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Brewers set sights on series win over Reds

Apr 27, 2011 - 2:37 PM (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers haven't won a series against the NL Central-rival Cincinnati Reds in almost two years and look to accomplish the feat this afternoon in the finale of a three-game series at Miller Park.

The Brewers' last series victory over the Reds was May 29-31, 2009, when they posted a three-game sweep in the Badger State.

Milwaukee has alternated wins and losses over its past seven games and rebounded from Monday's 9-5 series-opening loss to record a 3-2 victory last night. Rickie Weeks broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run leading off the bottom of the eighth inning and finished with two hits for the Brewers, who got solo homers from Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder.

Braun is riding an 11-game hit streak in which he's batting .413 with five home runs and 13 RBI. Marco Estrada made another quality start for the injured Zack Greinke, giving up two runs, two hits and three walks and striking out five in seven innings in the no-decision.

"He was outstanding," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "Great changeup, located his fastball well ... He had an outstanding game."

After today's game Milwaukee will hit the road for a 10-game trek against Houston, Atlanta and St. Louis. Taking the hill for the Brewers Wednesday will be Yovani Gallardo, who won his previous outing on Friday in a 14-7 drubbing of the Astros at Miller Park.

Gallardo allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk, improving to 2-1 with a 4.88 ERA in five starts. The righty made his 2011 debut versus the Reds on March 31 in a 7-6 loss, but did not record a decision with six innings of two-run ball. He is 2-3 in nine career starts against Cincinnati.

The Reds have lost seven of 10 games and wasted a strong start from Mike Leake last night. Leake limited the Brewers to a pair of runs in seven innings and struck out six, while Logan Ondrusek absorbed the loss for allowing Weeks' homer in the eighth inning.

"That was perhaps the best game Leakie pitched this year," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

Brandon Phillies hit a two-run homer and Leake notched the other hit.

Cincinnati will open a six-game homestand versus Florida and Houston on Friday, and will send Sam LeCure to the bump in today's series finale. LeCure is 0-1 with a 4.15 earned run average in four games (3 starts) this season and suffered the loss in last Tuesday's 5-4 setback versus Arizona. He allowed five runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 frames with three K's and no walks.

LeCure, a right-hander, tossed an inning of relief in a 7-6 victory over Milwaukee on March 31 and is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in four career relief appearances against the Brewers.

The Reds have won six of seven and 19 of the last 23 meetings with Milwaukee.