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Braun, Brewers continue set with Padres

May 1, 2012 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - Reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun will try to stay locked in when he leads the Milwaukee Brewers against the San Diego Padres tonight in the second portion of a three-game series from Petco Park.

Braun had the first three-homer game of his career in last night's 8-3 win in the series opener and matched a career-high with six runs batted in. Braun also tripled in the game to help Milwaukee to its second win in a row after losing three straight.

"It's an extremely challenging game that we play. You know you are going to deal with a lot of failure and a lot of adversity," said Braun, who has six homers in his last nine games. "When you have a special night like that you try to enjoy it and it's that much more fun and enjoyable when your team wins the game."

Alex Gonzalez had two RBI and Rickie Weeks scored twice, while Randy Wolf earned the win by holding the Padres to three runs on nine hits and three walks through five innings. Wolf also struck out three batters. Kameron Loe, Francisco Rodriguez and Tim Dillard combined to throw four shutout innings of relief to preserve the victory.

The Brewers are 2-2 on a nine-game road trip and will send right-hander Shaun Marcum to the mound Tuesday. Marcum has posted back-to-back no-decisions and is coming off a 7-5 loss versus Houston on Wednesday, as he gave up four runs -- three earned -- and eight hits over five innings. Marcum, who is 1-1 with a 4.13 earned run average in four starts, has never lost to San Diego in two career starts. He is 2-0 with a 4.85 ERA in this series.

San Diego opened a nine-game homestand on a sour note, losing for a third straight time and for the fifth time in seven tries.

Padres starter Joe Wieland fell to 0-4 on the season after he surrendered five runs -- three earned -- and five hits in five innings. Wieland allowed two of Braun's homers, but did fan eight batters.

"This was a great learning experience for me," said Wieland. "A great hitter like (Braun) is going to make adjustment pitch to pitch and at-bat to at-bat."

Yonder Alonso had two hits and an RBI, and Jason Bartlett knocked in a run for the Padres, who are 5-10 at home this season and sit last in the National League West standings. San Diego will also host Miami and Colorado.

Taking the mound for the Friars tonight will be newcomer Edinson Volquez. The former Cincinnati Reds starter is 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA in five starts this season with his new club and was last in action during Thursday's 2-1 win over Washington. He did not record a decision against the Nationals and fired seven innings of one-run ball in his best outing of the season.

Volquez struck out seven Washington players and has fanned at least five batters in four of his five starts. The righty will make his ninth career start against Milwaukee and owns a 3-2 record with a 5.94 ERA in the first eight appearances.

San Diego lost three of five meetings with Milwaukee last season.