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Brewers eye series win over Phillies

Aug 19, 2012 - 2:23 PM (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers look to capture another series win at home when they close out a four-game set this afternoon versus the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park.

Milwaukee had won the first two installments of this series, but dropped a 4-3 decision on Saturday, losing for the ninth time in 15 tries overall.

Michael Fiers gave up back-to-back homers in the second inning to put the Brewers in an early hole and was saddled with the loss. He gave up all four runs and five hits in five innings for Milwaukee.

"(Fiers) really hasn't thrown that many innings, we're going to talk about that," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "You don't necessarily view it as fatigue, but more that he is missing his spots. After those two bad innings he pitched well."

Aramis Ramirez homered and Ryan Braun seems to be back on track, at least for this series, and finished 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Braun has gone deep four times in his last three games (6 RBI).

The Brewers had an eight-game home winning streak stopped and are 8-1-1 over their last 10 home series. They will host the Cubs for three games, starting Monday night.

Former Phillie Randy Wolf gets the call for Milwaukee Sunday and he is 0-3 with a 5.83 earned run average in his last five starts, with his team going just 1-4 in that span.

Wolf previously toed the rubber in an 8-6 loss at Colorado on Tuesday and was tagged for six runs and 10 hits in five frames, falling to 3-9 in 24 games (23 starts) with a 5.65 ERA.

The veteran left-hander is 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in eight career starts against the Phillies. Wolf spent 1999-2006 with Philadelphia.

Cole Hamels played stopper for the Phillies last night and earned his 14th win (14-6) by allowing three runs in 7 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and only one walk. Hamels allowed two homers, but got enough run support early on. He snapped a 23-inning scoreless streak after giving up the homer to Ramirez in the second frame.

John Mayberry and Eric Kratz staked Hamels to a 3-0 lead with home runs in the second inning, while Ryan Howard had two doubles and drove in a run and Chase Utley went 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Phillies, who snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the fourth time in seven tries. Howard has hit safely in 12 straight starts at Miller Park.

"I got ahead in the count and he gave me a fastball that I was able to put a good swing on," Mayberry said. "It was huge to be able to get (Hamels) that win, and it was great that Papelbon was able to come in and slam the door."

Jonathan Papelbon recorded the final out in the eighth and retired the side in order in the ninth nail down his 27th save. The Phillies are 3-3 on a seven- game road trip and will begin a 10-game homestand Monday night versus Cincinnati, Washington and the New York Mets.

Kyle Kendrick looks to build on a solid performance his last time out when he takes the mound in Milwaukee today. Kendrick threw seven scoreless innings and struck out six with no walks in a 1-0 victory at Miami on Tuesday, and only needed Jimmy Rollins' leadoff home run.

Kendrick has taken over a spot in the rotation and is 5-9 with a 4.53 earned run average in 28 games (16 starts) this season. In six career games, three of which have been starts, against the Brewers, the right-handed Kendrick is 0-3 with a 4.82 ERA.

Philadelphia is 4-2 against the Brewers this season thanks to a sweep back in late July and 8-3 in the past 11 matchups between the ballclubs.