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Brewers target NLDS sweep of Diamondbacks

Oct 4, 2011 - 2:53 PM (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers hope to secure their first trip to the League Championship Series since 1982 this evening when they try to complete a three-game NLDS sweep against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

The Brewers showed their full arsenal to the Diamondbacks in Games 1 and 2, as they beat them behind a terrific pitching performance from Yovani Gallardo on Saturday, then went into full "beast mode" on Sunday, taking a 9-4 win.

"That's a type game where you feel like offensively you're going to keep scoring runs and hopefully because of it, it builds the confidence in the whole lineup, because they all came through today," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said.

The Brewers are now one win away from advancing to their first championship series since 1982, when they beat the Angels in the ALCS before falling to St. Louis in the World Series.

Ryan Braun has six hits through the first two games, while Fielder's mammoth home run on Saturday set the tone for the whole series. The MVP duo has combined to hit .563 with two home runs, three doubles, six RBI and six runs scored.

"I was trying to enjoy the moment," Fielder said. "Just trying to enjoy it. You know, it's still baseball. Just more magnified, I guess. I'm just trying to enjoy fans, teammates, just really trying to have as much fun as possible and not make it a job. Not try to win so hard. Just try to enjoy it."

Tonight, the Brewers turn to righty Shaun Marcum, who was one of the league's top pitchers on the road this season, going 8-3 with a 2.21 ERA in his 16 starts away from Miller Park.

"This is a guy that can stop a big-time offense," Roenicke said. "He certainly did it a lot of times in the American League East. Those lineups there, with Boston and New York, you don't get any better than that. I have a lot of confidence in what he does."

Marcum was 13-7 overall on the year with a 3.54 ERA in 33 outings, as he surpassed 200 innings in a season for the first time in his career.

"I know those numbers are better on the road," Roenicke said. "But I feel good with Shaun pitching anywhere. I can't [explain it]. Shaun, he's a command pitcher. And I don't know why your command would be different at one park versus another."

Now the Diamondbacks return home, where they went 51-30 in the regular season.

"We have hope," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "We're going to go to our environment now. We've played better at home, just as well as the Brewers have.

"We need to win the next three. We've won three games or more [in a row] 12 times this season. We won nine games in a row. We won seven in a row twice, six in a row once. So we're aware that we have the ability to play better and execute better and stop giving the Brewers additional opportunities to put us away. So we had a little chat about that [Monday]. We understand what we're up against and we cherish the opportunity to be here."

Arizona will rely on rookie right-hander Josh Collmenter, who was 10-10 with a 3.38 ERA. Collmenter beat the Brewers the last time he faced them, scattering three hits over eight scoreless innings, while striking out seven without walking a batter.

"I'm excited," Collmenter said. "That's what you pitch all the games during the regular season for, to get to these games that matter, that count. I'm looking forward to the opportunity. We'll be back at home and the game time is close to a normal game, so it's as close as it could be to a normal start."

Arizona won four of its seven meetings with the Brewers in the regular season.