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Lowry looks to end skid, keep Giants' postseason hopes alive

Sep 23, 2006 - 3:10 PM San Francisco (75-78) at Milwaukee (71-83) 7:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Noah Lowry had an outstanding August for the San Francisco Giants, but followed it up with a dreadful September.

The Giants give the ball to Lowry in hopes of keeping their faint playoff hopes alive when they take on the Milwaukee Brewers in the third game of a four-game set on Saturday.

San Francisco is barely clinging to its postseason aspirations, 5 1/2 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the wild card chase and six games in back of the first-place San Diego Padres in the National League West.

Lowry (7-10, 4.70 ERA) sizzled in August as the Giants moved into playoff contention, going 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in five starts.

But since then he has regressed badly, going 0-3 with a 16.88 ERA in three September starts. In his last start, a disastrous 20-8 loss to the Colorado Rockies, Lowry gave up nine runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Milwaukee counters with Chris Capuano (11-11, 3.67), who like Lowry, was very solid in August but wilted in September.

The lefthander was 1-1 with a 2.32 ERA in five August starts, but is 0-3 with a 4.55 ERA in four September starts.

The Brewers dealt the reeling Giants' playoff hopes another blow on Friday in a wild 13-12 triumph. Bill Hall, Kevin Mench and Mike Rivera each drove in three runs for the Brewers.

Barry Bonds had six RBI, including his 733rd career homer which tied Hank Aaron's all-time NL record.