with runners in scoring position in three defeats to Colorado.

"Tough loss," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We battled our hearts out and couldn't get a hit when we needed one."

San Francisco has lost nine of 12 away from home, scoring three runs or fewer eight times.

Although the Giants are struggling offensively, they may have an easier time scoring against the Brewers (37-45), who have allowed five or more runs in six of their last seven games. Milwaukee's starting pitchers have a 5.15 ERA during that span.

On Sunday, two errors by shortstop Alcides Escobar led to five unearned runs in a 7-1 loss to St. Louis, giving Milwaukee a split of the four-game series. The Brewers have alternated decisions the last 10 games.

They also lost starter Yovani Gallardo, named Sunday to his first All-Star team, to a strained muscle in his left side in the third inning.

"It's not a good feeling when you're walking to the mound and your best guy has a problem," manager Ken Macha said. "We'll have a better assessment tomorrow."

The Brewers will try to rebound against Jonathan Sanchez (6-6, 3.26 ERA), who the Giants hope can give them a quality start after using eight relievers Sunday.

However, Sanchez has failed to make it out of the sixth in his last three starts, including a 2 2-3-inning stint at Toronto on June 20. He pitched five innings against the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing five runs and six hits in an 8-2 loss.

The left-hander is 0-1 with a 10.38 ERA in four starts against the Brewers, but he allowed one run in six innings of a 2-1, 12-inning loss last September in the most recent outing.

Dave Bush (3-6, 4.43) will take the mound for Milwaukee after suffering his first loss in more than a month Wednesday. He gave up two runs and five hits in six innings of a 5-1 defeat to Houston.

The right-hander was 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in five starts and a relief appearance since losing at Minnesota on May 21.

Bush hasn't faced the Giants as a starter since 2007. He pitched in relief against them last season and allowed two runs and three hits in one inning.

The Giants have won three of four in Milwaukee after losing six straight there.