• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Vogelsong aims to continue surprising season versus Brewers

Jul 22, 2011 - 11:58 PM (Sports Network) - For anyone who may have thought Ryan Vogelsong's improbable first half was a fluke, think again.

Vogelsong aims to continue his dream season on Saturday when the San Francisco Giants continue their three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at AT&T Park.

After having not pitched in the majors for five years Vogelsong is producing a season that would make Hollywood writers jealous. Vogelsong was left off the team's Opening Day roster, but found a spot in the Giants' rotation when Barry Zito went down with a foot injury. On April 28, he won his first major league game since Sept. 14, 2005, and he has never looked back while earning his first trip to the All-Star Game along the way.

In addition to a 2.02 earned run average that would lead the National League if he had enough innings pitched, Vogelsong owns a 7-1 record, 1.19 WHIP and a 2.27 strikeout-to-walk ratio, while holding opposing hitters to a .229 average.

"This guy has done everything and beyond since he's come up here," Giants manager Bruce Bochy recently said. "I expect him to give us a chance every time he goes out there. Watching him, knowing the stuff he has and how he competes, no, I'm not surprised."

The remarkable right-hander put forth another outstanding effort on Monday in his first start after break, as he held the Los Angeles Dodgers to seven hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings.

Vogelsong wanted to prove a point to the naysayers who criticized Bochy for including him on the NL's All-Star roster.

"They can say whatever they want to say. It doesn't bother me one bit," Vogelsong said. "But he (Bochy) stuck his neck out for me to pick me, so I want to show people that he made a good decision. I want to prove him right."

Vogelsong hasn't faced the Brewers since 2006, but is 1-3 lifetime against them with a 6.98 ERA in 10 games (five starts).

Milwaukee, meanwhile, will counter with veteran left-hander Randy Wolf, who is 6-7 with a 3.58 ERA. Wolf lost his third straight decision on Monday in Arizona, but pitched well as he allowed three runs (two earned) and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings of the 3-0 loss.

"I did everything I could do," said Wolf, who has seen the Brewers blanked in three of his last seven starts.

Wolf has faced the Giants 19 times and is 9-5 against them with a 2.77 ERA.

The Brewers won two of three matchups with San Francisco at Miller Park from May 27-29 and are 4-2 in the previous six contests in this series.