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Brewers hit the road to take on Padres

Aug 25, 2014 - 2:52 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - For the Milwaukee Brewers, there's no better place to maintain a hold on first place than on the road.

The leaders in the National League's Central Division by 1 1/2 games, the Brewers will begin a nine-game road trip on Monday with the opener of a three- game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Milwaukee had lost three straight before concluding a homestand with a defeat of Pittsburgh on Sunday, and it visits a Padres team that has yet to lose at home this month and that's 15-4 at home since late June, best in the majors.

Milwaukee is 36-27 on the road, second best in the NL.

"I think we've dealt with adversity well this season," said Milwaukee's Ryan Braun. "It is such a long year that inevitably you are going to deal with ups and downs as a team. We've done a really good job of just turning the page."

The Brewers hand the ball to Kyle Lohse after he missed his last turn with a sore ankle.

He last pitched on Aug. 13 and allowed four runs in three innings before exiting a game with the Chicago Cubs. In his last four starts, he's 0-3 with a 6.63 earned run average.

He threw a bullpen session Friday and pronounced himself fit to return.

"I was able to throw everything that I needed to," Lohse said. "I'm back to pretty much normal. I was able to get the push and balance that I needed that I wasn't able to get (before). I was just adjusting pitch to pitch, compensating with my upper body. It's all good."

He's 5-1 with a 2.13 ERA against the Padres in the last four years.

The Padres go with lefty Eric Stults, who's won three straight while compiling a sub-2.00 ERA in the three outings.

His last victory came Wednesday, when he gave up a single run in five innings while defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-1.

He's given up three or fewer runs in 10 of his last 11 starts.

"He never gives in. He's not afraid to throw any pitch in any count," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said. "I'm impressed with the way he controls his tempo. He used to be maximum effort every pitch. Now he's free and easy, so he can reach back when he wants to throw a fastball. He's pitching with a lot of confidence."

He has never started against Milwaukee.

On Sunday in Milwaukee, Mike Fiers worked seven solid innings, while four different players drove in a run to pace Milwaukee's narrow 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh in the finale of a three-game series.

Fiers (4-1) allowed only one other hit besides a two-run homer from Starling Marte over his outing, issuing one walk and striking out seven. Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 39th save despite allowing a run in the ninth.

Jonathan Lucroy, Aramis Ramirez, Scooter Gennett and Mark Reynolds posted an RBI each for the Brewers, who avoided a sweep and ended a three-game slide.

In Arizona, Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBI, as the Padres avoided a sweep with a 7-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Will Venable clubbed a pinch- hit, two-run homer for the Padres, who snapped a three-game losing streak and finished their road trip at 3-7.

San Diego starter Ian Kennedy (10-11) gave up three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Joaquin Benoit pitched a perfect ninth to seal Bud Black's 600th managerial win, all with the Padres.

The Brewers won two of three at home over the Padres from April 21-23.