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Padres-Brewers Preview

Aug 22, 2010 - 5:12 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (73-48) at Milwaukee (58-64), 2:10 p.m. EDT

It's been more than three months since the San Diego Padres were swept in a series. Jon Garland can make sure it stays that way.

The right-hander looks to win his third straight start and help the NL West-leading Padres avoid a third consecutive loss Sunday to the Milwaukee Brewers.

By taking two of three at San Francisco and sweeping a four-game set in Chicago, San Diego (73-49) had already secured a winning 10-game trip before this weekend. However, after dropping the first two in Milwaukee, the Padres are in danger of being swept for the first time since dropping a season-high three straight at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 14-16.

Poor starting pitching has plagued the Padres in this series. After the rotation recorded a 1.68 ERA to help San Diego win 10 of its previous 11, Wade LeBlanc and Kevin Correia combined to yield 12 runs over 7 2-3 innings against the Brewers (59-64), who held on for a 6-5 win Saturday.

Milwaukee has won four straight.

The Padres hope Garland (12-8, 3.25 ERA) can end those struggles. He has compiled a 1.93 ERA while winning three of his last five starts, and has not allowed a run over his last 17 innings. Garland gave up four hits in seven innings of a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday to surpass his win total from 2009.

"He's one of those guys as the game goes along he gets into a groove. I can't explain it," Padres manager Bud Black said of Garland, who has given up five hits in 13 innings to win his last two starts. "There's a rhythm to pitching. Jon's one of those guys as the game progresses he finds his rhythm."

Garland has had little trouble finding his rhythm against Milwaukee, going 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in three starts. He allowed three hits in seven innings of an 8-0 home win over the Brewers on May 2.

Ryan Braun is 1 for 4 against Garland, and 9 for 20 versus San Diego this season after going 2 for 4 and hitting his first homer in 22 games Saturday for the Brewers. Braun, who hit at least 32 homers in each of his first three major league seasons, still has only 17 in 2010.

"I hope that will get him going," Brewers manager Ken Macha.

Milwaukee's Casey McGehee is batting .436 with 18 RBIs in his last 14 games after going 2 for 3 with an RBI on Saturday.

Manny Parra (3-9, 5.36) takes the ball Sunday for Milwaukee looking for his first win since July 3.

The left-hander is 0-4 with a 6.93 ERA in his last seven starts. He allowed five runs in five innings but did not factor in the decision of a 6-5 loss at Colorado last Sunday.

Parra is 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA as a starter against the Padres.

Adrian Gonzalez, who doubled Saturday for the Padres, is 5 for 8 with a homer versus Parra. He is a .361 lifetime hitter against Milwaukee.

Despite losing the first two games of this series, San Diego is 22-7 against the NL Central.