Orioles 7 - 6 Brewers
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Brewers kick off homestand versus Orioles

May 26, 2014 - 2:07 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Milwaukee Brewers are back home and will begin a stretch of eight straight games at Miller Park with Monday's opener of a three-game series versus the Baltimore Orioles.

The Brewers won two of three matchups with the Miami Marlins over the weekend and posted a 7-1 decision in Sunday's series finale behind a 4-for-5 performance from Ryan Braun. Braun also scored twice and added an RBI.

Jonathan Lucroy had three hits and drove in two runs to back Milwaukee starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson, who was called up from Triple-A Nashville to make a spot start in place of Yovani Gallardo. Nelson held the Marlins scoreless in 5 2/3 innings of work, struck out six and walked three.

"He's got really good stuff," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke of Nelson's outing. "The fastball is outstanding and the slider is a really good slider. He's not satisfied with walking people and getting behind."

It was Nelson's first win in the majors and he is considered Milwaukee's top pitching prospect.

The NL Central-leading Brewers, who went 4-6 on their recent road swing, are scheduled to play the Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins on the homestand, and have a 14-10 record at Miller Park.

Milwaukee is 26-2 when it scores four or more runs.

Taking the mound for the Brew Crew Monday will be Kyle Lohse. Lohse is 6-0 in nine starts since losing his 2014 debut on April 1 to Atlanta and hurled eight innings of one-run ball in a 6-1 road win over the Braves last Wednesday. He fanned eight batters and walked none, lowering his ERA to 2.67.

Lohse, a right-hander, is 2-1 in four starts at Miller Park and 3-1 with a 3.69 ERA in six career meetings (5 starts) with the Orioles. Milwaukee is 8-2 when Lohse starts this season.

Baltimore is starting a, 11-day, 10-game road trip Monday against the Brewers, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, and earned a split of a four-game weekend series versus the Cleveland Indians with Sunday's 4-2 triumph at Camden Yards.

Manny Machado and Nelson Cruz homered, while Steve Pearce finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the hosts. O's starter Miguel Gonzalez picked up the win and limited the Tribe to two runs in six innings. Zach Britton notched his second save in the ninth.

"It's going to be a happy flight (to Milwaukee)," Gonzalez said afterward. "We did a pretty good job offensively and defensively."

The Orioles rebounded from Saturday's 9-0 loss and posted 19 runs in the series. Slugger Chris Davis was placed on the paternity list Sunday as his wife is expected to give birth to the couple's first child.

"If everything goes according to plan, he's going to take two of the three days (he's allowed for paternity leave)," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said Sunday on the team's website. "If there's no complications."

Davis is batting .260 with seven homers and 25 RBI this season. Davis has belted four home runs in the last five games.

Getting the nod on the mound for Baltimore Monday will be Chris Tillman and he will making his third straight start on the road. Tillman was hammered in his last start Wednesday and lasted just one inning in a 9-8 loss at Pittsburgh, charged with eight runs (6 earned) and six hits.

Tillman still has a solid 4-2 mark in 10 starts to go along with a 4.21 ERA and is 4-0 in six road outings this season. The right-hander has never faced Milwaukee in his career.

The Orioles and Brewers haven't met since 2008, when the Brewers won two of three games in Brew City.






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