San Diego @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2010 ) San Diego 5, Milwaukee 6
The Milwaukee Brewers may be too far back to make a realistic charge toward the postseason, but they are certainly making life miserable for those who might play well into October.
After sweeping a two-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Brewers (59-64) will try for the three-game variety in Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres (73-49) on Sunday.
Milwaukee can applaud its offense for its success against San Diego, as Ken Macha's club has recorded 16 runs and 25 hits in the series' first two games. The power display was needed, considering his starting pitchers didn't last past the fourth inning in either outing.
Ryan Braun belted a solo homer and Chris Dickerson drove in two runs as the Brewers held on for a 6-5 triumph over the Padres on Saturday.
Rookie Jonathan Lucroy had an RBI single and Alcides Escobar and Braun scored twice for Milwaukee, which sits a distant 12 games out in the NL Central and 10.5 games removed in the chase for the wild card.
For its part, San Diego still boasts the best record in the National League and enjoys a five-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in NL West.
The Padres will look to prevent being swept for the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers turned the trick on May 14-16. To do so, they'll need to get the better of Manny Parra (3-9, 5.36 ERA) on Sunday.
In search of his first victory since July 3, Parra (3-9, 5.36 ERA) has posted an 0-4 mark with a 6.93 ERA in his last seven starts.
In his last outing, the 27-year-old left-hander permitted five runs in as many innings, but received a no-decision as the Brewers fell, 6-5, to the Colorado Rockies last Sunday.
Whether Parra pitches long enough to see Matt Stairs on Sunday is anyone's guess, but any Brewers hurler best be careful with the veteran slugger. Stairs belted a two-run homer on Saturday to set a major-league record with 21 career pinch-hit blasts.
Chris Denorfia added a two-run double in Saturday's contest for the Padres, who have dropped two straight since winning 10 of their previous 11 games.
Jon Garland (12-8, 3.25 ERA) will look to return San Diego to its winning ways.
The 30-year-old right-hander yielded just four hits in seven scoreless innings in his last outing, a 1-0 triumph over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. He has not allowed a run in his last 17 innings.
Garland is expected to have to contend with Corey Hart, who sat out Saturday's game with a sore hamstring. The All-Star outfielder is batting .289 with 23 home runs and 78 RBIs this season.