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McGehee sets Brewers record with 9th straight hit

Aug 12, 2010 - 10:44 PM MILWAUKEE(AP) -- Casey McGehee is too busy getting hits to count how many he's gotten.

McGehee set a franchise record with his ninth straight hit, going 4 for 4 and leading the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-4 victory Thursday over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

McGehee had a solo homer, a two-run double, an RBI single and another single. His seventh-inning single off reliever D.J. Carrasco broke the team mark set by Ryan Braun in 2008.

"It's definitely neat," McGehee said. "I wasn't aware of that I had eight in a row until Braunie made a comment to me, 'Eight in a row is pretty good."'

McGehee started his 9-for-9 performance Tuesday night with a double in his last at-bat. He tied his career high with four hits Wednesday night, including a home run.

The major league record for consecutive hits is 12, set by Pinky Higgins in 1938 and matched by Walt Dropo in 1952.

"He's hot," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "We couldn't get around him today. He jumped us on several first pitches in this series, too. Sometimes, you've just got to tip your hat. He's hot."

McGehee scored three times and helped the Brewers avoid a four-game sweep. Milwaukee scored three times in the first inning, three more in the second and McGehee hit a first-pitch fastball from Rodrigo Lopez (5-11) for his 18th home run in the fifth.

Gametime temperature was 87 degrees, but it felt hotter on the field.

"You just can't stop sweating," Randy Wolf said after winning consecutive games for the first time this season. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walked four and struck out eight in his 25th start.

"It's difficult to grip the ball when you're sweating that much," he said.

Working with a six-run cushion, Wolf (9-9) faced 10 batters in the fourth as the Diamondbacks scored four times, highlighted by Stephen Drew's three-run homer.

Adam LaRoche singled, Mark Reynolds doubled, Rusty Ryal hit an RBI single and Drew followed with this eighth home run. Two walks sandwiched around Chris Young's single loaded the bases, but Wolf got the third out he needed to escape the jam.

"I gave up four," Wolf said. "I could have easily given up a lot more than that."

The Brewers took a 3-0 lead in the first on three hits, two walks and a passed ball. McGehee's single drove in the first run.

"The weather didn't help me at all," Lopez said. "I ran out of gas trying to work my way out" of the first inning.

Lopez allowed seven runs on seven hits over five innings for the Diamondbacks who were trying to sweep Milwaukee for the first time since they came into existence in 1998.

Milwaukee tacked on three more in the second on a walk, a double by McGehee and a two-run single by Craig Counsell.

Reliever Zach Braddock began the eighth trying to protect an 8-4 lead, but walked three to load the bases with one out. He gave way to closer John Axford, who retired Chris Young on a fly ball and struck out pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson.

Axford also pitched the ninth, holding on for his 17th save in 19 chances. He struck out Justin Upton to start the inning, but then heard plenty of boos when he walked LaRoche, Reynolds and Ryal. Drew hit into a double play to end the game.

Brewers manager Ken Macha said Axford was one more walk away from bringing in Trevor Hoffman.

NOTES: Braun returned after missing three games with a left wrist strain and contusion. He went 0 for 5. ... Lopez leads the NL in home runs allowed with 28 while Wolf is second with 24. Lopez is first in the majors in runs allowed with 98 while Wolf is second in the NL with 90. ... Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder walked and scored three times.