Brewers 2 - 1 Dodgers
Final
  for this game

Brewers pin hopes on Marcum at Chavez Ravine

May 16, 2011 - 2:58 PM (Sports Network) - Brewers right-hander Shaun Marcum takes aim at his fifth straight winning decision this evening when Milwaukee visits the Los Angeles Dodgers for a two-game series.

In his first season with Milwaukee after spending his first five seasons with Toronto, Marcum hasn't lost since his Brewers debut on April 2. He is 4-0 in seven starts since, though he is coming off arguably one of his worst games of the season last time out.

The 29-year-old gave up season highs of five runs and nine hits over six-plus innings, though he didn't walk a batter and struck out eight to take an 8-6 victory.

"The offense bailed me out tonight," Marcum said. "My command was on early but it got away from me in the seventh."

Marcum, who won five straight decisions from May 2-28 of last year with the Blue Jays, has a 2.72 earned run average on the season and is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers.

Milwaukee heads out west following a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh, good enough for the club's longest winning streak since a season-best four-game run from April 9-14. Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy both homered and combined to drive in seven runs in Sunday's 9-6 victory.

Casey McGehee also homered, while Braun has driven in 10 runs over a five-game hitting streak. Zack Greinke got the win, Milwaukee's sixth in eight games, despite allowing five runs over five innings.

Braun will look to stay hot tonight against Dodgers starter Jon Garland, who he is 2-for-5 against in his career with a homer and four walks.

Garland, meanwhile, is just 1-2 with a 3.66 ERA in five starts this year, with the Dodgers going 1-4 in that span. Garland's last official appearance was a no-decision versus the Mets on May 7, though the 31-year-old righty did threw two no-hit innings versus Pittsburgh on Thursday before the game was rained out after a delay of two hours and 22 minutes.

Garland has had success versus Milwaukee in his career, going 3-0 with a save and 2.15 ERA in six games, including four starts.

The Dodgers are hoping for a sharp outing from Garland after losing Sunday's rubber match of a three-game series with Arizona, 4-1. It was Los Angeles' second straight setback following a three-game win streak.

Ted Lilly gave up back-to-back homers in the second inning and was charged with four runs over six frames overall. Jamey Carroll scored the Dodgers' only run on an Aaron Miles single in the third.

"Ted changed speeds and kept them off balance. He kept us in the game," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We had chances, but we just couldn't crack through."

Andre Ethier went 0-for-4 to end his streak of reaching base safely at 37 straight games.

The Dodgers have won four straight versus the Brewers, with the last three victories coming in Milwaukee. Los Angeles did lose two of three at home to the Brew Crew last season, getting outscored 25-16.






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