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Gallardo tries to find win column in Brewers' opener with Reds

May 7, 2012 - 2:52 PM (Sports Network) - Right-hander Yovani Gallardo tries to snap a four-start drought tonight when the skidding Milwaukee Brewers host the streaking Cincinnati Reds in the first of three games between National League Central Division rivals at Miller Park.

A 17-game winner last season for the division-champion Brewers, Gallardo split his initial two decisions of 2012, but has not won since scoring a 2-1 victory over the Cubs in Chicago on April 11. He's pitched 22 innings, allowed 28 hits and 14 runs since while going 0-2 with a pair of no-decisions.

Milwaukee has been outscored in the four appearances, 26-7, and is 2-4 overall in the six games in which Gallardo has pitched.

The 26-year-old is 3-3 in 11 career starts against Cincinnati.

The Reds reply with 35-year-old Bronson Arroyo, who's regained his workhorse status this season after a season-long slump in 2011.

The Key West native won a career-best 17 games in 2010 before falling to only nine wins in 32 starts last year.

He opened this spring with a four-start unbeaten streak and fell for the first time in his most recent outing, allowing three runs on nine hits in six innings of a 3-1 loss to the Cubs.

In 32 2/3 innings, he's surrendered 11 earned runs on 36 hits.

Arroyo is 11-8 in 24 career meetings with the Brewers.

On Sunday in Pittsburgh, Drew Stubbs belted a two-run homer, Mat Latos overcame a sluggish start to pitch six strong innings and the Reds blanked the Pirates, 5-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Stubbs finished 3-for-4 and scored three runs for the Reds, who have won five of seven.

Latos (2-2) limited the Pirates to two singles and struck out a career-high 11 batters. Three relievers combined to complete the three-hit shutout.

In San Francisco, Hector Sanchez knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning and the Giants edged the Brewers, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game set at AT&T Park.

Facing Tim Dillard (0-1), Buster Posey started the frame with a single up the middle before Angel Pagan dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move pinch- runner Emmanuel Burriss to second.

Brandon Belt was intentionally walked and Ryan Theriot also walked to load the bases. Sanchez got ahead in the count 3-0 before slicing a 3-2 sinker into left to plate Burriss.

Aramis Ramirez drove home two runs and Travis Ishikawa added an RBI double for the Brewers, who have lost four of five.

The Reds and Brewers split 16 meetings a season ago, with Milwaukee winning the final four encounters.