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Gallardo aims to pitch Brewers to sweep of Braves

Sep 12, 2012 - 2:54 PM (Sports Network) - Yovani Gallardo attempts to win his seventh straight decision and lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park.

Milwaukee has won each of Gallardo's last eight starts, but the right-hander has not received a decision in his last two trips to the hill. Against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, Gallardo allowed two runs and six hits in six innings of a 5-4 win.

He is 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA this season and hasn't lost since falling to Washington back on July 26.

"I think that was a big game for him going forward, knowing that, 'Hey, I just need to make pitches and I can beat anybody,'" Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said.

Gallardo should be able to stay on track Wednesday, as he is 3-1 in six starts versus the Braves with a 1.91 ERA.

Milwaukee continued its improbable push towards the postseason on Tuesday, as Marco Estrada pitched into the seventh inning in the Brewers' 5-0 win.

Estrada (3-6) gave up just four hits and a walk with six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings for the Brewers, who have won four of their last five to move to .500 since they were 9-9 back on April 24.

"He had such great command of all his pitches tonight," Roenicke said of Estrada. "His changeup, especially, was really on and he can really confuse hitters when that pitch is working for him."

Rickie Weeks and Aramis Ramirez each hit a solo home run in the win for Milwaukee, which is now four games back of the second wild card in the NL. Philadelphia also is four games behind in the standings.

Tim Hudson (14-6) gave up four runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings for the Braves, who have dropped their past two. Andrelton Simmons had two of the five hits.

"We swung the bats hard but couldn't get off the wall or in front of the wall," said Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez. "We're not feeling too good right now with the way we're swinging the bats, but we have a chance to go 4-2 on this road trip and we'll take it."

Atlanta will rely on lefty Paul Maholm, who is 12-9 with a 3.67 ERA. Maholm defeated the New York Mets on Friday, as he scattered five hits in 5 1/3 frames.

Maholm lost to the Brewers the last time he faced them and is a miserable 3-10 lifetime against them with a 4.87 ERA in 21 starts.

Atlanta had won seven straight against the Brewers before losing the first two in this series.