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Brewers look to re-claim share of top spot in division

Aug 24, 2007 - 2:25 PM Milwaukee (65-62) at San Francisco (56-72) 10:15 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - After taking two of three from the team with the best record in the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers head to AT&T Park on Friday to meet one of the worst teams in the NL when they meet the San Francisco Giants.

Milwaukee took two of three games from NL West-leading Arizona (72-56) before receiving Thursday off. They exchange opponents with the team that holds a half-game lead in the NL Central - the Chicago Cubs (65-61) - who won two of three against the Giants and travel to Chase Field to start a three-game set with the Diamondbacks.

Barry Bonds was granted a day off and, as a result, remained at 760 career home runs. He last homered on Saturday in Florida, and even though he is batting .429 (3-for-7) against Milwaukee starter Claudio Vargas (10-4, 4.72 ERA), he has yet to hit a home run against him

Vargas will try to extend his personal win streak against the Giants to four, one start after ending his own three-game winless streak. He permitted one run and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings in Saturday's 8-4 win over Cincinnati. The righthander is 5-2 with a 5.55 ERA in 13 career appearances - including 10 starts.

San Francisco will respond with Noah Lowry (13-7, 3.34), who has yet to lose a game in the month of August for his career, going 11-0 with a 2.47 ERA. In his last turn on Sunday, he did not factor into the decision in a 6-5 win over Florida where he allowed three runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Overall, the lefthander is 1-2 with a 6.95 ERA in four lifetime outings against the Brewers.