Final
D'Backs eye sweep of Brewers at Miller Park
Jul 6, 2011 - 3:00 PMVideo
Having already handed the Brewers back-to-back home defeats for the first time this season, the Diamondbacks aim to sweep a three-game series over the club this afternoon for the first time in team history.
To do that, though, Arizona starter Josh Collmenter may need to work on his deception as he tries to avoid a fifth straight loss.
The 25-year-old rookie had pitched to a 1.05 earned run average over his first six big-league starts, but has posted a 7.54 ERA over his losing streak. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings at Oakland on Friday, yielding five runs on seven hits and two walks.
Collmenter hasn't been using his curveball as much and Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said afterwards that perhaps he is becoming too predictable.
"I just think he goes fastball-changeup pretty much, and then when [opponents] get the third time around they've been getting on him in his last four starts," Gibson said on the Diamondbacks' website. "So he's going to have to figure something out, and he's going to have to mix it up a little more. He's going to have to change some patterns."
The right-hander is 4-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 17 total appearances this year and faces the Brewers for the first time.
Milwaukee came into this series with a 29-11 mark at home, but has dropped the first two tests of this set in disappointing fashion. After Arizona rallied from five runs down to take to take Monday's opener, the club blasted its way to a 7-3 victory last night.
Gerardo Parra and Justin Upton both homered, with Parra driving in three runs, while Miguel Montero connected on a two-run single during a four-run first inning.
"He was very patient," Gibson said of Montero, who has four hits and four RBI in this series. "He's learning. He's got enough talent to be an All-Star and hit .300."
The Diamondbacks won for the third time in four games and have captured a victory in seven of their last nine at Miller Park. They had lost eight of their last 11 overall to the Brewers before this series.
Zach Duke gave up two runs over seven innings to capture his first ever victory at Miller Park, while Brewers starter Randy Wolf yielded a season-high seven runs over six innings as his club lost for the seventh time in eight games.
"It was one of those games where the way I felt didn't match the results," said Wolf. "I felt good on the mound, but obviously, the results weren't good at all."
Milwaukee's skid has dropped it into third place in the National League Central, a half-game behind second-place Pittsburgh. Arizona, meanwhile, now trails first-place San Francisco by just a game in the NL West.
Prince Fielder homered and also had an RBI single to give him an NL high-tying 71 RBI, while Corey Hart also went deep in the loss.
The Brewers have played three straight without Ryan Braun, who is battling a strained left calf. Braun is day-to-day, but could return today in the hopes of extending his career-best 22-game hitting streak.
A possible Braun return as well as a start from Yovani Gallardo could have the Brewers feeling good about their chances of avoiding a sweep. After all, the 25-year-old Gallardo has won all three of his previous career starts against the Diamondbacks, striking out 20 over 17 innings while allowing just two runs for a 1.06 ERA.
He has lost three of his last four decisions, though, with the righty suffering a setback at Minnesota on Friday after getting charged with five runs on five hits and four walks over seven innings. Only three of the runs were earned, but they all came on a Jim Thome homer in the first inning.
Gallardo dropped to 9-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 18 starts this year and has been excellent at Miller Park, going 6-1 with a 3.47 ERA in nine outings.
- ARIZONA: 1
MILWAUKEE: 3
Final
Jul 6 4:50 PM - Pinch-Hitter Casey McGehee one-out, three-run Home Run (5) to right center scored Mark Kotsay and Jonathan Lucroy. Craig Counsell due up.
Diamondbacks 1, Brewers 3 Bot 7, 1 OutJul 6 4:23 PM - Stephen Drew struck out swinging. None on with one out and Justin Upton due up.
Diamondbacks 1, Brewers 0 Top 1, 1 OutJul 6 2:12 PM - ARIZONA: 0
MILWAUKEE: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 6 2:10 PM
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