• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Kouzmanoff, Padres ready for important series with Brewers

Sep 27, 2007 - 1:04 PM San Diego (87-71) at Milwaukee (81-77) ,8:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Kevin Kouzmanoff will look to lead the San Diego Padres to their third straight victory when they kick off a critical four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

The Padres sit one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks (88-70) in the National League West and hold a one-game advantage over the Philadelphia Phillies (86-72) and the Colorado Rockies (86-72) in the wild card race.

The Brewers will continue their chase of the Chicago Cubs (83-75) as they remain two games back in the NL Central.

Kouzmanoff went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's 11-3 triumph over the San Francisco Giants. The 26-year-old third baseman is currently on a seven-game hitting streak, going 13-for-26 (.500) with six RBI over that stretch.

Playing in just his second season, Kouzmanoff is batting .280 with 17 homers and 72 RBI in 2007.

Rookie Jack Cassel (1-1, 4.00 ERA) will get the start for the Padres for just the fourth time in his career. The 27-year-old righthander was handed his first career loss in his last outing, surrendering three runs and six hits over just 2 1/3 innings in a 6-2 setback to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.

He will be opposed by another rookie, Milwaukee righthander Yovani Gallardo (9-4, 3.59). The 21-year-old Mexican has been outstanding lately, posting a 4-0 record with a 1.03 ERA and 31 strikeouts in his previous five starts.

Despite a three-RBI night from rookie Ryan Braun, the Brewers still failed to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, falling 7-3.

Braun will likely win the NL Rookie of the Year award this season after batting .325 with 33 home runs and 94 RBI despite not playing the first month.